Been doing some encoding tonight with Handbrake and for each encode my CPU temp goes up to 90-92C. In Activity Monitor it says that 165-170% of my CPU is being used. How can it be over 100%? And, is that normal temps for the CPU during encoding?

If the temperatures were abnormal, the computer would shut itself off to prevent damage.

As for the load - each core represents 100% of possible usage. 8 cores = 800% total possible usage. Thus, Handbrake was using just under two cores.

I think it's at 105C in which the Mac shuts down.
I've got the MacBook Pro which, I believe, has 2 physical cores. Are you referring to the 4 virtual cores?

I think it's at 105C in which the Mac shits down.
I've got the MacBook Pro which, I believe, has 2 physical cores. Are you referring to the 4 virtual cores?

I was using 8 cores as an arbitrary example. If you have a newer MacBook Pro that supports HyperThreading, then you'll have 4 logical cores. If not, then it's a 200% maximum.

Thanks for that clarification.

I notice the same very high CPU temp. whenever my Macbook Pro performs encoding. It looks and sounds quite scary.

I have a fireplace in the living room that I have never used. In front of the fireplace is a long slab of marble. When I want to do some encoding, I would place the machine there then plug it into an outlet nearby and let the machine do the job. The cooler marble surface helps dissipate heat faster. The CPU temp. is cooler by about 10C in the summer and more than 15C in winter.

A glass surface would have a similar cooling effect, but I don't know the magnitude of the cooling.

My older mid-2007 Santa Rosa Macbook Pro suffered a heat death to the graphics processor three years ago when I hooked it up with my TV to watch quite a few videos in a row. I left the MBP on the floor for the hookup. That MBP has a notorious Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT graphics processor. Luckily my machine was qualified for the free Apple repair even though the warranty had long expired.

Since the incident I put the MBP on the marble slab when I used it to play videos, and that's when I learned the big difference in the CPU temp.

I'll have to try something like that next time I encode. Actually, we've still got some good cold temperatures outside here in Labrador. I could set a square of marble outside for a bit before setting my MBP on it. Better yet, maybe just do the encoding outside if the snow's not blowing too much. But yeah, I see you point. Actually, it's quite warm in my desk space where my NEC Display creates quite a lot of heat.

you can install smc fan control , and manually increase the fan speed whenever you encode.

eidac (http://www.eidac.de/)

the higher fan speed will increase noise and use more battery power, but if you're plugged in it shouldn't matter.

My late 2011 MBP i7 runs at a steady 90 - 92° when running Handbrake. Fans cut in and run at 6,200 RPM for much of the process time without any third party software. It seems that it's normal behaviour under load and has had no ill effects on my MBP at all. Same thing happens if I am cloning the HD to an external and Time Machine decides to cut in during the clone process. Again the fans automatically run at 6,200 RPM during part of the time when this occurs.

you can install smc fan control , and manually increase the fan speed whenever you encode.

eidac (http://www.eidac.de/)

The computer increases the fan RPM by itself as necessary.

The computer increases the fan RPM by itself as necessary.

i know, but i rather control when they come on if i know i'll be doing something cpu intensive.

when i watch hd video on my mbp i'll amp up the fan speed to 3500 rpm and keep the temp in the 50° range. other more intensive tasks i'll bump the fan speed even higher.

i understand that high temps are still within the mbp's usable specs, but all electronics will last longer if heat stress can be reduced. i rather replace a couple of fans on a mbp after 5 years than a logic board.