Does the MacBook have a fan? MacBook Pro and Air get hot and noisy. Why is MacBook noisy?

If you have ever encountered MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, then we were faced with a frequently dying battery, which caused a feeling of confusion. This is often accompanied by an "X" message next to the battery menu and "No available batteries“, and also after restarting the Mac, the fans start working at full power, despite the fact that nothing unusual happens and the Activity Monitor remains in its normal state. To top it all off, Charger MagSafe also does not work and the computer will not be able to go to sleep. But don't worry, these are all problems of the same order.

Before delving into their workings and details, let's look at the next solution: resetting the SMC.

Restore the battery and normalize the fans by resetting the SMC

This technical process, but it is quite easy to do. Everything will work the same on MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Retina, technically it is possible on any Mac with a built-in non-removable battery. You can find instructions for other Mac computers, even older models, if necessary.

• Turn off your MacBook and plug in the MagSafe power adapter—let your Mac turn off completely before continuing
• Hold Shift + Control + Option + Power simultaneously for a few seconds, then release
• Press the power button as usual to start your MacBook

The exact key sequences are given to show that resetting the SMC on a MacBook Air is similar to resetting the MacBook Pro (Retina).

After rebooting the Mac will work normally again, everything should fall back into place and everything will be fine again. As for the menu item “No batteries available”, after correction the batteries display operational problems.

Please note that in total this will take you 2 minutes. In other words, it took just two minutes to fix all the problems, from resolving issues related to saving important files, to shutting down the Mac, resetting the SMC with the above sequence on the keyboard, to completely rebooting the Mac to restore normal operation.

Power settings will also be reset

It's important to note that resetting the SMC will cause you to lose specific parameters and settings you've saved for OS X in System Preferences, ranging from screen brightness levels with power-saving settings, to automatic dimming based on available lighting and connected power sources, screen behavior in sleep and standby modes, and more. So you have to go back and make all these minor changes.

Why is this happening?

You won't always find the exact reason why a control system controller fails along with the system core and control functions, but the basic idea is that at some point something got damaged, maybe for a specific reason, and maybe not.

What is SMC?

For those who don't know, SMC stands for the System Controller Management and handles control functions and other basic hardware characteristics on a Mac, so unexplained power management issues are almost always resolved by resetting the SMC. That's why to solve power management problems such as a disappearing battery, refusing to go to sleep, a very slow machine combined with a worn out fan system, or overloading graphics cards, you need to reset the SMC to get everything back to normal. Take some time to study this material.

Faced with this twice on two different computers Mac is definitely worth reading this article from cover to cover. At the very least, it helps to be aware of such problems, so if any of the above failures happen to your computer, before calling a specialist or sending your computer to the Apple center, take a moment to reset the SMC, which, of course, will solve the problem completely.

In laptops, unlike desktop PCs, the internal layout is quite dense, so the laptops themselves heat up and this is a fact. But sometimes the overheating exceeds acceptable standards and becomes a serious threat. We will look at these cases in this article, we will tell you why the Macbook is overheating, how to independently assess the situation and why you need to clean the cooling system and replace thermal paste.

Why does the MacBook Pro, Air overheat, reasons and consequences.

Apple engineers have developed a rather elegant and effective solution for heat removal. Judge for yourself - the laptop body is made of aluminum and removes some of the heat. But of course, it is impossible to cope with the heating of a processor or video chip with just one case. Therefore, a copper radiator and a fan (cooler) are connected to these elements inside. Depending on the model of coolers, one or two are installed. MacBook Air and Pro 13 inches have 1 fan, laptops with a diagonal of 15 and 17 inches have two coolers.

The radiator takes on the heat, and the cooler, in turn, cools the radiator. It is not recommended to use the laptop in bed, on your knees, so that heat does not accumulate. It is advisable that the surface is ventilated; try to work on a hard surface or table. Another problem can be the use of plastic covers and covers; they also prevent heat removal and, on the contrary, accumulate it.

If you follow these rules and your MacBook still gets hot, then most likely the reasons for overheating are quite simple and can be divided into two types:

• Cooling system malfunction;
• Software problems.

MacBook Cooling System

In 80% of cases, the Macbook heats up due to the cooling system. We collected these statistics based on calls to our Service Center with overheating problems. MacBook cooling works as follows:
At one end of the Mac's cooling radiator there is a honeycomb that becomes clogged with dust and dirt over time.

If poppy is used in a dusty room, this happens faster. If the room is clean, then slow down accordingly. This process is natural and there is no way to overcome it. Dust also settles on the fan blades. Over time (over a year, two or three), the honeycombs become completely clogged. We call this phenomenon “felt boots”. This significantly reduces the cooling efficiency.

At the other end, the heatsink fits closely into the processor and video card chips. To more effectively remove heat during assembly, they apply thin layer specially paste that removes the air gap and better removes heat. Thermal paste tends to dry out over time and thermal conductivity deteriorates significantly.

Software problems

It is not uncommon for a laptop to overheat due to the fault of the software. In this case, there are usually two options:

• Incorrect work operating system;
• Heavy load on the operating system, “heavy” programs.

The operating system (Mac OS or OS X) may not be properly balancing the processor load or controlling the fans. The load may occur due to a failure in system services. For example, if indexing is incorrect hard files disk or SSD, the Spotlight process can consume significant CPU resources. If the SMC firmware does not work correctly, the system may not control the coolers correctly. Such failures may occur after updating the operating system (OS). As a solution, two options are possible - either look for the culprit process, or format the disk and reinstall the OS. Though last method and quite radical, but often quite effective.

If you like to run Photoshop, Skype, a browser with a bunch of tabs and other programs simultaneously on a Macbook pro 13 2011 with 4GB random access memory and an i5 processor, then you shouldn’t be surprised by overheating and system slowdown. In these cases Macbook is heating up and this is logical, because it works almost to the limit of its capabilities. Try closing some programs and tabs that you don’t use. this moment, and the fan noise will subside and the temperature will return to normal. You can track your temperature using free utility for Dashboard, it's called iStat Pro.

Consequences of overheating MacBook

If the laptop is subject to prolonged operation in overheated conditions, this threatens the failure of internal components. First of all, this concerns the video card. It is soldered to motherboard and at a constant high temperature or temperature difference (for example, from a cold -15 to a room and a heavy load of up to 75-90 degrees), the solder may collapse.

Symptoms of a video card failure:

• When you turn on the MacBook screen is dark, there is no image;
• When working on the screen, defects appear, unreadable characters, squares and stripes, color distortions;
• In some cases, the MacBook may not boot or will not turn on at all.

Repairing a video card or processor is expensive. The price for replacing a MacBook video chip varies from 8 to 12 thousand rubles, depending on the model and modification. Sometimes it even comes down to replacing the motherboard, which is even more expensive, from 15 to 30 thousand rubles on average. We recommend paying attention to the temperature and not neglecting this matter; restoring a Macbook will cost several times more than prevention.

Cleaning the cooling system and replacing thermal paste on MacBook pro, air, retina

If you have never cleaned your Macbook and it is already more than 2-3 years old, then most likely cleaning and replacing the thermal paste will solve the problem of excessive overheating. Cleaning is carried out as follows:

• Of course, the macbook air or pro is disassembled, the motherboard, cooler and radiator are removed;
• All internal parts are cleaned of dust, using brushes and brushes, cans with compressed air, rags and special cleaning solutions. Old thermal paste is removed from the board and heatsink;
• When everything inside is shiny, new thermal paste is applied to the processor and video chip. We use Arctic Cooling MX-4 in our work; it is one of the best thermal pastes. Compared, for example, with the cheap KPT-8, the difference in temperature is 7-10 degrees, in percentage ratio this is about 25%, a decent figure;
• The laptop is assembled and given to a satisfied client.

The work takes the master about 30-40 minutes. In rare cases where the Macbook is covered in dust, it will take up to 1 hour.
Maintenance of the cooling system is very important for long and happy life Your MacBook. If your Macbook gets very hot, don’t neglect it, thinking that “it will go away on its own” or “oh, it’s not a big deal.” It is unlikely to go away on its own, it will only get worse, and the consequences can be quite serious. Take care of your poppy and it will last you a long time!

What makes the ventilation system on a MacBook noisy?

The noise of the computer ventilation system usually indicates that the device has overheated during operation. But sometimes loud noise or other unnatural sounds may occur due to a malfunction of the computer's cooling system.

Why is my MacBook noisy?

Many Macbook models are similar in their layout. But despite this, the operating principles of their cooling circuits may be different:

If you notice noise while your MacBook Air is running, the problem could be due to overheating of the processor, due to the fact that all calculations, including graphics, fall on the central chip. If the ventilation system on a MacBook Pro makes noise, it could be either the processor overheating or the discrete graphics card overheating, if this is not the case. basic model with built-in graphics.

Causes of noise from the ventilation system on a MacBook

It is worth considering that video memory and video chip are the most fragile components of the system, so MacBook Pro 15” with discrete graphics most often suffer from damage and cannot be repaired.

However, if your device is noisy when you use it, the reason for this is not necessarily related directly to overheating:

The issue may be a breakdown of the temperature sensor or controller, a program failure, a malfunction of the cooler, damage to the heat pipe, or worn-out thermal paste.
What ways are there to solve this problem and why is it needed?

Overheating, which causes a hum, can damage the key elements motherboard. For example, central and graphics processor, RAM or video memory. If you're worried about loud fan noise on your Macbook, you might want to check the temperature sensors. For this there are special programs. The computer temperature should be 30-50 degrees normal mode, and under load - 50-70.

1) Dust

Over time, the cooling system of any laptop becomes clogged with dust. This prevents air from circulating normally and, accordingly, cooling the ventilation system.
To fix this problem, you can contact a specialist service center who will clean and maintain the cooling system, replace thermal paste, and lubricate thermal coolers. You can also try to fix the problem yourself, you will need a special screwdriver for Macbook proprietary screws.

2) Damage to the cooler

Unnatural sounds and grinding blades may indicate damage to the cooler due to defects or other damage.

In this case, you need to lubricate the cooler. But do not forget that long-term work with damaged ventilation system may cause rapid wear and other defects.

3) Thermal tube malfunction

If your Macbook starts making unnatural noise as soon as you turn on the device, the problem may be a damaged thermal tube.
If this is the only problem, then the thermopipe simply needs to be replaced. Otherwise, the chip may need to be replaced.

Prevention of overheating and damage.

If the fan is always running on your Macbook, then you should make sure that the device does not overheat and nothing from the outside interferes with normal air intake (for example, if the computer is on the bed).

You should monitor the condition of your computer and, if possible, clean the cooling system regularly (every 6-12 months) to avoid serious defects and damage. It is recommended that you contact a specialist for this in order to avoid making any mistakes yourself and extend the life of your computer.
To get advice on your Macbook model and find out the causes of malfunctions, call the number provided. We will suggest you a solution to the problem and select an acceptable option for you.

Depending on the model, Apple laptops are equipped with Sunon fans, of which there are two. For cooling the video card and the processor. They are durable, the manufacturer claims about 100 thousand hours of operation and spin up to 3500 thousand revolutions. If you regularly clean it in the PlanetIPhone service center, it should not fail due to defects.

Why is the MacBook fan noisy?

A certified PlanetiPhone specialist will determine the exact cause, but there are several sure signs and main reasons, which we will analyze in detail, in order of popularity.

Dust.

In 9 out of 10 cases, the MacBook fan is noisy due to dirt. No matter how clean it is, at the place where you work with a laptop, there is dust everywhere and it main enemy. You can safely use your new laptop, but time will pass, dirt will begin to clog into the ventilation openings, grille honeycombs and radiator fins. As it becomes clogged, it reduces the air flow and the fan increases speed. The temperatures of the processor and video chip rise and the MacBook turns off due to overheating or resets frequencies, throttling, which leads to glitches and slow operation of the laptop, and possibly to burnout of modules on the board. It settles on the fan wings, which, coupled with high speeds and noise, leads to bearing imbalance and vibration.

As we already understood, dust is the main factor of overheating, not only causing discomfort, but blocking normal work and threatening failure of components. It will help here full analysis and cleaning from dust, which we do not recommend doing yourself, because users often damage the motherboard with a screwdriver, chipping chips and transistors.

Thermal paste drying.

Thermal paste is a multi-component substance applied to the chip and cooling system for better heat transfer and removal air gap between them. When the paste dries, it takes about a year and a half, and it loses its heat-conducting properties. The temperature of the chips rises, the speed increases, the MacBook Air fan makes noise like an airplane and overheating occurs, which is fraught with the burning of the chips.

Malfunction of CO heat pipes.

The heat pipe of the cooling system is based on simple principle. Inside it there is an easily evaporated liquid. At the hot end of the radiator in contact with the chip, it evaporates, taking away heat and transferred by condensation to the cold part in contact with the radiator fins. Basically, they are made of copper. Tubes are easily damaged by impact or severe overheating. If your MacBook overheats, even after cleaning and replacing thermal paste, you should pay attention to the CO. It is likely that the fan in the MacBook is noisy because of it.

Ventilation holes are clogged.

The air intake openings also play a significant role in taking in cold air. The surface on which the MacBook rests, such as a carpet or blanket, plugs them. Accordingly, air will not enter the system to cool it and the MacBook fan is noisy.

On the MacBook Pro, these holes are located on the sides and back, and on the MacBook Air, near the screen hinge.

Don't delay. If your MacBook Air's fan is running constantly, it won't go away on its own. Overheating causes serious damage. It is much easier, faster and cheaper to carry out preventative cleaning in 20 minutes in our service center than a serious repair involving soldering the motherboard due to burnout of elements and overheating.

Stages of repair at the PlanetIPhone service center.

“The MacBook fan is noisy,” we often hear these words from our service clients. Behind long years Repairing Apple equipment, we have developed and adhere to the same work procedure.

Come to one of our service centers or call a specialist to your home (In the capital - Free) and voice the problem. The specialist accepts the laptop and first of all carries out a free diagnostic to identify any problems with its operation. All identified problems, the final price of the repair (the price already includes all components and the work of the technician!) and the completion time of the repair are announced. The radiator and cooler are cleaned from dust, the thermal paste is replaced and the bearing is lubricated. The system is being tested with maximum load, to make sure that the MacBook Pro fan makes noise within normal limits. You are given a fully functional and tested device, a warranty card, and a discount card.

Carrying out such a procedure yourself is highly undesirable. You will damage both the CO tubes themselves and the elements on the motherboard. This is not to mention the fact that you will have to go for thermal paste, which costs as much as a whole cleaning in our service, and this is not the fact that simple cleaning will help, and the problem will not turn out to be a failed cooler or CO pipes. You'll just waste a lot of time and money.

Why PlanetiPhone?

We have been working for more than 7 years and specialize only in Apple technology, which means we have studied their features inside and out. We have inexpensive prices, because the supply of original components comes directly from the manufacturer’s plant, bypassing suppliers. We have fix price, without unpleasant surprises at the end of the repair. We provide free diagnostics and visit of a specialist to an address within Moscow. You will receive a 5% discount simply by submitting an application on the website. If the MacBook fan is noisy, do not pull, the damage will not go away on its own.

With passive cooling - they emit heat during operation, and there is no escape from this. This is quite normal as long as the temperature is within acceptable limits. But, if you hear the noise of the cooler running at full speed, and your hands begin to burn on the heated case, it’s time to do something.

Laptops are primarily susceptible to overheating (due to their portability), but monoblocks and desktop computers he is no stranger either. So our advice will be useful to all poppy growers without exception.

Why does my Mac overheat?

Before we start dealing with overheating, we need to understand its essence. The reasons for increased heating can be different, but in the case of Apple computers, it is usually due to too dense placement of internal components due to the compactness and lightness of the devices. Despite energy efficiency increasing every year, when a large number of components are located in a small housing, heat generation inevitably increases. If you don't pay attention to elevated temperature, then over time this will affect the battery life, and can also lead to damage to other components, such as the video chip.

How to avoid overheating

Check resource-intensive applications

Applications that hog your Mac's resources are one of the biggest causes of overheating. Sometimes applications freeze or crash, using the processor to its maximum and, as a result, causing increased heat generation. You can find frozen and resource-intensive applications through “System Monitoring”: all processes that consume more than 70% of the processor power are classified as “gluttonous”. If this is not the main tool you are working with at the moment, for example Final Cut Pro, which is rendering the project, then it is better to end the process. And resources will be freed up, and the Mac will not heat up as much.

Control the temperature

Temperature monitoring is very important if this is not the first time you have noticed the roar of coolers and burned your knees with a “hot” aluminum case. You can be guided by these signs (cooler speed and case heating), but it’s better to use special tool monitoring.

One of the best profile utilities is iStat Menus 5. It provides the most detailed monitoring of all system parameters, including temperature from all installed sensors. Additionally, it can be used to regulate cooler speeds, as well as find out which applications are loading the processor.

Place your Mac on a hard surface

It would seem like a banal piece of advice, but many people still ignore it. Working in bed or lying around soft pillows on a sofa, you will almost certainly get an increased heating effect depending on the intensity of the work. This occurs because the ventilation holes are blocked and the natural circulation air around the Mac's case, which also acts as a large additional heatsink to dissipate heat.

Therefore, if it is not possible to work at a desk, try to place the computer on a hard surface. In bed, you can use a special stand, a table, or just a large book placed on the pillow.

Avoid heat sources and poor ventilation

The previous advice concerned MacBook owners, and this one is addressed to iMac and Mac Pro. Some users don't care correct location their desktop computers, but in vain. For example, the iMac should not be pushed tightly against the wall, as this will break natural ventilation. Mac Pro should not be hidden under a table or in cramped niches of shelves. There is no need to place computers near radiators, fireplaces or any other heat source. Additionally, it is not recommended to use your Mac in areas with temperatures above 35°C.

Don't forget about prevention

No matter how clean your room or office is, there is still dust that collects in your Mac's cooling system. Therefore, it is very important to regularly clean dust - especially if you often work on the go - and replace thermal paste. If you don’t do this, dust will eventually clog the cracks of the thermal interface heatsink (or even the ventilation holes), and your Mac will turn into a noisy stove, which will not turn out well for either you or it.

Clean the dust on ventilation holes You can use a soft brush or vacuum cleaner, first reducing its speed to a minimum. About once a year, your Mac could benefit from cleaning by disassembling or at least removing the cover.

Bonus

“Advice is good,” you say, “but everything is clear with them.” What should I do if my Mac gets hot while doing work? How to reduce heating and its consequences in case of regular loads?

Do not neglect regular heating even to 80–90 °C. This is not a critical temperature, but if it persists for several weeks or more, there is a possibility negative consequences. I will give an example from my own experience. On my old MacBook Pro, I worked with text and photos, rarely loading it to capacity. In 3.5 years, I “specifically” loaded it only twice: during the passage Diablo III and when I was editing a backlog of family videos into FCP (both times in the evenings for several weeks). It would seem that this is not such a big load, but two years later it came back to haunt us with the failure of the video chip. On the new MacBook Air, I no longer do this, but do it differently.

Apple computers work with an emphasis on comfort of use, so the cooling system begins to work actively when it reaches a relatively high temperatures. Usually you can’t hear the coolers at all until 70–75 °C, and only then do they start to spin up. You can change this behavior of the system using an excellent free application Macs Fan Control.

We just need to choose required fan(if you have more than one) and change its control method by clicking the “Sensor-based” button. Next, select the “Sensor-based” option and select the hottest component (for me it’s CPU Core, since the graphics are built-in). All that remains is to ask maximum temperature and the temperature at which the cooler speed begins to increase. For me it is 65 and 45 °C, respectively. The utility can be added to autorun when the system starts and forget about overheating problems altogether.

By following the tips above, you will surely reduce the temperature of your Mac, which in turn will allow you to not worry about overheating. As a rule, simple common sense and periodic monitoring is enough for this. If the described recommendations did not help you and your Mac continues to roar and heat up like a stove, do not delay it and contact a service center.