Apple Releases MacBook Firmware Update

I just updated my firmware, and I've already noticed a tempurature drop.

Also, the moo is gone!

Is it a good drop or just a meh, it did a little, I've been reading up on it and a lot of people are unimpressed.

Yeah, I'm curious too.

Before the firmware update, I was running about 70C when plugged in and in better performance mode. I was running about 65C when on battery and in battery saving mode. Both of those temperatures are during moderate internet surfing.

I look at my temps now, and I was doing around 50C right after the update and plugged in. At this moment I'm running at 31C while on battery power.

So, I would defenitely say the temperature change is dramatic. I barely notice the fan, so it's not a problem at all for me having the fan constantly on. So far no change in battery life either, so staying cool doesn't seem to affect the longevity of the battery.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the update. I feel like my MacBook is complete now.

Mine's ALOT cooler too. It usually ran at about 180F and now it runs at about 110F

Now I just need something this useful for the macbook pro. i'm sick of it nearly burning me when i pick it up. maybe they are just waiting for the merom chips to cool it down, which isn't much use for those of us with existing mbp's

initial reports show merom is likely to run HOTTER, so i wouldnt hold your breath:

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1975

Yeah, but maybe now they know hot to make them cooler (see the macbook firmware).

For what I've read, the merom runs hotter only on full load (and the differece is very small), but actually runs cooler most of the time (not much cooler either)

The TDP messuarment is for worst case scenario heat dissipation.

I am seeing a huge difference already. I was running at around 160 - 170 F, now I'm at 85-100 F.

Great job Apple!

Higher temperature, and higher temperature shifts would cause an overall shortening of lifespan of product. So if those concerns are only minor they would be unecessary.

I'm going to guess this is the same update that all of the portables have gotten. Fans on low, all the time, and more aggressive cpu speed adjusting to idle when not busy. What this fix did for me on the MBP is give me an overal 20c drop in average use. It did NOT keep the unit from discomfortable heat if I'm working it hard - but it did make it a laptop again for the majority of things I do. Office and Internet work is now cool. 3D Gaming and intense cpu work (like rendering) and it is as warm as ever. I don't foresee any major change in this, even with merom. The chips get hot, and the stylish design doesn't offer anyplace for heat dissipation, other than through the slim case. This is just a fact of life, and a small price to pay for an otherwise awesome unit. The heat is not hot beyond specification, so there is no danger here, just a little discomfort if you aren't paying attention in certain usage scenerios.

This is NOT a reason to avoid one of these machines.

Seems to get now:

54c - 60c when doing simple / soft tasks

57c- 70c with Pro Tools LE and heavy sessions...

I hope it'll fix the random shut-downs issue. I'm checking this one....

no news yet about that one...

I'm still not going to use my warranty till Apple will know what the hell is the issue.

I think it's something in the SMC/PMU or other "firmwarish" thing that got the be fixed...

Seems to get now:

54c - 60c when doing simple / soft tasks

57c- 70c with Pro Tools LE and heavy sessions...

 

I hope it'll fix the random shut-downs issue. I'm checking this one....

no news yet about that one...

 

I'm still not going to use my warranty till Apple will know what the hell is the issue.

I think it's something in the SMC/PMU or other "firmwarish" thing that got the be fixed...

I can assure you this will not fix random shutdown.... the problem been around for months now for the few of us unlucky macbook users, once it started the random will be more random (frequent) shutdown... my macbook was already enroute to apple repair center... see here for video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LU8chsw1Rk

and multiple threads discussing this random shutown here http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?t...62&tstart=0 and here http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=25092 and lot more in google. if you will have this... it will be disappointing and you might curse someone..

im really happy to hear about these temperature drops. having the computer run at 33 degrees celsius instead of 80 or 90 will be great for people with those hot (pun intended) macbooks.

Yep.

It doesn't fix the shutdown. just make the fan "always on" and the machine cooler...

I would have assumed to make the system cooler the fan basically needs to work harder. This I thought would obviously cause four major down sides.

1. Increase noise (I notice cavemonkey50 said he barely noticed any increase - good)

2. Lower batter capacity (I take note again)

3. Lower battery lifespan.

4. Shortening the lifespan of the fan.

If it doesn't cause any of these problems then it's fantastic but that it might.

Does anyone think these are unnecessary concerns?

I can only speak to the MBP, noise no worries, unless I put an ear against the case I can't hear it running. Battery, I noticed no difference, and I am going to venture it is because of the more aggressive CPU idle is conserving as much or more power than the fans use. As for life of the fan, I would think no worries. .. every Intel notebook I've ever had used the fans all of the time.

Still, I agree with you, the things you mention are the tradeoffs to be concerned with. I find the fix a good one, with gains listed above outweighing theoretical losses.

the fan is so quiet its barely noticeable. it did make my macbook a bit cooler - the top right and the underside used to become too hot to touch - now they are merely very warm.

to be honest, it concerned me that the machine was getting so hot with no signs of the fans turning on, so for me this is a good move by apple. nice of them to release it the day after i got my macbook, too

What are you guys using to monitor temperatures?

What are you guys using to monitor temperatures?

CoreDuoTemp v0.91

What are you guys using to monitor temperatures?

CoreDuoTemp v. 1.0 now situated in upper menu.

With the firmware update my normal (not doing much) temp has gone from 65 -> 55 degrees C,

even while the processor speed is then 1.5GHz (it used to be 1.33GHz before).

When running a Parallels VM (with Ubuntu/Linux), the drop in temperature is more dramatic:

from 75 -> 55 deg, and the speed dropped from maximum 1.83 -> 1.5GHz.

I can't hear the fan at all, but then my hearing isn't what it used to be...