!PLEASE HELP! Macbook pro fan at 0RPM, but still not broken or something

[maikeebery]

this has been on my mind for quite a while now. the majority of people keep saying that macbbook fans run all the time (about 1500RPM idle) and to me it seems logical.

now to the issue. i own a macbook pro retina 13 early 2015, that is about 6 months old and i run istat menus. the thing is that my fan sensor shows 0 RPM, which is (according to that majority) not normal. so it could seem that the fan is faulty, but when i start loading the processor (for example start a game) and the macbook starts heating, the fan suddenly fires up and starts cooling it.

for those who know about istat.. that there is an option to leave the fan going by default, or on medium RPMs or even high. but when it shows 0RPM, no matter how hard i click the "high" button, it just won't switch. but when it shows about 1500 RPM (or at least some RPM), i can switch between those at will.

i, of course, ran apple hardware test and it worked fine.

the very first possibility i can see from my point of view is that there is a bad contact somewhere. because if it was faulty, it would not work at all imo.

i am thinking of sending it to a service anyway, but i just wanted to check some opinions before i do so.

every help/opinion is appreciated. thanks in advance.

(actually while writting this post, running safari only, it went smoothly at about 1300RP and thats the state i think it should normally be in, so i really dont know)

 

[harryb2448]

Maybe the app is at fault and all is well with your MacBook. If it overheats it will simply shut down and then is the time to start investigating.

 

[lclev]

The fan is set to run when the MBpro reaches a certain internal temperature. I don't think I would be overly concerned about what iStat is showing as zero is a normal state when the laptop is at low temps. From what I have read the fan in the 2015 MBP is designed to shut down when the temps are low to preserve battery life. If you are that concerned you can run apple diagnostics.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202731

Lisa

 

[techiesteve]

On your MacBook Pro the fan only runs as required, it doesn't run continuously as earlier MacBook Pro's. Internal sensors control the fan, you shouldn't try to change this. If you feel this isn't correct visit an Apple Store to have diagnostics run. During MRI the fan control is tested. If close to your MacBook Pro you will hear your fan start up for a short period only, then the test will pass.

 

[pm-r]

this has been on my mind for quite a while now. the majority of people keep saying that macbbook fans run all the time (about 1500RPM idle) and to me it seems logical.

now to the issue. … … ..

I sounds like you were visiting some old sites and getting old and inaccurate info for your OS and Mac model. You might want to try again but stick to the current and up to date hits:
https://www.google.ca/search?client...&oe=UTF-8&gfe_rd=cr&ei=GVz8VtrNN6nP8gfDyobgCQ

and also check with the developer and make sure you're running a compatible stat menus version as to how the fan control works on that Mac.

 

[chscag]

I don't think that matters. As Steve pointed out the newer MacBook Pro machines do not use a continuous running fan. An older version of iStat Pro would have shown the same thing - 0 rpm.

 

[pm-r]

I don't think that matters. As Steve pointed out the newer MacBook Pro machines do not use a continuous running fan. An older version of iStat Pro would have shown the same thing - 0 rpm.

I don't know what versions the OP is using but the latest iStat Menus specifically added a special feature — Support for 2015 15-inch MacBook Pro:
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/25230/istat-menus

Just one of the features Steve mentioned, and the OP would have known if they had read any of the latest version blurb.

 

[chscag]

I'm already on version 5.11 but since I have an iMac it doesn't affect me. The newer retina iMacs only have one fan and as far as I'm aware, it runs continuously. My iMac is a late 2013 model and only has one fan which runs all the time. As far as RTM goes, are you kidding? No one (well, maybe you do) reads manuals anymore which is why most developers have dispensed with any kind of extensive help or manual. I remember the manual which came with my copy of Wordperfect 5.1 for DOS. It was like reading a novel. Remember those days? ;D

 

[pm-r]

Oh thanks for the painful memories I was forced to use at work with the thick WP manual, and one for DOS I believe and one other, all almost two inches thick.

I can thank them for one thing, along with the Adam computer at home my eldest son had given our youngest son that was slowly dying, the manuals mainly were the reason we went out and bought an Apple color Mac LC. A color computer/monitor yet, and the manuals were hardly ever opened, even for setup and connections my pre teen son did!!!

I think I was going back out to the car to get the manuals… he had it all setup when I got back to the house some 50 feet away from the carport.

Yes, I do so remember those days…

 

[Rod]

maikeebery, no one has asked what temperature it is where you are using your MBP. I(lucky me) have a brand new 2015 13" MBP Retina and where I am sitting it is 29.9 deg C. iStat shows the internal temp to be 43 deg C the fan is running on Default at 1300 rpm.
In Melbourne (AUS) where I bought it the temp was about 18 deg C during the day and i noticed that the internal temp would occasionally drop to around 30 deg C and the fan would intermittently switch off. Noticeable by the fact that it would start once I began using the keyboard.

 

[pigoo3]

In my research found the same info as techiesteve mentioned. Seems that the newer rMBP's (2015) at some operating conditions can operate without the fan running (contrary to the way older MBP's operated). Seems that the newer "Broadwell" CPU's must run cooler & not need a fan all the time.

Of course this depends highly on the ambient temps as well. A "cool" environment of 65°F will favor lower or 0 fan rpms. A much warmer 90°+F environment will not favor lower computer temps…and thus the fan will run more often.

As some of us know…the new 2015 MacBook has no fan. So it would seem Apple is able to control operating temps with the new MacBook (no fan)…and with the newer 2015 rMBP's (sometimes 0 fan rpm).

- Nick