10.6.3 MacBook Pro 15" i7 8GB RAM High CPU - mds/mdworker

I've had my new 15" i7 MBP since this past Friday and it has been great. I've only had relatively minor issues. So the CPU has been running hotter only when the mds/mdworker CPU process decides to spike all over the place for no reason. I tried the following:
- Reset PRAM
- Disabled Spotlight index
- Reindexed drive
- Force quit mdworker process in Activity Monitor
I have two external HD's attached, but this was happening at work today when I had no drives attached. When the mds/mdworker process isn't running amuck, the temps run super cool and the CPU is very efficient. Right now as I'm typing this, the CPU temp is 78 degrees Celsius (and rising), and the mdworker is spiking up to as much as 176% CPU usage, back down, and then back up again.
I know this is a known issue. I've scoured the internet and I cannot ascertain a reasonable fix for this outside of disabling the Spotlight index. I don't like that option because I use Spotlight for certain applications (app launcher).
Is there anything I can do to somehow isolate the culprit and fix the issue?

Some further information:
I just checked the Console and it appears that the Dashboard Widget iStat Pro was making a ton of calls. I have no idea if this has anything to do with it (don't imagine it does) so I just uninstalled it and then installed the iStat Nano widget. My CPU temp is down to 56 degrees Celsius and mdworker isn't spiking. This could just be coincidental though. Not sure.

Similar Messages

Upgraded 2012 MACBOOK PRO 2.6Ghz 8GB RAM 750 GB an alternate for RETINA MBP 15 or NOT?How good is its potential, reliability ?

I am a student and an aspiring filmmaker.I am also into digital cinematography (Canon 550D) and now will be venturing into editing. I am in DIRE NEED of help
I have a few problems regarding the purchase of Macbook pro.I live in Kolkata(India).I have been waiting for the past 1 and a half years to buy a Mac but after the release of Retina Macbook pro 15.I am left confused. Its near unupgradability and unreparibility rumors, delayed delivery, and 1st generation hardware issues especially the lack of Optical drive made me reconsider my decision of buying one.
I want to know whether I can go for the top model of Non Retina - 2.6Ghz 8GB RAM 750 GB 1 GB Nvidea as an alternate choice for Retina MBP pro or NOT ?
1.I wanted to buy the Retina Base model. Though it is very recently launched and there is a big risk buying it because they say it is unrepairable and unfixable as 'everything is glued into the motherboard' dialogue scares me. Something goes wrong after purchase and they send it back to US, is what the Apple officials said. Moreover they don’t keep one on a demo at Apple stores in kolkata. I have searched almost everywhere and have been to many resellers in my city but no use.
NOW,I am very sceptical about custom ordering a Macbook 15 non retina with High-Res 1680X1050p from US.I don’t know how much custom duty or expenses I have to pay and is it safe or not. Time is also a factor. Sadly, I have to buy one in Kolkata (my city) it seems.
2. I am opting for Macbook Pro 15,2.6 Ghz,8GB RAM. Buying it for the sole purpose of editing(audio, video, photos).I need something which is fast along with a good screen size. My original decision was to buy the 17inch but after the launch of Retina and the upgraded 15 inch, I am only looking forward to the upgraded models. Many say 13 inch is fast, but it features a dual core with a maximum of 2.9Ghz clockspeed. I on the other hand want a quad core i7 with good upgradability options and a good screen size. The 13 inch may be a favorite for many, but I want nothing less than a 15 inch. One good option I get with non Retina 15 is its upgradability, while many say Retina MBP 15 can be made upgradable in future but that time is yet to come and by the time the whole web becomes ‘retina friendly’ and all applications supporting its 2880X1800 resolution, I may end up waiting only. Yes the picture quality remains unbeatable when compared to Retina Pro and it will always be. Though friends, I am a student, I want something which is fast, can run almost anything and future dependable. Retina Mac book Pro in India is 2799 USD - Base model. I cannot pay that amount just for the screen. As far as speed is concerned, I plan to get an OWC SSD and a 16 GB OWC RAM in the future resulting in greater speed when comparing the configuration with Retina 15.That problem is solved.
My problem here is this: The web is filled with reviews and videos of Retina Macbook Pro and the upgraded Macbook Pro 15 is just no where, if you even find a few videos, they only feature unboxing videos of Macbook pro 15 (i7-2.3Ghz-4GB-500GB-500MB Nvidea).Other videos compare the 2.3ghz model with Retina 15 pro. They are not elaborate like the 15 Retina Pro reviews.
1. I want to know about the real performance, potential, pros, cons of Macbook Pro 15 (i7 2.6Ghz 8GB RAM 750 GB 1GB Nvidea graphics).
So my question to you is what is your opinion on the 15 inch non retina ? HOW FAST do you think is the new upgraded 15inch non retina i7-2.6Ghz-8GB-750GB model really is ?I have read on many mac forums and seen on a particular youtube video that 15inch 2.3Ghz model takes an alarming 40 seconds to start because of traditional hard drive ! A normal DELL Inspiron starts at 15 secs max with i3+4 GB RAM and this particularly confuses me about the whole quad core processing and stuff and speed when running applications like C6,FCP,Lightroom etc is to be determined in regard to the model I want to buy.
2. Is it necessary to buy APPLE CARE WARRANTY when buying a laptop from Apple.What are the benefits and how is it different form the normal customer care ?
3. Please enlighten me on some nice headphones from Sennheizer under 90 USD.I am considering Sennheiser HD 439.I am not a bass freak and I want something to use for listening to voice, loud clear. In short, a headphone for all purpose. I heard the HD 449 is not that good compared to HD 439.They say it is Jazz oriented. Another confusion !
Finally, If you know anyone who knows about this configuration (15inch 2.6 8GB RAM 750GB) and its performance than please help me out my friends. Any small detail, input, you feel like please let me know. Please help me be sure and satisfied am buying my Macbook Pro very soon and I am awaiting your response.

Well, are you talking about a 750 Hard Drive or SSD? If SSD (quite expensive) it will certainly be as fast. One option is to get the smallest HD they have and with the Non Retina you can upgrade the HD to an SSD later or now but save a little money. Check with iFixit or OWC for instructions. HD's do take longer to start up and load, but once open, the processor and video work just the same as on the Retina model. The SSD speed is nice, but really not critical. So you have to wait a minute for your computer to boot up. The other big question is you need to find out if the non-retina model will take 16GB of ram. According to OWC's site, it will, 16GB for 150USD. Once you get programs open and resident in ram, everything will fly.

MACBOOK PRO 2.6Ghz 8GB RAM 750 GB(Upgraded MBP 2012) an alternate for RETINA MBP 15 or NOT?How good is its potential, reliability ?

I am a student and an aspiring filmmaker.I am also into digital cinematography (Canon 550D) and now will be venturing into editing. I am in DIRE NEED of help
I have a few problems regarding the purchase of Macbook pro.I live in Kolkata(India).I have been waiting for the past 1 and a half years to buy a Mac but after the release of Retina Macbook pro 15.I am left confused. Its near unupgradability and unreparibility rumors, delayed delivery, and 1st generation hardware issues especially the lack of Optical drive made me reconsider my decision of buying one.
I want to know whether I can go for the top model of Non Retina - 2.6Ghz 8GB RAM 750 GB 1 GB Nvidea as an alternate choice for Retina MBP pro or NOT ?
I wanted to buy the Retina Base model. Though it is very recently launched and there is a big risk buying it because they say it is unrepairable and unfixable as 'everything is glued into the motherboard' dialogue scares me. Something goes wrong after purchase and they send it back to US, is what the Apple officials said. Moreover they don’t keep one on a demo at Apple stores in kolkata. I have searched almost everywhere and have been to many resellers in my city but no use.
NOW,I am very sceptical about custom ordering a Macbook 15 non retina with High-Res 1680X1050p from US.I don’t know how much custom duty or expenses I have to pay and is it safe or not. Time is also a factor. Sadly, I have to buy one in Kolkata (my city) it seems.
I am opting for Macbook Pro 15,2.6 Ghz,8GB RAM. Buying it for the sole purpose of editing(audio, video, photos).I need something which is fast along with a good screen size. My original decision was to buy the 17inch but after the launch of Retina and the upgraded 15 inch, I am only looking forward to the upgraded models. Many say 13 inch is fast, but it features a dual core with a maximum of 2.9Ghz clockspeed. I on the other hand want a quad core i7 with good upgradability options and a good screen size. The 13 inch may be a favorite for many, but I want nothing less than a 15 inch. One good option I get with non Retina 15 is its upgradability, while many say Retina MBP 15 can be made upgradable in future but that time is yet to come and by the time the whole web becomes ‘retina friendly’ and all applications supporting its 2880X1800 resolution, I may end up waiting only. Yes the picture quality remains unbeatable when compared to Retina Pro and it will always be. Though friends, I am a student, I want something which is fast, can run almost anything and future dependable. Retina Mac book Pro in India is 2799 USD - Base model. I cannot pay that amount just for the screen. As far as speed is concerned, I plan to get an OWC SSD and a 16 GB OWC RAM in the future resulting in greater speed when comparing the configuration with Retina 15.That problem is solved.
My problem here is this: The web is filled with reviews and videos of Retina Macbook Pro and the upgraded Macbook Pro 15 is just no where, if you even find a few videos, they only feature unboxing videos of Macbook pro 15 (i7-2.3Ghz-4GB-500GB-500MB Nvidea).Other videos compare the 2.3ghz model with Retina 15 pro. They are not elaborate like the 15 Retina Pro reviews.
I want to know about the real performance, potential, pros, cons of Macbook Pro 15 (i7 2.6Ghz 8GB RAM 750 GB 1GB Nvidea graphics).
So my question to you is what is your opinion on the 15 inch non retina ? HOW FAST do you think is the new upgraded 15inch non retina i7-2.6Ghz-8GB-750GB model really is ?I have read on many mac forums and seen on a particular youtube video that 15inch 2.3Ghz model takes an alarming 40 seconds to start because of traditional hard drive ! A normal DELL Inspiron starts at 15 secs max with i3+4 GB RAM and this particularly confuses me about the whole quad core processing and stuff and speed when running applications like C6,FCP,Lightroom etc is to be determined in regard to the model I want to buy.
A. Is it necessary to buy APPLE CARE WARRANTY when buying a laptop from Apple. What are the benefits and how is it different form the normal customer care ?
B. Please enlighten me on some nice headphones from Sennheizer under 90 USD.I am considering Sennheiser HD 439.I am not a bass freak and I want something to use for listening to voice, loud clear. In short, a headphone for all purpose. I heard the HD 449 is not that good compared to HD 439.They say it is Jazz oriented. Another confusion !
Finally, If you know anyone who knows about this configuration (15inch 2.6 8GB RAM 750GB) and its performance than please help me out my friends. Any small detail, input, you feel like please let me know. Please help me be sure and satisfied am buying my Macbook Pro very soon and I am awaiting your response.

Well, are you talking about a 750 Hard Drive or SSD? If SSD (quite expensive) it will certainly be as fast. One option is to get the smallest HD they have and with the Non Retina you can upgrade the HD to an SSD later or now but save a little money. Check with iFixit or OWC for instructions. HD's do take longer to start up and load, but once open, the processor and video work just the same as on the Retina model. The SSD speed is nice, but really not critical. So you have to wait a minute for your computer to boot up. The other big question is you need to find out if the non-retina model will take 16GB of ram. According to OWC's site, it will, 16GB for 150USD. Once you get programs open and resident in ram, everything will fly.

Who makes the SSD in the 2012 MacBook Pro 13" i7 8GB Ram model?

Looking to make the plunge from PC to Mac finally but finding difficulty in seeking answers to my question. Considering a MackBook Pro 13" i7 2.9 GHz 8Gb Ram, thinking about whether or not to upgrade to a 256 SSD. I posed a question earlier to an Apple tech who couldn't or refused to enlighten me on what the brand name of the SSD was. In earlier forums I had noticed they used toshiba (TS) or samsung (sm) I'm just trying to figure out what I'm spending $300 +/- on. I have also watched some videos from Mac users and from Samsung on how to install an SSD so I'm just trying to figure out if it is wise to upgrade from apple or do it my self. The SSD I was considering was the Samsung 256 830 series. Any insight this Army Veteran would be very appreciative.

yes, it's much better to do the upgrade yourself - buying the Samsung SSD is a good choice for your Macbook.
it's quite easy to clone your drive - i'll include a link on the step by steps at the bottom and you can use it for reference if you wish to do so.
with regards to Trim, you can download and install Trim Enabler - here's the link for it.
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/37852/trim-enabler
the advantage of enabling trim is for performance on the write speed. you can either enable it if you wish to do so or leave it off. see what works best for you.
here are the steps for cloning your hard drive to your new ssd.
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4122
should you need more info - feel free to post back.
good luck

Energy usage (watt) of MacBook Pro 2010 with 8GB Ram and i7

I think of buying a MacBook Pro with 8GB, i7
(and SSD, but that's not important because it consumes less than HDD)
What is the energy consumption (in Watt) in idle state with display on under
1) OSX
2) Win7 (I need this for my job)

Well, I need a computer professionally. At least now.
But I want to keep my environments impact at a minimum.
So I need precise data to evaluate what I do:
money is one thing, because it's usually very finite,
but even more important is recyclability, energy, ...:
10 Watts difference (e.g. for 8GB instead of 4GB?)
will yield, over mac lifetime of say 10 years (the laptop
im am currently typing on is 8+ years old, but is slowly
going towards being obsolete, even with ISA SSD upgrade):
10 h/d * 365 d/y * 10 W * 10 y = 365000 Wh = 365kWh.
I try to save energy, so this is approx my direct energy usage
of 1 year (I have no car, do not fly, have no refrigerator,
do not heat my appartement above 10 deg Celcius, ...
but strangely I have a computer and I am a programmer ...).
For me, it's important. It is relevant for my decisions:
5 Watts? I will be tempted by 8GB. 10 Watts? I don't know.
(I do setup work, so I use VMs a lot, so I need quite some
memory for that ...).

MacBook Pro 4,1 8GB Ram Snow Leopard

Hello, i have a 15" 2.5GHz MacBook Pro Penryn Early 2008.
It has snow leopard 10.6.6 64-bit installed on it. Currently i am running it with 3GB DDR2 667mhz ram.
I am curious, can i upgrade it to 8GB of DDR2 800MHz ram? Will it be accessible/useable? Wikipedia says i can only upgrade to 6GB, but i think thats due to 10.5, 10.6 being x64 i would assume it should be able to address 8GB of memory. Thanks!

Hmm, well even if i go with 6GB ram, i would still rather go with 800MHz being that the systembus is 800MHz. i have 4GB 800Mhz in my White MacBook tied with a hybrid solid state hard drive. thing is fast as ****. kinda upsetting that my macbook is faster than my pro.
i can deal with 6GB, i mean 8 is kinda overkill but if i was able to do it, why the **** not lol.
i have 3GB 667mhz and a 5200rpm hard drive in my pro, i can definitely see it choking some times, the ram wont make much of a difference but i know for a fact the hard drive will.

MacBook PRO 2.6Ghz 8GB RAM (2012) -i ned more RAM, is it possible?

Hello, how can help me.
i´m a designer and i ned more as 8GB RAM. Maybe 16GB.
Is it possible?

Assuming it isn't a Retina model, yes.
Maximum Memory
16 GB (Actual) 8 GB (Apple)
Memory Slots
2 - 204-pin PC3-12800 (1600 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

Macbook pro fan running fast and high cpu usage

The fan has started running all the time the error code is 4SNS/40000000 VPOR-19.763

Hey emilyiow,
Thanks for the question. I understand that you are experiencing issues with your MacBook Pro in relation to the fans. Sometimes, this symptom can indicate that the SMC needs to be reset. For more information and instructions on how to do so, check out this resource:
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) - Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/en-us/ht3964
After performing normal troubleshooting, these symptoms may indicate that an SMC reset could be necessary.
Fans
- The computer's fans run at high speed although the computer is not experiencing heavy usage and is properly ventilated.
Additional information:
Using Apple Hardware Test - Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201257
What to do if you get an error in AHT
Confirm that the power adapter is connected if you're using a Mac notebook.
Confirm that all external devices are disconnected from your computer.
Record any error code given so that you can give the information to a Mac Genius, Apple Authorized Service Provider, or Apple Technical Support Specialist.
Thanks,
Matt M.

Retina MacBook Pro 16GB or 8GB RAM

Is 8 GB enough or I need 16 GB For:
Parallels Desktop 8 (Win 8) - gaming and C/C++/Java programming
Final Cut Pro X - full HD video editing 60FPS
Minecraft Server for 80-250 slots
PhotoShop CS6 easy editing and logo design
Music to the max!
Movie downloading
xcode programming for iOS
unity 3d 4.0 Free + iOS license game making
iBooks Author rare use (this one is for fun)
Safari browsing about 5-7 tabs full time (Twitter, YouTube, MacRumors, 9Gag, Dnevnik.hr, p****e b*y)
Skype always on
4 screens
15 MP photo editing (iPhoto)
Garage Band sounds for my games
Google Sketchup 3D map design for unity 3d
iWork normal use
I'm taking: 15" rMBP 2,6GHz 500GB memory an hopefully 16GB ram

People seem to forget about memory swapping. I was in a similar dilemma..not knowing if I should get 16 GB ram or 8 GB would be sufficient.. for me, it wasn't simply a question of spending additional 200 bucks.. I had a great deal on a 512 GB 2.6 Ghz quad core i7 with 8 GB of RAM..along with apple care.. for 2200.. If I was to go for a 16 GB.. then it would have cost me a lot more than the 2200 that I had spent.. So i decided to test how much the 8 GB can handle.. and this is what I did.
Used parallels desktop 7.x
Ran Autocad 2010 thru parallels.
Had chrome open on both mac os x and windows 7 . the windows one is obviously open thru parallels.
Had 8 - 10 Tabs open on each of the chrome.. (9 on mac side and about 8 or 10 on windows side)...
Had iphoto on the mac end fired up that connects to an iphoto library stored on my NAS.. the library itself is about 40 Gigs...
I was pushing more than 8 gig of RAM usage.. BUT.. mac os x alloted quite a big chunk to swap memory (or virtual memory).. and ALWAYS seem to leave me at least 100 MB or free RAM..
NOt even a single time was there any lag or any issues at all.. Iphoto was running 1080p videos.. I was browsing thru all the 20 tabs that were open left and right.. and in between I was hopping over to autocad thru the parallel and doing some work on it...
I swear my goal was to somehow bring the system to lag or slow down... and I was extremely surprised to see that even with just 8 GB or RAM.. I WAS SIMPLY UNABLE TO DO IT. ... Virtual memory size kept increasing.. and there were several page ins and page outs...
The main distinction here is the fact that because of Flash Memory... page ins and page outs and pretty much as rapid and speedy as RAM itself... there is no mechanical drive here.. so no spinning drives.... writing in and out is practically instantaneous.
Anyone who has 8 GB RAM, I would encourage you try to get your system to slow down and report back if you are successful.
I simply couldn't.... and I know for a fact that I will never have 20 chrome tabs open while I have iphoto running while I have autocad etc..
I am in simply in awe with this machine.. that's all I can say.

Macbook pro mid2010 8 gb ram-no maverick upload

macbook pro min 2010, 8GB ram will not download Maverick

DHarpmt,
how much free space is on your internal disk?
Exactly what happens when you try to download Mavericks?

Macbook Air (2012) i7 8Gb RAM & Final Cut Pro X

I want buy a Macbook Air 13 (2012) with i7 dual-core and 8Gb RAM but
Macbook air 13 (2012) with i7 dual-core and 8Gb RAM is ok for Final Cut Pro X + framework Twixtor for slowmotion? for amatorial use..for Clip with maximum length 30 minutes.. to use it sometimes..
Is possible crash during the rendering? is ok rendering?
is possible Final cut pro X with Twixtor and Motion for Macbook air.. or only for Macbook Pro?
thank you so much... look forward..

thank so much Luis
yes I use an external drive for my media..
therefore Final Cut Pro X + Plugin Twixtor(for slowmotion) + Motion 5... all with Full HD is ok on Macbook Air i7 with 8GB ram?
The CPU low voltage and... integration GPU is ok for this software of editing video
Thank you so much

Macbook Pro 10.6.8 RAM Upgarde to 8 GB

I bought a macbook pro 10.6.8 a long time ago and It's working wonderful. I couldn't be happier how fast it is comparing to any other windows computers that I have used in the past. As mather of fact, I have 2 Desktop and 2 Laptops.
I'm a programmer / Web Designer and a Social Media Expert and I was hoping someone can actually enlighten me with some advices regarding this type of mac when it comes to upgrades.
I use a lot of Adobe Programs those days and or some Video Production that require a lot of memory. I was happy with everything untill I decided to upgrade my RAM to 8 GB. Right now those are my computer specifications:
Model Name:
MacBook Pro
Model Identifier:
MacBookPro7,1
Processor Name:
Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed:
2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors:
1
Total Number Of Cores:
2
L2 Cache:
3 MB
Memory:
4 GB
Bus Speed:
1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version:
MBP71.0039.B0B
SMC Version (system):
1.62f6
Serial Number (system):
34******ATM
Hardware UUID:
I decided to go ahead and buy 8GB or RAM from Amazon. I was very excited when I got them and decided to finally upgrade and this is what happend:
If I pull out the 2 memory sticks of 2GB each and remplace them with the new 4GB Stick each the computer froze. It restart and does not get pass the gray screen with the thing spinning for about 2 minutes before it froze.
If I only pull out one (1) Memory stick of 2GB and remplace it with 4GB, the computer works fine and it restart with no problems and I get 6 GB. After doing the Memtest, everything seems to be functioning properly. But the computer is not any faster nor I see any difference at all.
The only combination that does not function is if I use both 4GB RAM each then as I said it froze. I even called CORSAIR " The place I bought my RAM from and explain to them the ptoblem and they end up sending me another version of the 4GB but it's still the same problem " Frozen ".
A guy I've been talking to had the same issue and end up using 16GB and he told me that his Macbook pro works perfect with the combination of two (2) 8GB RAM together. Doesn't make any sens to me but it still works.
If anyone has encounter a similar problem would you please comment? Thank you all very much!
~John
<Edited By Host>

kwmlr439 wrote:
CSOUND Read the title please:
Re: Macbook Pro 10.6.8 RAM Upgarde to 8 GB
The amount of RAM is not dependant on the operating system. It is all about the model of you Mac.
10.6.8 is the version of OS X that is installed on your system. It has no real baring on the amount of RAM that CAN be installed.
Personally I have never had good luck with Corsair RAM. I have always had good luck with Crucial and Kingston.
Message was edited by: Shootist007
Message was edited by: Shootist007

Attn: ALL APPLE PORTABLE OWNERS -Macbook Pro, MacBook Air Apple portable slowdown / kernel high CPU solution

Attn: ALL APPLE PORTABLE OWNERS -MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini slowdown kernel / high CPU use problem and solution.
YOU COULD FRY YOUR COMPUTER IF YOU DO NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM SO PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE MESSAGE!
YOUR MAC WILL THANK YOU
Hey all.
Like many of you I've got a newer Apple portable which slows down to an unusable level for an unknown reason. In my case a 13" mid 2009 Intel MacBook Pro Core 2 duo laptop. After many failed attempts to figure out what this nutty problem is I have discovered the problem, the solution and I have solved this for my own MacBook Pro. Since this fix it has been working immediately and consistently -without issue
I am sharing this with you in hopes that you to can fix your Apple portable yourself or so you know what to tell the Apple techs so they can quickly fix your Mac from this wacky and unfortunate kernel CPU hogging problem.
User Software Symptoms :
Your Apple portable computer periodically for an unknown reason slows down making everything frustratingly slow. This happens even when running previous apps that were never a problem; things that your Mac should be able to handle easily but for some reason now it can't.
Slowdown most often happens during high CPU use such as gaming, video playback/editing, etc. or when running multiple apps (even non CPU intensive apps) at the same time.
Possible Hardware Symptoms:
Your computer is making more noise than it did previously.
Your computer occasionally makes more noise but then gets quieter.
Your computer is always extremely quiet (too quiet) even during high CPU apps -worst case scenario.
It feels hotter than it normally does. Test: After several minutes of the slowness/high kernel CPU touch the computer to feel if it's hotter than normal.
Looking at Activity Monitor (in the Utilities folder) shows the kernel_task is going bonkers eating up CPU but you have no idea why.
After trying many different things to solve this problem such as :
PR ram reset, SMC reset, fresh OS install of 10.5 and 10.6 on external hard-drives, calling and speaking to various Apple tech people who had no ideas/solutions, etc. I had no luck.
Btw, if you're having the symptoms I've decscribed above I would not run the Apple Hardware check (read below as to why). You could fry your Mac!
After much testing I found the problem :
It is my belief that "recent" Apple portable computers are using low quality internal fans which soon stop working!
Fail time period seems to be about 1.0 years to 2.5 years of use but this fail rate could vary depending on use.
First noticeable symptoms (depending on what you notice) could be computer slowdown or your fan is making more noise than it normally does. This is your fan's lubrication slowly eroding making your fan spin slower and less smooth resulting in the louder noise and slower rpm spin speed. The slower fan spin speed means less cooling is happening for your computer. The effect on your computer is that the CPU and other chips are heating up! Overheating to be more specific. When your computer's chips overheat they get wonky and screw things up. Most often this seems to have the effect of making the kernel hog CPU resulting in a frustratingly slow user experience! Heat kills computer chips and it is extremely bad for them. Extreme overheat or repeated overheating has been said to shorten the life of computer chips or in extreme cases even fry them completely!
The longer this goes on without being fixed your fan loses more lubrication and spins slower and slower cooling lesser and lesser resulting in your CPU heating up more and more possibly shortening the life of your Mac! Eventually your fan will stop completely and you could fry your chips! My fan stopped completely and my MBP was running very quietly, too quietly. Luckily I did not fry my chips because I was avoiding using high CPU apps because I knew something was wrong due to the massive slow down and wonkiness when I'd run them.
Side Note:I'm a bit concerned about all those Mac mini servers which may be using the same defective low quality fans which cannot be easily serviced by their owners as they are co-located in some server facility. One positive thing is those facilities are usually well airconditioned keeping temps low.
I suggest you do not run the Apple hardware test if you suspect your computer is overheating because the hardware test can seriously heat up your Mac! I tried running this test and my Mac got so hot I had to shut it down forcefully and I was concerned I damaged the chips. If you want to run the Apple hardware check make sure your CPU temperature is ok and that your fan works well before you run the test.
IF YOU DON'T FIX THIS PROBLEM YOU COULD FRY YOUR COMPUTER DUE TO HEAT DAMAGE!
DO NOT IGNORE THIS PROBLEM YOUR MACS LIFE MAY DEPEND ON IT!
First you need to properly diagnose this problem and see if your CPU is getting to hot and you need to see if your fans are spinning at high rpms giving proper cooling, or if they are spinning at low rpms when running high intensive apps as your CPU temp increases.
TEST IF YOUR FAN(s) IS WORKING CORRECTLY :
Unfortunately Apple does not include CPU temperature reading software nor fan rpm speed software that I am aware of.
However, There are two free ways that I know of to check your CPU tempurature and your fan speed :
One app shows fan speed, and CPU heat, etc.
One app shows fan speed, CPU heat and allows you to adjust your fan speed settings.
One app is a dashboard widget, the other is a system preference.
I suggest you download both of these to check your computer statistics.
http://www.eidac.de/?p=134
http://www.islayer.com/apps/istatpro/
http://fan-control.en.softonic.com/mac
I am not exactly sure what proper CPU temperatures are for the different Apple computers and this will change given different CPU loads.
My MBP doesn't seem to function properly with anything around 90 degrees or higher (celcius).
It seems when the fan is operating normally the CPU temp should not stay above 78 degrees even under heavy load, at least with the apps I'm running in the room temperature I'm in.
I can post back later with more specific temps under longer load, etc. but I wanted to get this post up for people to read as soon as possible so they don't fry their Macs.
If a bad fan is your problem :
THERE ARE ONLY TWO SOLUTIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM :
Fix or replace your fan so it cools the CPU and other chips properly.
I fixed my fan myself and I didn't need to buy a new one. Total cost was about $8.00 because I had to buy a #00 sized screwdriver and had it shipped to me. Price includes shipping.
On my mid 2009 model MacBook Pro fixing the fan was incredibly easy :
Before I started doing this I wasn't 100% this was the problem so I decided to try to fix my fan instead of ordering a new one and replacing it. As it turns out I didn't need a new fan, I only needed to clean the existing fan and relube it's axl so it could spin easier like when it was new. It also didn't make sense to buy a brand new fan from an Apple authorized parts reseller selling me the same low quality fan for $49.00 which would probably fail in 2 years again. Prices for new comparable fans from different manufactures range from about $15.00 USD + shipping to around $49.00 USD + shipping depending on where you order them from and what brand you get.
How to fix / replace your internal fan on a mid 2009 MacBook Pro :
Please note : I am not a hardware technician, nor expert. If you decide to fix your Mac yourself you do so at your own risk through no fault of my own. Prior to opening up your Mac you should google around and learn how to do it correctly and safely so you won't damage your Mac. For example, it is possible for you to damage your Mac by static electricity from your body. To avoid this I believe proper procedure is that you wear a 'ground strap' (around your wrist) which you clip to your Mac's metal body so your body will not excude a charge into your Mac. I believe the idea here is to keep your body's charge level and your Mac's similar. Since I do not have a ground strap and fixing/replacing the fan doesn't require touching any chips I did not wear a ground strap during my fan fix. What I did was periodically repeatedly touch the metal case of my MBP hoping that would be enough and it was. Avoid unecessary actions that can build up a static charge in you. Once I started the repair I did not walk around the room building up an electrical charge in my body. Walking on carpet can often build up a large charge in us so it is better to be avoided while working on your Mac. Certain clothing can build up static charges. Combing hair, etc. If you need to get up from your repair when you come back make sure you first touch the Mac's metal case and not anything inside.
Now that we're done with the scary paranoia, below you will find some instructions on how I fixed my MBP's internal fan
Before you begin:
Check out someone's video (not mine) on how to remove / replace the fan (but not take it apart and repair it):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AghE9newvbs
Check out someone's web page (not mine) on how to replace the fan in a mid 2009 MacBook Pro:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing-MacBook-Pro-13-Inch-Unibody-Mid-2009-Fan/ 1338/1
How to repair your mid 2009 MacBook Pro fan:
Make sure you are in a 'secure' environment. No pets, no kids running around, no drinks near the Mac, etc.
Make sure your computer is unplugged from it's power supply and turned off. NOT slept. Totally off / powered down.
1. Get a size #00 phillips screwdriver (Hobby store, Radioshack, Amazon).
2. Open up your MBP by unscrewing the bottom (yes flip it over so it's resting upsidedown). Note where each screw goes because some are different lengths. I placed each one around my MBP where they go, insuring I know their order (don't jumble them up). Note which direction your MBP is facing when it's upside down so if you spin it around while working on it you still know where the screws go.
2b. Some recommend removing the MBP's battery but I didn't do this step. You probably should, just to be safe. Follow the online instructions from the web page I listed about disconnecting the battery.
3. Unscrew the fan's 3 holding screws.
4. Unplug the fan's electrical connection (lift it straight up off the board). If you need to you can try to pry it up while you lift with a non metal/non electrical conductive object like a spudger if you have one or -perhaps a pen cap. Before you remove it, look closely at how it's attached so when you put it back on you won't wonder if you're doing it correctly. There's only one way it can go because it cannot fit 'the wrong way' but looking at it closely will make you feel more confident popping it back on when the time comes.
5. Remove the fan - it easily lifts out.
6. Take the fan apart by unscrewing it's one screw then unlatching the plastic clips which hold it together.
7. Seperate the fan blades from the housing. Lift the fan blades off of the fan housing by pulling it straight out away from the housing.
8. Clean off the dust that's gathered. A can of compressed air helps here (I didn't have one). I used a little brush from my electric shaver kit which worked well. Once you've removed all the dust from the fan and surrounding areas proceed to the next step.
9. Reapply new lubrication. You need less than 1 drop. Be sure it covers the entire fan blade axl as this is what needs to be well lubricated. Make sure there isn't excess oil that will fly around when the axl/fan spins at high rpms. I used the only oil I had which was olive oil (for cooking!) but I do not suggest this. At the time I was doing this I didn't know my fan was the problem so I wasn't even sure I was going to relube it. You should probably use something more appropriate perhaps like 3 in 1 oil. A good idea would be to call the manufatures of these little fans and ask them. Maybe a hobby store knows of good lubricants for these purposes?
DO NOT use things like WD 40 as it's not a long term lubricant or so I've read.
10. Once your fan is now clean and oiled (make sure there isn't too much oil) reassmble the fan.
Push the fan blades/axl back into the housing shaft. Give it a few spins with your finger.
Screw together the fan housing then reclip the clips.
11. Place the now reassembled fan back into your Mac and screw it in place (3 screws).
12. Reattach the fan's electrical wiring by gently pushing it into place. Make sure you've got the right end facing down before you push it in place.
13. Once your Mac's internals are clean and reassembled, place the rear cover back on your Mac and screw it in place.
14. Double check you didn't forget anything like screws, tools, etc.
15. Boot up your Mac and monitor the temperature and fan speed using those programs.
Compare the previous temps/fan speed to the current temp/fan speed.
Run a high CPU intensive app where your computer has been slowing down.
You should now have a happy Mac
If you have this problem and this solution fixed it for you please post in this thread letting me and everyone else know!
Hope that helps.

Thanks for your lengthy reminder dude, I have a similar Mac with yours. I suspect its a software fault because it happens after I upgraded to Lion, 10.7.2.

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