Operating temperatures on Macbook Pro 15" (Mid-2009)?

Question

Hello people. I have a quick inquiry. I searched google and there were no definite answers regarding this issue, it's all a matter of opinion to many people. What is the safe range for operating temperatures for a 15" Macbook Pro (mid-2009)? Before having installed SMCFanControl, my temperatures ranged in the mid-high-60's (degrees Celsius) when doing intensive work (itunes, google chrome, playing CS: Source on Steam for Mac, Transmission).
After installing SMCFanControl and cranking up the fans to a 3700rpm my temp is now 43-46 degrees C. Is that at all normal/safe?
Sorry I'm just used to my old custom-built PC were my temps are in the mid-30's C. My MacPro 6-core is also about the same, mid-30's C.

Answer 1

I do not remember the exact specs, but if you go to Intel's web site you can look up the design specs for the mobile core-2-duo cpu's. They have a critical operating temp of 100 degrees centigrade (or very close to thereabouts, somewhere between 100 and 105 as I recall).
So, running at 60 degrees is well within the designed operating specs for the chips. My MBP routinely will get up to 80-85 degrees under intense load (number crunching in R for example) and it seems no worse for wear after nearly a year and half of such use.
Your MacPro has much larger cpu heat sinks (since it can) as well as a much larger volume of airflow past them. Even so, start pushing all your cores to 100% with some massively RAM intensive applications, and even it's temps will rise quite a bit (I used to see my work 8-core Xeon MacPro get up into the 70-80 degree range under really heavy load).
And, as mentioned, your machine has thermal shutdown features built into it and monitors several key components internally. Intel designs their mobile chips for higher thermal stress, and they also publish specs and guidelines for manufacturers to follow when installing them in their system designs (eg. air flow, heat sink specs and so forth).