Just a quick question, I have a 15" Aluminium Macbook Pro (2008 version) with NVidia 9600 GT. I've noticed when I play graphic intensive games like HAWX or Lost Remnant (on Windows of course) my Macbook becomes very very hot. I suppose as it is aluminium, heat dissipates fast that's why it's hot on the outside. But my concerns comes with graphic card burning out (or even components melting!) during an intensive gaming workout. Has anybody faced any problems so far? I'm worried about coming soon games like Assassins Creed 2 and Dragon Age: Origins. But right now I can play most games on full (although Sims 3 lag when zooming out dunno why ). Other than that, I'm actually impressed with the Macbook Pro performance, it's like between mid and high class gaming laptop. Beats my home PC by miles .

Might be modem problem, if ethernet got problem. Or might just be connection problem, if can try with another PC.

Go to System Preferences, click on the Keyboard & Mouse icon, then go to the Keyboard tab. Over there there should be a check box which says "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys."
If this box is checked, by default pressing F5 would execute a function which is related to the F5 key.
If this box is empty, by default pressing F5 would execute a function which is related to the picture on your keyboard (or whatever Apple relates it to).
You would want the box to be empty.
Also, the pressing of the fn key would reverse the effects. IE: Pressing the fn + F5 key while box is checked would do a Keyboard Backlight option.

This post has been edited by basura: Jul 25 2009, 03:04 AM

Yes, but it will only work on Aluminium Macbook Pros. Maybe even just your model, as the 15 and 17" has different hardware.

Can anybody answer my question whether or not Aluminium Macbook Pros have burnt out graphic cards or melted components after some intense gaming (everything full for newest games except AA)

To preducer, MetalZone, and Nimrod, thanks for helping out. It's common to think that laptops (especially hot ones like these) can burn their graphics cards and components out. After further research however, I found that this such occurrence is extremely rare and is actually non-existent in the Macbook line-up.
I've noticed that my laptop gets hot real quick, but loses heat just as quick. This is to say, its safe to believe that "hot" is how the laptop should be when its using a lot of resources. And also, whenever temperature exceeds a certain limit, the resources will halt and the application would crash, giving ample of time for it to lose heat again. Think of it like the laptop is getting tired, just give it time to rest.
To Macbook Pro gamers, remember to keep the back of the macbook (underneath the screen, where the ventilation is) well ventilated. Elevate your Macbook if possible, or play it on a material which dissipates heat fast. I play mine on an Ikea glass table, it runs well as heat is dissipated quickly. When I move to a wooden table or put it on something like a cushion, it overheats quickly.

This post has been edited by basura: Jul 26 2009, 06:16 PM