Controlling the minimum speed of fans!
I had issues with my graphics card lately and it is usually fine, except when I am working in really graphics intensive application such as Motion. I read a lot about it online and apparently, replacing the card won't do much good. The reality is that it is overheating. The recommendation were to increase the minimum fan speed when I am working in these applications. A really cool third-party application called smcFanControl lets you increase the minimum speed of the fans. What is great about it is that it is still fully automatic. It will still let the system go above the speed that you set if it is needed. I haven't had any problems since. This application only works on Intel Macs however. You can learn more about smcFanControl or download it here on MacUpdate.
posted by Frederic Tremblay at
4/06/2008
4 Comments:
I have a different fan-related problem.
My fan goes up and down like a roller coaster. Every few minutes it revs up very high and loud and stays up for 10 to 30 seconds and spins back down.
CPU A Die Temperature hovers between 160 and 180 degrees F. (temp monitor http://www.bresink.com/osx/TemperatureMonitor.html )
How hot is too hot? Apple support just sent me to support docs that were inconclusive.
To clarify, greater processing requirements cause higher hardware temperatures, does this directly effect performance?
As referenced, graphics intensive apps such as Motion cause processors to heat up, and I've experienced slower performance after working in Motion for extended periods, especially moving back and forth between Motion and FCP. Do warmer processors perform worse?
...using a 2.0 gHz Intel iMac.
My fan problem is also different ... the fan on my intel MAC shifts into high gear right after I turn it on or wake it from sleep. It stays in high gear until I put it back to sleep or shut down.
It's not a greater processing requirement but it sure is a noise issue. I tried the MAC posts but haven't found the answer. Anybody know?
I prefer Fan Control, which is a free system preference from Lobotomo Software. Visual chart shows the ramp up of fan speed based on CPU temperature.
http://www.lobotomo.com/products/FanControl/
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