When the MacBooks were announced, I made my purchase decision relatively quickly - I wanted something faster than my PowerBook G4, but didn't want to spend $2K+ for a MacBook Pro. The price and performance of the MacBook struck a sweet spot with me, and I purchased one of the first black units to show up in the Portland area (I waited to see them in person so I could judge the reflective screen's performance for myself). Generally, I've been thrilled with the MacBook's performance, despite having to send it back to repair a way-too-warm power adapter (the repairs were successful). The only two things I'm disappointed in are the size (I love the 12" form factor) and the high case temperature (especially in the bottom left corner). While I can't do anything about the first problem, thanks to smcFanControl, the second issue is now completely within my control. As seen in the picture at left, this simple app gives you a slider to set the minimum speed for your laptop's fan(s). It works with the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and Intel-powered minis, and it works well.Īpple sets the fan's speed at 1,500rpm, and this works well when I have the machine on the desk. But on my lap, it gets just a bit too warm. Using smcFanControl, I upped the speed to 3,000rpm, and saw a notable (two to four degrees Celsius) temperature drop. Later today, I hope to get some more empirical data through a USB temperature probe. When I set the fan to max speed, I saw an even nicer temperature drop. but I was having trouble enjoying it, thanks to the 747 that seemed to be landing nearby. Perhaps if you're wearing noise a cancelling headset it would be bearable. after downloading smcFancontrol, i realise that smcFancontrol takes over how the fans operate. Quick Links Do I Really Need This The Different Ways Fans Connect to Your PC For Simple, Built-In Controls: Check Your BIOS Get More Advanced Control with SpeedFan A good set of fans can keep your computer from overheating, but they can also make your computer sound like a wind tunnel. The downsides? More fan noise, obviously - although 3,000rpm was fine for my ears (though I probably wouldn't use that setting in a library). I installed SMCFanControl version 2.2 on my Macbook Pro 13inch I5 and I set the fan to 4000rpm. ![]() Perhaps slightly reduced battery life, and a bit more wear and tear on the fan components. I can barely hear the fan so I am thinking about keeping this setting. One question I have is, is this software safe to use Does running the fan at 3000 or 4000 rpm use a lot more battery. But in exchange for a cooler lap, I think it's worth it. you delete smcFanControl from the Application folder, in case that the next time you decide to reinstall it, the settings of this program still be kept. It's important to note that smcFanControl is just an app - it doesn't install any components (unless you want it to run at startup). I've been using it to increase the fan speed when I have the machine on my lap, and reduce it again when it returns to the desk. SmcFanControl won't allow you to set the fan speed lower than Apple's default, so there shouldn't be any risk from using this app.
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