timelover

Q: Best fan control app nowadays?

Hi!

 

I wish my macbook pro's fans would kick in and go above the usual 2000 rpm mark a little sooner. I wanted my mac to remain cooler than apple's default temperature.

 

What is the best app for that today?

 

Macs Fan?

Fan Control 1.2?

Ultra Fan?

smcfancontrol 2.4?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on May 18, 2014 12:56 PM

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Q: Best fan control app nowadays?

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  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy May 18, 2014 1:01 PM in response to timelover
    Level 10 (270,251 points)
    Desktops
    May 18, 2014 1:01 PM in response to timelover

    Of all the available options my choices are:

     

    Macs Fan Control 1.1.11

    smcFanControl 2.4

     

    If you use iStat Menus 4.21, then it also has fan control capability as part of the Sensors setup.

  • by timelover,

    timelover timelover May 18, 2014 1:39 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 18, 2014 1:39 PM in response to Kappy

    I dont find istats fan management good at all. I mean, Im looking fir something more automatic, whereas with itats I have to keep switching profiles manually,

     

    I use it for the sensors info though.

     

    Regarding the fan apps, Im not sure how to properly set them. Take macs fan for example, I select "control by sensor" but Im not sure which one to choose. Should I always pick CPU Core 1, for both fans?

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy May 18, 2014 2:03 PM in response to timelover
    Level 10 (270,251 points)
    Desktops
    May 18, 2014 2:03 PM in response to timelover

    I don't think you quite understand Macs Fan Control. Each fan is controlled separately. A MBP only has two fans. If you want them to both work the same, then you should select the same sensor - The CPU sensor that typically runs hotter. You will see that in the configuration window. Then set the "kick in" temperature to around 40º C. Do this for each fan.

     

    Configuring SMC Fan Control is just as easy but is done based only on setting the base fan speed. SMC Fan Control is only capable of setting the idle fan speed. That may be a better choice for a laptop than Macs Fan Control, but you should try them out before deciding which you prefer.

     

    As for iStat Menues you do not have to switch profiles. Create your desired profile as the "Default" profile or the "Medium" profile, select that profile as the default, then Save your settings. There is no need to switch them to anything. I use iStat to set the fans on my iMac and I never need to change them.

  • by timelover,

    timelover timelover May 18, 2014 2:16 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 18, 2014 2:16 PM in response to Kappy

    About Macs Fan, are you sure thats better for both fans to be tied to 1 sensor? Isnt their job to cool different parts? Id assume one fan for cpu and the other for gpu, am I wrong?

     

    Also, do you think 80 celcius is fine for max temp inside Macs Fan settings?

     

     

    Finally,  would you say that smc is just the same as istat then? setting the base fan speed only?

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy May 18, 2014 2:47 PM in response to timelover
    Level 10 (270,251 points)
    Desktops
    May 18, 2014 2:47 PM in response to timelover

    Both cores are contained in a single chip, so the object is to cool the chip. Tying to the hotter of the two cores assures that core won't overheat because the other core is cooler. On the computer I have that uses Macs Fan Control that is how I set it up.

     

    I don't know if Mac Fan Control acknowledges one fan for the CPU and one for the GPU, but if so, then, yes, I would set it up separately.

     

    SMC Fan Control is essentially the same as iStat Menues.

     

    Personally, the internal fan control contained in the SMC chip in your computer is adequate to assure that the CPU and GPU do not overheat. I wouldn't recommend using any such software and trust that the Apple engineers know what they are doing. Laptops run hot because they are small, thin, and light. There isn't much room inside to provide huge cooling devices. Apple's manuals tell you not to use them on your lap because of the possibility of burning your thighs or causing overheating damage to the computer. Apple does not even refer to them as "laptops." They are called "Notebook" computers.

     

    They also are not gaming machines. Although you can play some games on them any game that makes heavy demands on the processors will cause them to become uncomfortably hot unless you take external cooling precautions.

  • by Applenosol,

    Applenosol Applenosol Sep 2, 2016 2:51 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Sep 2, 2016 2:51 AM in response to Kappy

    Personally, the internal fan control contained in the SMC chip in your computer is adequate to assure that the CPU and GPU do not overheat.

     

     

    Personally I LOL about "protection from Apple". I have an iMac 27'' 2010 late and GPU breaked for overheat. The iMac is Out of warranty, so, I send my iMac for a "Reballing" GPU and now it is working again.

     

    I process every day 2 video and GPU Goes to 79ºC during converting video tu mp4. Apple engineers not put fans to max rpm for break hardware! If i Use iStat and put to MAX fan rpm the GPU goes down to 52ºC, a very safe temperature for work and i don't think about noise, simply is better for my iMac work with less temperature. So... Apple Suck one more time. And better not speak about Apple Care and putting refurbished components like Panels...

     

    I don't want an iMac for gaming. Apple have the best publicity in Media, Video and Photo, but his hardware work at too high temperature and the life of components shorted at high temperatures. Another way software for control fans is the better solution to work with low temperatures.

     

    Sorry my bad english but I am from Europe, Spain.