Temperature Rises with audio

Oops, I'm so used to giving instructions for fixing PSE 8 I forgot this was also about PSE 6 problems. To get that running you need to uninstall using the uninstaller in Applications>utilities and then run the CS3 version of the script (if you have problems with both versions you need both scripts and I don't think Ankush is much help with PSE 6).

Also, for PSE 6 start with the more reasonable suggestions here:

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/403/kb403247.html

(don't reinstall OS X, for instance, but do check fonts).

quote
Given my Mac Pro shipped with Leopard and ONLY plugging in my Apogee Duet FW audio interface triggers the reported increases in CPU temperature from ~50 to 80 celsius I would really appreciate a fix for Leopard. Current fix has been tried (installing the extensions only, see Mac Rumors audio temp thread) and does not work for Leopard.
/quote

Chris,

Yep. That's right. The symptom your seeing with FW is part of the flaw that was patched recently. Are you able to upgrade to Snow Leopard? If you can, just go ahead and upgrade. Its pretty cheap. ...Then you can apply the patch and be done. That's what most of us have had to do.

meridiandevv wrote:
So the update has reduced my CPU temperature with audio playback (Presonus Firebox Firewire audio interface) and that is great. Also haven't had any machine crashes (grey screens) recently which is also great.
The problem is that when the Firebox is plugged into the firewire port of the Mac Pro there is a constant high pitched whistle of slightly oscillating frequency. If I unplug it the whistle goes away in a few seconds. After prolonged use in a quiet room (the kind of room you need for audio recording / mixing work!) the noise is enough to drive me out of my mind.
I read a post on another forum with other people having the same problem. Can anyone comment here on seeing the same thing? Is there any known work around or fix for this?

meridiandevv,

The oscillation type noise is probably due to your intake and exhaust fans or your boost fan(s). Try using smcFancontrol or fancontrol.

http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/23049

*or*

http://www.concorde-photos.co.uk/stuff/MP2009CPUFancontolV0.7.zip

Good luck,

Jesse

Thanks for the reply Jesse 😉

I have the SL update disk already, it was just so many of my 'odd' audio app's and plug-ins from Tiger have been working in Leopard and I just made the 'big' update to Leopard (big for audio users and compatibility) with this new Mac Pro in September so I was hoping not to have to go through compatibility testing again so soon. I suppose it's now picking between always running my machine hot or possibly losing some favorite 'unique' app's and plug's (some are not being updated anymore) and at very least having to troubleshoot lots of little problems I already know exist...have to pick between two evils I guess 😟

Chris Gibson1 wrote:
Thanks for the reply Jesse 😉

I have the SL update disk already, it was just so many of my 'odd' audio app's and plug-ins from Tiger have been working in Leopard and I just made the 'big' update to Leopard (big for audio users and compatibility) with this new Mac Pro in September so I was hoping not to have to go through compatibility testing again so soon. I suppose it's now picking between always running my machine hot or possibly losing some favorite 'unique' app's and plug's (some are not being updated anymore) and at very least having to troubleshoot lots of little problems I already know exist...have to pick between two evils I guess 😟

I smell what yer steppin in my brutha!

Here's the link to the Mac Pro Audio Update 1.0 if you decide to leap to SL.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1004

--Jesse

Been thinking about it a lot since last post...since I already have a 'clone' sitting there (Super Duper-style) of my present system AND I usually wait for a 'good' reason for a big OS upgrade, sounds like that 'good' reason has arrived 😉 Thanks for link and your feedback, guess I will go for it tomorrow then.

Be interesting to see if I actually notice any performance differences as I only heard about this bug a week ago and I actually didn't realize I was always running hot with Apogee hooked up...might be fun if I actually see more power from this machine than I had!

high temps?!

here's my addition for what it's worth-
open apps- itunes (music running), mail, activity monitor, safari, iphoto
temps are somewhat lower after the recent mac pro update but when using handbrake temps still go to 173 fahrenheit @ an internal temperature of 91F, let alone working with photoshop or stupid face recognition running in iphoto
i have seen cpu core temps go up to 210F in the past (for extended periods!!!) before the update using handbrake

i am also worried about general high temps which WILL ultimately lessen useful life of my otherwise great mac pro, long after the warranty has expired!

francois

Well, if the processors is actually doing real work, it is going to do what is normal, and increased heat and power output are normal.

There is no way other than dry ice, liquid nitrogen (yes, it has been done!) that it can do work and not - but as long as it stays below the 100*C (TJ Max) and in 80-85*C "don't sweat it."

Lessen the life... I think Intel design calls for being able to run 24/7 Xeon server parts at high temps for a decade.

Use Hardware Monitor to alert you if you hit 80's on Core 0.

as has been mentioned more than once, processors fare better when they are cooler. If 24/7 operation at or near the melting point of plutonium were A-OK, there'd be no fans at all.

What I am doing is using Hardware Monitor/SMCFancontrol to keep temps low. If my work makes temps creep up, I dial up the fans.

r

It's an engineering compromise. If the machine gets hotter, the fans should go to a higher speed.

But at some point, if you want maximum performance you are going to run fairly hot even with the fans maxed out. Unless you're using your machine in a render farm, most people aren't going to be doing processing that keeps the machine to max temperature 24/7, it will often be periods of maxing out alternating with stretches where the machine is much cooler if not idle.

If they wanted, Apple could be really conservative and set a lower maximum temperature, but once the fans are going full blast, the only way to do that is by decreasing performance. Personally, I'm fine with the maximum temperatures I see when I'm approaching 1600% cpu.

Mike Connelly wrote:Unless you're using your machine in a render farm, most people aren't going to be doing processing that keeps the machine to max temperature 24/7

I do use my machine for 24/7 3D rendering, among other things. I my test last week, I learned that, unlike with audio, the temps I saw doing 3D rose, then plateaued right around 50C. During audio playback, they were still rising at 60 or so when I killed the test, and they got to 60 far quicker, and used nowhere near the CPU potential as did the 3D render.

r

...and just to be clear on my concerns, having my FW audio interface plugged in caused my processor's to run at 80c+ IMMEDIATELY after a boot up on a cool morning (ambient ~20c). Nothing at all running, just idling at 80c (all 8 processors). The good news is they never changed much from that when I did play audio but when I heard people where idling at 50c and below I figure that's a concern 😉

See this? Apple fix available.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/02/apple-offers-fix-for-audio-related-mac -pro-performance-issue.ars

Seems to be working. Average temperature down by 30 degrees Celsius running Logic.

Thankfully, it looks like this fix solves the issue with FW audio devices being plugged in as well.

Well an update on my Mac pro
i wrote an email to sjobs and complains about how I was ignored, and treated so bad by the TO Apple store. Thanks to someone here for the email address (my new mate from AU)!
I am a happy customer! After my email explaining how the Apple Genious's dismissed me as some idiot user, and said that after spending 15k on a maxed out system and 100's of paniks later from overheating, frying my UAD 2 quad pcie card, my graphics card and basicley having a nice Mac Pro for reading email, Apple is replacing my computer. It has been almost a month Apple has had my computer now, waiting for the replacement to arrive at the TO Apple store. I have to say after all this frustration, Apple came through. For those who want to avoid all the hassles, just call Apple care and take your mac to another Apple store, and keep calling until they fix it. The store manager even called and apologized .
So when the new one arrives I will post my results and let everyone know if this fix, really works on my FW/Audio Logic and Final cut. Apple corporate cares about you, some Apple stores have ego, and arrogant attitudes. The problem lyes at the store level. Working with Apple for 25 years, and in Hollywood film industry for 30 years some kid at the store seems to know more then us power users, when the facts are most people that dump that kind of money into a computer are sucessful and know, have more experience and technical knowledge with actual hands on than any young kid. Some are kind and cool, but some are experts that never even tried or could even afford the software/hardware that most of the pros use. Part of this fix shuold be Apple addressing that issue. Also better comunication between users and expediting prblems like "Flames" comming out of Mac Pro Nehalem owners computer vents when using iTunes /Logic or Final cut pro.
Thanks to the mate, and the people on this thread for making enough smoke to get Apple to fix. Apple deleted my other thread when I complained way back. So who ever moderates this thread... Thank you!

I will let everyone know when my replacement is up and running

kind Regards,
B