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Level 1

36 points

My cooling fan won't stop kicking in on Mac Pro

Suddenly in the last week or so my cooling fan started kicking in while over the past 2+ years it has only run once or twice - now it won't stop!

I thought that it may have been due to an increase in RAM from 7G to 24G (3, 8G matched sticks) but after un-installing the 24G it was still running frequently, though not as much.

I have performed (in order) both a PRAM and SMC reset. I have also repaired all discs, reset permissions and dumped render files (I primarily use my Mac for video editing in FCP X).

I am fearing now that this may in fact be due to recent updates to Lion (10.7.3) or FCP X (10.0.3)

In an attempt to get FCP X to run better (there are many bugs in the latest update as evidenced by numerous posts in that discussion area) I also contacted NVIDIA for updates to my graphics card and was told by them that it is not compatible with Lion. I now have a Radeon card on order from the Apple store.

Any other advice?? This fan is not only an annoyance for me but as I also record voice-overs for my clients I simply cannot have it running all the time.

Mac OS X (10.7.3), Final Cut Pro X

Posted on Feb 6, 2012 9:48 AM

30 replies

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Feb 6, 2012 1:47 PM in response to Andy Drefs

Whoever said your card was not supported by Lion or needed drivers didn't know Macs or OS X, the idea Apple would drop support for a system that was two years old (at time Lion came out).

If you can determine it is Lion vs Snow Leopard, great.

If OWC can determine if 16GB DIMMs would work better.

Some 2009 Mac Pro users had to zap pram or something to get Lion to accept being installed.

Still don't know what your setup is but if you want performance, one or two 6-core 3.33GHZ and some SSDs.

http://macperformanceguide.com/blog/2012/20120119_2-OWC-PCIeSSD-MacPro.html

Handbrake performance:

http://macperformanceguide.com/Reviews-MacProWestmere-Handbrake.html

Andy Drefs Author

Level 1

36 points

Feb 6, 2012 2:14 PM in response to The hatter

OWC had no idea what was happeneing and suspected as well that it was bad RAM, though I had the same issue with the replacement DIMMS.

I have a 2009 Mac Pro (4,1) Quad Core, Intel, 2.66 Ghz. 3 drives, all internal, all Sata; standard Mac drive plus 1 @ 1.5TB and the second at 2.0TB. All are read/write access for everyone, all have had disc repair run on them, prefs have been trashed, OS was installed clean, FCP and Compressor 4 were re-installed and updated....

All I know is that others on the FCPX discussion boards were saying that they were "astonished" at the performance when increasing to 16G of RAM. I went to 24G and saw no change. I made changes to my timeline that would require them to be rendered and then timed the renders with 6G of RAM and then with 24G. The results were identical.

The odd part that remains though is that even with the 6 or 7G of RAM that I had before I am STILL getting the fan running when it NEVER ran before. Now it's a daily occurence and it's driving me nuts! I do a great deal of voice-over recordings for my clients and I have to have quiet. Even beyond that though I don't want to sit here all day with those things droning on and on!!

This is really driving me nuts, as I switched to the Mac platform 3 years ago to AVOID these types of headaches that I was having all the time with Premiere Pro on a PC. I was told that Mac's "just work".

Well NO THEY DON'T!

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Feb 6, 2012 3:03 PM in response to Andy Drefs

If you don't need Lion and are using 10.7.3, drop back to 10..6.8 1.1+

Take it in! you are still under AppleCare warranty unless you didn't.

Though a UPS may not cure or be "required" I require any system be behind one.

4-core 2.66 is 'okay' but isn't going to be video editing crucher.

http://browse.geekbench.ca/geekbench2/544415

If it was working rock solid I'd say time to upgrade to W3680

http://browse.geekbench.ca/geekbench2/526455

And only $620 for W3680

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-BX80613W3680-Xeon-W3680-Processor/dp/B003EM0T4I/

FCP-X has taken people by surprise, maybe they needed to start over at square one on a new code base but at huge cost in compatibility and time to get back where it was and be a full multi-core 64-bit app all around.

Apple Hardware Test and Hardware Monitor (has a lot of thermal sensor readings) should/might help show if a sensor is defective. SmcFanControl can help. Both can put some readings from both up on your menu bar.

Yes, frustrating and 'rant' but also try to attack why. And what can be done, like getting it repaired or replaced or whatever. If it was a Lion related, that would help too.

Andy Drefs Author

Level 1

36 points

Feb 7, 2012 8:13 AM in response to The hatter

With regard to reverting back to 10.6.8: what does the 1.1+ stand for?

How do I go back to that OS?

The main reason for updating to Lion was to gain the iCloud functionality but that is secondary to having a well running editing machine...

What will a UPS do for me exactly?

Sorry about the rant but I have been trying to attck the "why" and after 2 weeks of frustration I am no better off.

While I'd love to upgrade the processor I need to be doing more earning and less spending at the moment.

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Feb 7, 2012 8:38 AM in response to Andy Drefs

How to get back?

Backup clones are ideal.

Well, there was one of those security+ updates "1.1" that went sour and had to patch the patch, so 10.6.8 and a half <g>

Insurance. Protection. Cleaner smoother power, esp. sinewave unit, and to me, takes some of the workload off the PSU for providing even voltage. (after flooding years ago we had 3 second outage almost daily, but I've always had UPS)

I know it can help feel better to voice frustration part of the problem and all, but making a list of how to resolve one way or another and what steps, for me I really need a list to get organized and check-list of what to try. And maybe turn up a test or step hadn't come to mind.

Only wanted to show that "if" you get it working, you could get more than 2x the work done for small investment and make that system help pay for itself and spend less time twiddling thumbs waiting for video editing to complete (18K is very respectful Geekbench score!).

So yes, only been two days for me, two weeks getting there.

I looked to see and Crucial does not offer 8 and 16GB DIMMs for that model, would be nice to try a different memory vendor.

Okay, back to "list" :

Apple Hardware Test: Pass/Fail/Error or not

Clean install of 10.6.x and just Apple updates to a newly erased/initialized drive. Leave anything else, programs and drivers out for awhile. If it works, CLONE that system for safe keeping (can always use a safe fallback for system maintenance, restore from)

HELP : what is the plist that handles powermanagement values?

there is one and I think it is up on

/System/Library/...

or in /Library/....

Which would be the first think to move out or delete.

Andy Drefs Author

Level 1

36 points

Feb 7, 2012 11:41 AM in response to The hatter

Crucial lists 8G DIMMS at 1.5v and 1.35v (same price). I've asked them what the difference is but they have yet to respond. Any idea which is better for me?

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Feb 7, 2012 1:59 PM in response to Andy Drefs

you can't use low power 1.35v DIMMs.

And are these generic or Apple-specific? and if so are they ECC?

http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=60826169A5CA7304

Andy Drefs Author

Level 1

36 points

Feb 9, 2012 10:12 AM in response to The hatter

Installed a new 1G graphics card from Apple (ATI Radeon). No change in my system, no speed increase and the fan continues to kick in! At least now that I have SMC Fan control installed I can see just how fast it's running! This is sooo much fun I can hardly stand it! 😟

Andy Drefs Author

Level 1

36 points

Feb 13, 2012 12:27 PM in response to The hatter

OK. Got new Apple Specific 16G of RAM today from Crucial....and the fan is kicking in even FASTER than before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

smcFanControl shows my system is running at a white hot 103* and the fan is at 4000+ RPM. I then quit ALL prgrams and it just drones on and on and on and on..............

Tried running AHT about 6 times now and it won't kick in - what a piece of ****!

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Feb 14, 2012 9:39 AM in response to Andy Drefs

I thought this might shed light - normally it is defective FBDIMMs but maybe this is now almost has to be the Riser sensor

FB-DIMM Thermal

Andy Drefs Author

Level 1

36 points

Feb 15, 2012 8:11 AM in response to The hatter

OK. Thanks for sharing but I don't know what to make of that article? The fans are running once again and I don't have single portion of my system that is even over 100* - Currently SMC shows that it's at 75* with the fans at a noisy 3999 RPM! What would tell the fans to kick in when it's not even hot and the system is at idle??????

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Feb 15, 2012 9:12 AM in response to Andy Drefs

Something on your system isn't acting normal, it is acting as if it is getting wrong value sent to the fans from a sensor somewhere.

A more thorough Apple Service Diagnostic CD and swapping Risers or whatever else to find the culprit, now that it is pretty clear it isn't the FBDIMMs themselves (which would normally be suspect).

Hardware Monitor is my personal favorite for getting the best readings.

Andy Drefs Author

Level 1

36 points

Feb 15, 2012 9:20 AM in response to The hatter

I found something called "Open Hardware Monitor" - is that what you're referring too?

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Feb 15, 2012 9:24 AM in response to Andy Drefs

Temperature Monitor

This is the free version which lacks a few features like alert and monitor temps over time and alert to threshold settings.

Andy Drefs Author

Level 1

36 points

May 8, 2012 9:32 AM in response to The hatter

I was just about to start recording a voice over and suddenly those stupid fans had to kick in again!!!! My system is idling at 77* and yet the fans are at 4000 RPM and just buzzing right along!! I'm so sick of this crap. And what in the world is a riser anyway and how can I determine if they (it?) are/is the problem?

My cooling fan won't stop kicking in on Mac Pro