I downloaded SMC Fan control for my 2009 27inch screen iMac. What are the best settings to use for each of the fan controls

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I downloaded SMC Fan control for my 2009 27inch screen iMac. What are the best settings to use for each of the fan controls

I am worried my iMac maybe running too warm and would like to have it run cooler to avoid premature failure of components not getting cooled down enough.

I have my iMac in a room where there is no air conditioning to keep the room cool. I have a small fan and ceiling fan, but this just blows around the hot air in the room. I have a small fan blowing on the back of the iMac's case to help keep my iMac cool.

I decided, as an extra precaution to download and install SMC Fan Control to further try and get my iMac's fans to spin faster to keep my iMac's innards cooler.

I bought this iMac used for an Apple reseller and I am not looking for things to fail on the account of excessive heat build-up.

I was wondering if there are any iMac users using this regularly that can help me set the fans to run at a speed that will help with cooling my iMac, but not run so fast as to prematurely burn out the fan motors or create excessive fan noise.

I had to endure loud fan noises on my older PowerMac G4 MDD "Wind Tunnel".

I want this app to do its job, but with minimal annoyance of noise or, at the very least, no where near as loud as my ole' G4.

Advice to set the fans optimum speeds in very greatly appreciated.

ThanX to all in advance.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 27in 3.06 GHz CPU, 1TB, 16 GB RAM

Posted on Jul 14, 2012 9:46 PM

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Answer 1

mende1

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93,624 points

Jul 14, 2012 10:01 PM in response to MichelPM

Don't use it. Sometimes it causes failures. You can use iStat Pro to check the temperature

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Answer 2

MichelPM Author

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81,525 points

Jul 14, 2012 11:15 PM in response to mende1

Thanks for the head up.

My CPU temp is 40 degrees Celsius

My HD temp is 46 degrees Celsius

Ambient temp is 26 degrees Celsius.

Is this normal?

I bought this iMac from an Apple reseller at a very competitve, but still rather high price.

Had this for about 3months, now.

I have seen lots of post of HD and GPU failures.

My iMac is old enough tthat having component issues could arise.

I am trying to be proactive and prevent early failure of components from to high heat temps from within the iMac.

I had only the financial mean to buy a used iMac versus new (I have paid for a six month warranty I can pay/extend out for one year), I cannot afford to replace, again or immediately repair if something should fail due to iMac's high internal or component temps.

These fan control apps do not help by having direct control of the iMac's fans?

My iMac is always running very warm.

This can't be good for the HD or CPU?

Computer components, generally, do not like excessive heat/high temps.

I am really confused.

Do I need to be worried/paranoid about this?

I did what you asked, though and downloaded iStat.

Nice widget app for monitiring eveything on my iMac.

Thanks for that tip.

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Answer 3

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Jul 14, 2012 11:19 PM in response to MichelPM

2009 iMacs have got a lot of failures (my iMac is 21,5-inch Late 2009 and my graphic broke in June), but don't worry about the temperature because the fans are activated when it's warm

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