SMC Firmware Clamps Processor Speed?

Question

Level 1

10 points

SMC Firmware Clamps Processor Speed?

Just installed the SMC firmware update.
Cooler: Running CoreDuoTemp v0.51, I couldn't push the temp past 70, whereas I reached mid 80's before.
But SLOWER: I can't (according to the CoreDuoTemp program) push it past 1000Mhz, the chip's minimum. It used to idle at 1500, and push to 1830. To boot, things like iTunes visualizer are noticeably slower.

So...well, this would obviously explain the heat difference. It's nice having a cooler operating temp, but are we really capped at 1.0 Ghz to get it? Can anyone else confirm?

BTW, is there any other program that will give a readout of current clock speed?

1.83 MacbookPro

Posted on May 16, 2006 8:27 PM

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Answer 1

May 16, 2006 8:37 PM in response to Mardacious

I have not noticed any speed issue yet (ran CoreDuoTemp before and after the SMC update) besides that the CPU is about 5ºC cooler. The CPU is hovering around 1.5GHz.

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Answer 2

Nick A

Level 4

1,522 points

May 16, 2006 8:44 PM in response to TimTheEnchanter

I've done this update and haven't noticed any changes at all, heat or otherwise, however when I run CoreDuoTemp it's at 1500MHz, which is about normal under basic load I guess?

Also I note the lowest it really even goes is 1333 on AC or battery, which is sad as I'd hope it'd go to 1000 on battery as it does under XP. Couldn't battery life improve it it dropped to the minimum?

Nick

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Answer 3

May 17, 2006 2:33 AM in response to Mardacious

With the SMC Firmware update installed,
CoreDuoTemp 0.51 shows me this:

Temp: up to 83°C
CPU usage: 100%
Current frequency: 2000 MHz

So everything is fine, I guess - no capping.

By the way, I keep my processors busy with two terminal shells open, doing "yes > /dev/null" for about ten minutes.

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Answer 4

NSeve

Level 1

0 points

May 17, 2006 2:38 AM in response to Thorsten Zoerner

i've done it.
my macbook pro has speed only 1000 Mhz.
how can i do?

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Answer 5

aitim

Level 1

30 points

May 17, 2006 3:30 AM in response to Mardacious

My unit is 2.16, once upgraded the speed is locked @ 1000mhz.

Tried with some regular software, very slow 🙂

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Answer 6

CapKapak

Level 1

8 points

May 17, 2006 3:31 AM in response to Mardacious

Just did mine, it idles at 1500Mhz. So no problems there.

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Answer 7

CapKapak

Level 1

8 points

May 17, 2006 3:45 AM in response to CapKapak

Do you peeps also find that the overall speaker volume has increased? I mean mine sounds louder for the same volume level before the upgrade was done.

Or is it just my ears playing up.

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Answer 8

May 17, 2006 3:57 AM in response to Mardacious

I've noticed a definite improvement in heat, but my CoreDuoTemp cpu speed was and is ALWAYS 1500 Mhz. It never has changed.

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Answer 9

AT

Level 4

1,370 points

May 17, 2006 4:31 AM in response to Mardacious

CoreDuoTemp should be a widget man! That would be awesome.

My average reading is:

Temperature: 64ºC (Hardly gone passed 70% since the SMC firmware update)
CPU Usage: ~
Frequencies >
Mini: 1000 MHz
Max: 2167 MHz
Current: 1667MHz (most of the time)

Don't quite understand the frequency thingy.

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Answer 10

May 17, 2006 4:31 AM in response to Thinkology

Has anyone else noticed the footnote on all the CPU speeds for the Macbook Pros in the online store...

2.0GHz Intel Core Duo(1)

And here is what it reads...
1. The MacBook Pro continuously monitors system thermal and power conditions, and may adjust processor speed as needed to maintain optimal system operation.

Is this because they have had to cap the speed and some may say they are over-stating the performance of the machine?

Smells of Class Action doesn't it?

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Answer 11

May 17, 2006 4:39 AM in response to AT

CoreDuoTemp should be a widget man! That would be awesome.

Yeah, or even better would it be a menu bar item,
preferably part of the great MenuMeters
http://www.ragingmenace.com/software/menumeters/

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Answer 12

OSpazX

Level 1

70 points

May 17, 2006 5:03 AM in response to Mardacious

Mine now sits at 1.5ghz when "idle". I've seen it jump down to 1.33 when starting Entourage, and then upto 2.0ghz while loading Entourage.

More testing is needed of course, so we'll see how it goes.

As for the "whine"....cant test that yet...too many puters in my home office. Will check that at work.

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Answer 13

vamp07

Level 1

0 points

May 17, 2006 5:04 AM in response to Mardacious

When you first install this update the fan noise you hear is impressive. I have never heard my fans even remotely reach those levels.

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Answer 14

hiaw

Level 1

0 points

May 17, 2006 5:38 AM in response to Mardacious

Yeah, I just pop in here to see if someone else is experiencing the same thing. Mine is also stuck at 1000 MHz and even if I use system overloader to increase the cpu load to 100%, it is still at 1000 MHz. This *****.

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Answer 15

Shaddow

Level 1

10 points

May 17, 2006 6:14 AM in response to Mardacious

I was going to post about speed changes last night but didn't have the time. I noticed that since going to the new SMC I seem to be at 1333mhz much more often than before. It used to idle at 1500 and I rarely saw 1333. I'd love to idle at 1000 and have it bump up when needed. I don't have any problem jumping up to 1833 tho, maybe its just the 2ghz people that are stuck at 1000.

My temps seemed's about the same (mid to high 70's under full load) as before but the fans seem a bit more useful.

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