How to slow down the CPU Macbook Air?

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How to slow down the CPU Macbook Air?

Dear all,

The CPU on my Macbook Air 11-inch mid 2012 is overheating and shutting down the computer. I tried everything: smcFancontrol, checked if there are jobs keeping the CPU busy and so on.

I live in a very hot country and there are no Apple stores here. So I guess that the only solution is to slow the MBA down. I am not a power user and I do not mind if it runs slower (and colder). I have checked coolbook but it does not run on 1.7 GHz Intel Core i5 running OSX 10.9.5.

Any help?

Thank you so much!

LMM

MacBook Air (11-inch Mid 2012), OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Oct 1, 2014 6:37 PM

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Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Oct 2, 2014 4:23 AM in response to lmonasterio

Install iStat menues:

http://bjango.com/mac/istatmenus/

Open Activity Monitor to ALL PROCESSES and set CPU to display values from high to low.

Post images of both when the MBA gaets hot.

Heat is usually a function of the type and number of applications being used. The less stress is put on the CPU, the less heat will be generated. It becomes a question if the heat is within acceptable levels or not.

Ciao.

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Answer 2

lmonasterio Author

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Dec 13, 2014 6:40 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Dear Ogelthorpe,

Thank you so much.

I've downloaded the iStats and the MBA has a serious temperature problem, but I decided to take it straight to the Mac service.

They diagnosed a problem in the motherboard and it would cost me about USD 600 to get it fixed (I am not in the US).

So I am back to square zero and I think the only "solution" is to underclock - ie slow it down - to avoid overheating.

Any guess?

Thanks!

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Answer 3

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Dec 13, 2014 7:01 AM in response to lmonasterio

The OSX controls the CPU and GPU operation. There is no direct user intervention in this regard. The only way you can affect the operation is by controlling the number and type of applications that are running.

Some applications are resource intensive and will stress the MBA components and produce heat. Games and Skype are a couple of examples. The best you can do is monitor them via Activity Monitor and iStat menus. A properly operating MBA will shut down if the temperature approaches unsafe operating levels. Theoretically the MBA should not be damaged in those circumstances.

Ciao.

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Answer 4

lmonasterio Author

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Dec 13, 2014 11:46 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Thanks.

In previous versions of the OS it was possible to slow things down. Sorry that you can not do this in Maverick (yet).

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Answer 5

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Dec 13, 2014 12:03 PM in response to lmonasterio

I have used Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Lion. I have not detected such an option in any of them. Am I missing something?

There may be third party applications available, but to my knowledge, nothing by Apple.

Ciao.

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Answer 6

lmonasterio Author

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Dec 14, 2014 6:17 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

In these previous Mac OS it was possible to use Coolbook (and there were other options specific to Macbook pro). And in previous OSs we could trade performance for battery (just like Windows)..

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