fan controllers

will fan controllers like icyclone mess up my macbook?

I figured apple must know what they're doing and have setup the macbook's fans to the optimum and best for the unit. But, at times the macbook gets really hot (on just one side by the way, left side as you're facing it) and I want to try icyclone and increase the rpm to cool it off a bit. I'm afraid that this might interfere with the macbooks own "self-preservation" programming.

does anyone have experience and advice on this?


thanks all =P

Personally, I would just make sure your SMC firmware is up-to-date, and let the MacBook cool itself how it sees fit.

When you start manually setting fan speeds, you bypass the Logic Board's own management, and you risk leaving the fans set on high for long periods of time, which could in time burn out their bearings.

The only time I would ever manually adjust fan speed is if I were playing a gfx intensive game, and I knew the CPU and GPU would heat up quickly.

On a side note, you may be able to write an Applescript to run iCyclone, set fan speed higher, then run an application you think would normally cause the MacBook to heat up a bit. Then run another Applescript to give fan control back to the MacBook and close said program...but that's getting a little technical. =)

ah yes that was complicated... =) so basically i just have to make sure that if i do use icyclone I can set the rpm back to default like nothing happened...

won't just quitting the icyclone prgram do that?

(^_^)

i use icyclone on my imac - intel

i am careful that i only put it on when its hot. i only put them on full and only when its 50-60 *c.

i dont use it to keep the imac quiet.

I use Fan Control preference pane. I usually leave it on the highest setting

smcFanControl does this, and everytime you shutdown your PC, it will go back to default. It's a decent app, I use it sometimes - when my MB is on my lap.

i like that the fan speed goes to default when shut down with the smcfancontrol, simple. I think I'll try that.

Yeah, actually THE reason I'm using it

Although at times, I don't care if it's pretty warm/hot if I'm on a desk, I can't stand fan noise, on any machine. But if it's on my lap, then I'll cope with it.