CPU throttling, Macbook, 10.4.9

[pcbroch]

Hi all:

I was just wondering what was the "policy" for cpu throttling in MacOS. In ubuntu, on my macbook, the cpu throttles down at 1.0GHz when idle. (I have a Core 2 Duo 1.83GHz). It pops up to 1.83 whenever I do something semi intensive, and drops right back down to 1.0GHz when idle.

In MacOS, I see 1.83GHz most of the time, sometimes 1.5GHz, but I don't think I have ever seen it lower than 1.5

Is this normal behaviour? I mean, no wonder the thing runs hot if the processor is at full speed even when idle. Even on battery, it does not drop below 1.5GHz...

(For the record, I'm a windows/linux user, but just recently bought a macbook, cause I like the size for traveling, etc). I am not 100% familiar with the OS yet, so I may be missing something.

Thanks in advance.

 

[narf1899]

hmm...make sure ur quitting your programs...closing the window doesnt actually do much in mac os x, u have to press  Q to thuroughly quit an app...a common mistake for windows users

 

[pcbroch]

Yep, I've been doing just that, but still no luck. Either the program I am using to monitor the speed of the cpu is wrong (CoreDuoTemp) or the CPU doesn't throttle as well in MacOS as it does in Ubuntu.

I did rip the thing apart (bye bye warranty) and apply Arctic Silver 5. There has been a drastic drop of 10 degrees C in my idle temps. Not hard to believe seeing how much gunk they had put at the factory!

Thanks for your reply. Can anyone recommend another program to monitor the Core speeds?

 

[narf1899]

how about istat pro?
its a widget, u can find on apples website

 

[pcbroch]

I sound like a smart***** but this is what I am using now that I have doubts about coreduotemp. But it does not give me the current speed of the processor (from what I can see), only the cpu load.

Again, thanks for your help!

 

[pcbroch]

Actually, I googled a bit and found a program called CoolBook. It monitors the processor speeds (free) as well as allowing undervolting the processor (only for registered users).

Seems like the processor runs at 1GHz after all. Note sure what CoreDuo temp does, but this CoolBook program seems more in line with what Ubuntu was reporting.

 

[kgeier82]

ive never trusted coreduotemp's readout of cpu speed.

seems odd that it rarely clocks down.

 

[kgeier82]

anyone actually bought the 10$ coolbook full prog? curious

 

[pcbroch]

I did... I had a few $$ sitting in my paypal account. Works great. It's odd how I don't mind paying 10$ for small utilities like that, but you'll never see me buying uber expensive software.

 

[virtuoso06]

Are there any adverse effects from using this program?

 

[chat19]

does changing the power saving settings to "better battery life" throttle down the processor?

 

[virtuoso06]

does changing the power saving settings to "better battery life" throttle down the processor?

I guess it would? I dunno.