Brief Hands-On Report--Cool Mac Software: FanControl 1.1

Yesterday we highlighted smcFanControl, an application for controlling the minimum speed of fans in some Intel-based Macs: MacBook Pro, MacBook and Mac mini. A number of readers (Maarten Hazewinkel was first) pointed us to FanControl 1.1 as an alternative.

FanControl 1.1 also controls the minimum speed of fans in those same Intel-based Macs but instead of being an application, it is a preference pane that installs system-level code requiring a restart. Another difference is that FanControl does not control the minimum fan speed of two-fanned Macs independently as does smcFanControl. However, FanControl controls the temperature end points for the ramp up in fan speed and shows the relationship in an image. Like smcFanControl, FanControl has a temperature read-out.

We downloaded, installed and tried FanControl 1.1 with our 2.16GHz 15" MacBook Pro, getting results similar to those with smcFanControl at the lower end of the minimum fan speed range. One drawback for those who want to really cool their MacBook Pro is that the highest minimum fan speed setting is 3500rpm versus 6000rpm. This setting resulted in the temperature as measured by CoreDuoTemp being lowered only to the 45-50^oC range as compared to the lower 40-44^oC range attained by revving the fans up to 6000rpm using smcFanControl. The latter can be accomplished indirectly in FanControl by lowering the maximum temperature end point.

Both work as advertised with no problems. We prefer smcFanControl 1.2 largely because it is an application and not system code but also because we have the option of controlling each fan independently and directly setting them at the desired minimum speed up to the maximum 6000rpm. Don't forget that the use of either software may void your warranty if you have fan problems or fan-related problems. [Bill Fox]