Brief Hands-On Report--Cool Mac Software: smcFanControl 1.2 for MacBook Pros, MacBooks and Intel-based Mac minis

smcFanControl 1.12 from Hendrik Holtmann of eidac software allows one to set individually the minimum speed for each of two fans in a MacBook Pro, MacBook and Intel-based Mac mini. There is also an auto mode that resets the fans' minimum speeds to one's selection after a restart and a temperature read-out. smcFanControl 1.2 is donationware.

We downloaded and installed smcFanControl 1.2 on our 2.16GHz 15" MacBook Pro. The fans are set at 1000rpm by default and our MacBook Pro is very quiet at this setting but it runs 55-63^oC doing general work according to the CoreDuoTemp 1.0 utility.

We raised the minimum speed of Fan #1 to 4000rpm and Fan#2 to 5000rpm. The fans are clearly perceptible but the general working temperature dropped to 43-47^oC, some 12-16^oC cooler.

Then we tried raising the minimum fan speed of both fans to 6000rpm, the highest allowed by smcFanControl 1.2. This further reduced the CPU temperature reported by the CoreDuoTemp utility to 40-44^oC but greatly increased the fan noise.

Version 1.2 has a built-in temperature read-out but it generally provided a temperature 5-10^oC higher than CoreDuoTemp.

smcFanControl is still under active development--here is the FAQ. It's version changed from 1.12 to 1.2 while we were preparing this article. But those seeking to lower the temperature of their MacBook Pro, MacBook or Intel-based Mac mini at the expense of fan noise should try this cool Mac software from Hendrik Holtmann (eidac software). If you like it and continue to use it, please remember it is donationware. [Bill Fox]