What is your smcFanControl setting?

Hi, i recently purchased a macbook and am just playing around with smcFancontrol. I am just wondering how fast the fan should I set it to and what are the ideal temperature for the components? Right now I set the minimum speed to 2600 and the CPU temperature is @ 36C. Safari and the msn are the only apps that I am running right now. Anyways if anyone has any tips on how to use this program please share! Thank you very much

 

Well it depends on how you're using your macbook. If it's on your desk and not your lap, then just put the default value, i.e. 1800rpm. Mine stays around 57, and I have a lot of applications open.

 

I leave mine at 3600 RPM, and it keeps my MacBook around 45-55 C.

 

Sam, you sure your fan won't have a shorter life if you keep it like that at all times?

 

Yeah, probably. But I don't anticipate it to be a problem, considering 3600 RPM is still low compared to what some others run it at (4000, 4500...).

 

so is 1800 at 57 too slow and hot? Is it better to have a cooler CPU over the long run? And does 3600 use a lot more battery than 1800?

 

I'd say both cases (high RPM, low temperature; low RPM, high temperature) aren't "excessive" enough to do any significant damage. But anyways, I lower my RPM back to 1800 RPM when I'm on battery, as the MacBook doesn't get that hot when on battery anyways.

 

I did some research on the program and there doesn't seems to be a consensus on how it would affect the macbook in the long run. Therefore I am going to leave it @ stock. BTW when i remove it do I just quit the thing and delete the program? And the program would stop bothering my settings, is that correct?

 

yes, just delete the file to remove the program.

 

You want to set your fans back to default before removing smcFanControl. Otherwise you'll be stuck at whatever it was last set at.

 

my mbp is set to 3400 keeps it at 43 C

 

3000 even and loving it

 

My MBP runs 37-43c at 3k RPM depending on what I'm doing and ambient temperature

 

37? My MB has never seen the 30s after 5 minutes of usage.

 

Really? I have, although not usually. But on battery, yes.

 

I run mine on "levels". I've made 6 levels, each one, the fan speed increasingly growing faster.
When it's cooler, and I'm just on safari and browsing, I keep it at the lowest setting, and depending on the program I use, I move it up the ranks.

I try to keep it about "level 3" because that's a point where it stays cool, and doesn't run too noisily. (3585 is lvl 3 for me)