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Grizzly Adams · May 27, 2006, 08:09 AM

It seems the simplest and easiest way to fix the new Macbook would be to increase fan speeds at a lower temperature. This is controlled by the SMU which communicates between temperature sensors and fan power.

Apple released a fix (SMC Firmware update) like this for the Macbook Pro, despite early reports this does not seem to have done a particularly good job.

My friend has an MSI S262 Core Duo, it is freakishly similar to the Macbook (motherboard, graphics, Duo - even comes in black and white) only Dual layer DVD and a 12" screen seperate the two (perhaps I should have gone for that one after all - you can get OS X on them nowadays) - this does not run at all hot, it is just my HP AMD 3700+ cool and quiet, not even warm to the touch. Only difference: the fans are slightly more audible at less usage than the macbook.

So someone one must have the know how to make a simple Kext file to control the SMU a bit better and increase the fan speed at a lower temp...... pretty please......or can someone at least point me in the right direction to finding / (last resort) making one.

Angus_D · May 27, 2006, 12:53 PM

This isn't really feasible. Apple generally doesn't make detailed specifications of their hardware available, and they don't make the source code to their Intel kernel extensions available. Unless you're very skilled in both hardware and software engineering, this is almost certainly out of your league.

TheoCryst · May 27, 2006, 12:54 PM

I don't know about the MacBook, but on my iBook G4, there's a kext in /System/Library/Extensions called AppleFan.kext. There's a decent chance that this is what you're looking for.

yticolev · May 27, 2006, 01:04 PM

If heat is not getting into the pipe (for example if there is too much thermal paste), increasing fan time will have only the most marginal effect.

Grizzly Adams · May 27, 2006, 01:29 PM

Perhaps, but there have been several reports suggesting the thermal paste is not the issue, and after removal the temperature only dropped by up to 2 degrees or so (Check is your macbook hot thread for links).

Also the heat is coming from the top left (keyboard side) whereas the processor is in the middle?!?!?!? Can it really be the thermal paste?

harrisjamieh · May 27, 2006, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by TheoCryst

I don't know about the MacBook, but on my iBook G4, there's a kext in /System/Library/Extensions called AppleFan.kext. There's a decent chance that this is what you're looking for.

Yes, this also exists on my MB.

Oddly enough, there is also a kext, on my obviously altivec-less macbook called 'AppleAltivecDVDDriver.bundle'.... hmmmm

Angus_D · May 27, 2006, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by TheoCryst

I don't know about the MacBook, but on my iBook G4, there's a kext in /System/Library/Extensions called AppleFan.kext. There's a decent chance that this is what you're looking for.

Not really, he was looking for someone to write a kext which changed the behaviour. The source to the AppleFan which ships with OS X for Intel is not available, if that is indeed the kext responsible for controlling the MacBook's fans.

vamp07 · May 27, 2006, 10:30 PM

I'm also hoping that at some point we get the option of increasing the speed of those fans. I don't care if it reduces battery life.

pat++ · May 27, 2006, 11:04 PM

I read somewhere that Apple relies on the CPU itself to run the fans (it's not controlled by the OS). Maybe a firmware update would do the trick, but need to wait for Apple to do it I guess...

ned1 · May 27, 2006, 11:17 PM

Well, I have no idea if the AppleFan.kext would control the new IntelMacs fans. But it's fairly simple to test. It does work on the G4 MDDs.
http://bitsandpieces.info/atomic2/MD...tensionMod.htm
If you do find the kext that does control the IntelMac fans (if it is even controlled by a kext), it might be just as easy to modify it.

yticolev · May 29, 2006, 02:24 AM

Originally Posted by alexmanessi

Perhaps, but there have been several reports suggesting the thermal paste is not the issue, and after removal the temperature only dropped by up to 2 degrees or so (Check is your macbook hot thread for links).

That is likely true. However, almost all the temperatures reported have been within spec. I think what most users are looking for is to be able to use the laptop on their lap. When the heat is going into the pipe and the fans are triggered, the heat blows out, not onto your lap. Having the CPU run cooler is a plus. And yes, 2 to 5 degree drops are common. Perhaps most MBs are not severely crippled by the paste issue. But since almost everyone is seeing some benefit, doesn't that argue that the professionals who put these together have something to learn from the amateurs doing it once?

Xmas2Dump · May 29, 2006, 02:53 AM

Originally Posted by pat++

I read somewhere that Apple relies on the CPU itself to run the fans (it's not controlled by the OS). Maybe a firmware update would do the trick, but need to wait for Apple to do it I guess...

http://discussions.apple.com/thread....19703&#2419703 item #2 is what mentions OSX control, but it seems it is referring to CPU throttling rather than the fan control. I would test the AppleFan.kext method but unfortunately my MacBook is in the middle of battery calibration.

Xmas2Dump · May 29, 2006, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by Tbarr

Well, I have no idea if the AppleFan.kext would control the new IntelMacs fans. But it's fairly simple to test. It does work on the G4 MDDs.
http://bitsandpieces.info/atomic2/MD...tensionMod.htm
If you do find the kext that does control the IntelMac fans (if it is even controlled by a kext), it might be just as easy to modify it.

The temperatures listed in the file are as follows:

57.0
58.2890625
58.82421875
59.234375
59.578125
59.88671875
60.16015625
60.4140625
60.6484375
60.87109375
61.08203125
61.28125
61.46875
61.65234375
61.828125
62.0

These don't seem to match the fan policy we're seeing at all.

Are there any RPM sensors on the fans? They're so quiet its hard to tell when they're even on, let alone at what speed.

ned1 · May 29, 2006, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by themastermind1

The temperatures listed in the file are as follows...

You might want to see if your MacBook even uses that kext, could be it's only used by certain machines. Easiest way to check is to open System Profiler (Apple Menu/AboutThisMac/MoreInfo/Contents/Software/Extensions) and see if the "AppleFan.kext" is even listed. If it is not listed, the the machine doesn't use it. I don't have a MacBook yet, so I can't test it. The MacBooks might use SMU Firmware to control the fans. In that case, You'll have to talk to Apple...

TerryJ · May 29, 2006, 12:28 PM

Good point Tbarr. I just looked at mine and the kext isn't listed in System Profiler. I'm using a MacBook 2.0 white.

Xmas2Dump · May 29, 2006, 01:07 PM

Don't see any loaded kexts that look like they're related. Makes sense that this stuff is probably in the SMC.

Speaking of which, has anyone hacked apart the firmware yet?

ned1 · May 31, 2006, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by themastermind1

...has anyone hacked apart the firmware yet?

It looks like Increw may have helped you out with the latest release of Speedit,
http://www.increw.com/products/speed...een_shots.html
Looks interesting.... Who's first?

Xmas2Dump · May 31, 2006, 05:47 PM

Looks like its vaporware still (and has been for a while according to the forums...)

Lets hope version 0.5 actually gets released sometime soon. Until then, anyone want to mess around with this kext they mention:

SpeedIt get advantage of the ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin extension of the kernel to capture this information, and to control some of the areas of your Intel Macs, that it's included on all the Intel Macs.

ned1 · May 31, 2006, 05:57 PM

Well, they did release something new today. It's kinda hard to find, and I can't try it. But, it's listed as Speedit CPU throttle at 50% Here,
http://www.increw.com/downloads/task,cat_view/gid,26/

Xmas2Dump · May 31, 2006, 06:28 PM

Yea I saw that, doesn't look like its what the screenshots are of. Also, I'm not sure the new version they're working on lets you control the fans or fan policy, although their site states this is possible via the ACPI_SMC kext.

fruitylooper · May 31, 2006, 07:35 PM

Only to let you know that if you're reading the temp of your MacBook is due Speedit, if you use Temperature Monitor or CoreDuoTemp you're using Speedit. But it's vaporware.

Xmas2Dump · May 31, 2006, 07:43 PM

Didn't say speedit was vaporware- great job on that, just that the new version is =P

Perhaps you can shed some light on my fan question- is it possible to control the fans/fan policy via the ACPI_SMC kext, so that we can stop the mooing issue and run our macbooks cooler. If so, is this going to be included in 0.5, whenever it may come out?

fruitylooper · May 31, 2006, 09:07 PM

Well I try to explain what we discoverd over SMC software part, the SMC kext access the I2C bus and exchange information with the SMC chip.

We induced some changes and seen that the fan react, but we can not say that we could control right now, we can change the way its operate, but we do not control it by now.

We get information that it's variable, were in the process to analize and identify the information.

V0.5 do not have fan control for sure.

Seen that Apple have not yet finish the 10.4 series for Intel, and we'll have to wait until 10.5 to see a real OS X running on Intel.

Perhaps the bigg issue are the hardware bugs related to the SMC, this is difficult to change or solve by software and some bugs are impossible to solve by software.

vamp07 · May 31, 2006, 09:49 PM

Getting those fans turned on more often is going to make a huge difference in the usability of this machine.