Cooling your Mac on Bootcamp?

[hacksaw-C87]

I like to run games on my Mac via boot camp (crss over just doesn't do it for me), but I'm worried that I'm over stressing my CPU with excessive temperatures as I have no way of controlling the fan on Vista.

My question is, what software do you guys use to cool your Mac when in Bootcamp?

Help much appreciated.


hacksaw

[Zyniker]

I like to run games on my Mac via boot camp (crss over just doesn't do it for me), but I'm worried that I'm over stressing my CPU with excessive temperatures as I have no way of controlling the fan on Vista.

My question is, what software do you guys use to cool your Mac when in Bootcamp?

Help much appreciated.


hacksaw

You don't really need to change the fan settings on your notebook manually...just make sure you aren't playing on a surface that retains heat overmuch (such as blankets, beds, et cetera). Good ventilation and the system will keep itself cool enough without manual tweaks. ;)

[steveza]

Although my Mac is normally on a desk which keeps the heat down, I got one of these http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=AWE45US which made big difference for gaming.

[pixelated]

Get SMC fan control for OS X and turn it on/up before restarting in windows. The fan's stay on that setting as long as you don't let Windows sleep.

[hacksaw-C87]

Thanks guys, will use both methods advised :)

[DoFoT9]

if your games dont suffer too much from pulling the battery out give it a whirl, it underclocks the CPU back but the temperatures are MUCH less hotter. :)

[Hydroxs]

The fans should automatically speeds ups when you play games, at lease on my mbp.

[DoFoT9]

The fans should automatically speeds ups when you play games, at lease on my mbp.

hhmm for some reason the fans when running under BootCamp dont react in a similar fashion to when running under OSX, the computer does get quite hot.

[neilhart]

Well my 15" Unibody MBP runs hotter then I like in Windows XP. I use SpeedFan in XP to see the temps. My solution is to use SMC Fan Control (2.x something) a free down load in OSX. It resides in the menu bar and you can adjust the minimum fan RPM. For instance my MBP in OSX is usually cool and the fans idle down below 2K RPM. Before working all day in BootCamp Win XP, I set the fans to about 4600 RPM (you can hear them but not too loud) then reboot into BootCamp XP. The system then retains the 4600 fan minimum speed and my temps rum about 15 degrees C cooler. Not doing this I would see the GPU at 74C and the Core in the low 70s in XP. With the min pre set, I see the GPU at 55C and the Core at 50C to 53C. My office background noise is such that I don't hear the fans.

Neil

[aki]

neilhart is right.... fan control doesnt work properly under bootcamp and especally if you game or do heavy work in windows it is a good idea to reboot after setting higher min temps with smcfancontrol

there are lots of posts on this issue we should have a sticky or something in a faq or something

[goya]

I am using smcfan in osx and bootcamp and do not think its working correct. When I set it to 5k and hit save the fans spin up to about 5k then proceed to drop back down to 2k. When I restart into bootcamp they never return to the higher 5k I wanted. My temps in xp are getting up to 88-87 just running quake live. Am I not using the software correctly, or missing a step?

Sean

edit. using version 2.1.3.1, says its updated.

[Patriks7]

I am using smcfan in osx and bootcamp and do not think its working correct. When I set it to 5k and hit save the fans spin up to about 5k then proceed to drop back down to 2k. When I restart into bootcamp they never return to the higher 5k I wanted. My temps in xp are getting up to 88-87 just running quake live. Am I not using the software correctly, or missing a step?

Sean

edit. using version 2.1.3.1, says its updated.

I had that happen to my MacBook before as well. I just used it a lot and one day it just didn't fall back :p I'm guessing that it's a bug they have. Did you try contacting them?
BTW on topic of the post - I also use SMCFanControl and it has worked really well so far for me. But investing into a laptop cooler would be a great idea as well.

[ayeying]

I leave my fans stock setting. I play Burnout Paradise at max settings and I don't feel any more heat then I do in OSX. The fans automatically adjust itself when required.

[i0ngunn3r]

you can use Input Remapper (http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Input-Remapper.shtml) for windows, it can control brightness and fan controls.