Apple posts MacBook Air SMC Update

[Jimmie Geddes]

About MacBook Air SMC Update 1.0
The SMC Update fine tunes the speed and operation of the internal fan.

This update is recommended for all MacBook Air systems. The updater application will be installed in the /Applications/Utilities folder. Please follow the instructions in the updater application to complete the process.

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macbookairsmcupdate10.html

[pgharavi]

I have the fan/heat issues w/ my Air, but I don't know if this firmware does anything. I downloaded it and all it did was add the SMC app to the util folder. Once I run that, it simply says your SMC so and so is 1.0 and up to date.

[Varnim]

If you don't got any problems I would wait a bit with this. I've previously had no problems with the fans but since I installed this update a couple of hours ago the fan have started to go up to 6200rpm even though I'm not doing a single thing.

I will do a new "calibrating" soon if I just find the command for it. (You know restarting the computer and hold some special key).

[stellaclose]

Having the same issue here.


I have the fan/heat issues w/ my Air, but I don't know if this firmware does anything. I downloaded it and all it did was add the SMC app to the util folder. Once I run that, it simply says your SMC so and so is 1.0 and up to date.

[Terwal]

No real fan issue, but my MBA gets hot after a while... Should I install the update given the "negative" impact mentioned above ?

[pgharavi]

Honestly, I don't think, or at the very least, know, if this does anything.

I think it's putting the app on our Air's so that when an update comes, we'll be ready.

[spyz88]

Can someone please tell me their SMC version in System profiler if you did NOT install the SMC update 1.0.

Mine is 1.23f9 (I installed the update but didnt look at the old version number)

[iHerzeleid]

Can someone please tell me their SMC version in System profiler if you did NOT install the SMC update 1.0.

Mine is 1.23f9 (I installed the update but didnt look at the old version number)

same

[spyz88]

same

Did you install the update or no?

[justdhruv]

in my case, it solved the problem of the fan always spinning at more 6200 rpm . It is running really quiet now.

[spyz88]

in my case, it solved the problem of the fan always spinning at more 6200 rpm . It is running really quiet now.

EDIT: Nope now my fans are pinned at 6200 RPM's and im not doing a dang thing...

I really wish Apple would let me take this machine back and get a MBP. SERIOUSLY...

[Terwal]

No real fan issue, but my MBA gets hot after a while... Should I install the update given the "negative" impact mentioned above ?

Actually, paying a bit more attention: fan runs up to 6200 when I use internet and watch videos on Facebook for example... My initial comment above comes just from the fact that the fan is actually not that noisy, therefore had not paid attention so far...

And actually, after a couple of minutes once stopping the videos, the fan is coming down gradually to normal levels...

Will still try the download.

By the way, my SMC is 1.23f9 before the update...

[Terwal]

Downloaded update.

SMC unchanged: 1.23f9.

Unclear if anything was actually updated.

Received my MBA less than 3 weeks ago...

[pstauff]

Mine said it was already current. I guess mine, even though it was a somewhat early model 8802, didn't need it. And mine hasn't been acting strange.

[Munich]

After the update my computer started to act funny and went to 6200 rpm without notice of anything unusual, looking at the processes I saw this mds (whatever it is) at 104% CPU usage. What is that?

[aristobrat]

MDS generates data for the Spotlight search utility. It can be a pretty intensive task when it runs, using a lot of CPU and disk resources.

[theinjuryexpert]

Installed the update, said it did nothing, but the fan is running much more than it was previously. Coincidence? Not sure yet. MBA certainly isn't running cooler, but it's not running hotter either. Normally I didn't see the fan at 6200 without doing something like converting videos, using Flash, or Garageband editing.

[ayeying]

My update didn't update. It said I had the update already. However, my fan works like it should. It speeds up to 6200rpm when I'm doing something intensive liek booting up vista in Parallels, then after the system is booted up and left idle, the cpu usage drops and the fan drops along with the temp.

I noticed when the temp hits 60 deg C, the 6200rpm speed drops drastically since it doesn't need max fans to cool an already cooled processor.

I can't say if my thermal paste redone has anyhting to do with this, but the fan is definitely better then before.

[Varnim]

Can someone please tell me how I did the calibration thing when you start up the computer with some button pressed? I can't find the thread anymore and my fan is driving me crazy!

[Slither]

My fan went to the max after installing the update. I didn't have any problems before. BUT I also installed a big 120MB update to Office 2008 at the same time (which took almost 10minutes). So that could be the reason for the high rpm.

...and now after 10mins it's dead silent :D

[Phil A.]

As with others, my MBA already had this update on from the factory: I've got 1.23f9 for my SMC version without running the update. Neither did it show in Software update. I downloaded it anyway from the link and when I ran the updater I was told I already had the update installed.
This could explain why I've had no problems with overheating and core shutdown...

[applestew]

mine didn't have core shutdown issues too. I too tried the update and it says mine is already the latest.

[jsdc]

My fan went to the max after installing the update. I didn't have any problems before.

I'm having the same exact issue. I never noticed the fan before, but after applying this update, it maxes out at 6200 and stays there continuously, even though I have NOTHING running. Wasn't this what the updated was supposed to FIX, not CAUSE? CPU can be at 50-55 C and it still sits there at 6200 and is VERY audible. Just was on phone with Apple for a hour, they had me disconnect everything and flash the PRAM, the minute I rebooted, fan spun back to 6200 with them on the phone.

Now I have an appointment with "Genius" Bar tomorrow morning. I'm sure it will be a waste of time where they either a) can't replicate the problem; b) tell me that's how it's supposed to work even though it never had any issues before; c) blame me for my subjective assessment of "audible" in the face of objective evidence that the fan is definitely spinning at its max when no programs or CPU tasks are running. Anyone want to take a poll on which of the three it will be...or all three?

Nice update Apple.

[CaptainCannabis]

I never had any problems with my fans. The only difference since installing this is a 4/5C drop in the temperature of my CPU.

[CaptainCannabis]

Yup, after installing this my fan goes up to 6200rpm, with a CPU temp of 51C without even doing ANYTHING! When previously I never experienced any problems!

I wish Apple took back this piece of *****, I really do.

[Particular]

same ****en problem

Though when I tried to install the update it just said it was already installed

But my MBA will be @ 50-55C and fans full blast @ 6200RPM

I ****en hate it

[CaptainCannabis]

Ok so DON'T download this piece of crap.

First of all, it didn't do anything to my SMC version, I had 1.23f9 and still had it after the update. The only thing is that the fan went crazy (6200rpm) when it go to 50-55C, when before it only started to speed up a little to around 75c to 3500rpm.

I formated everything and now its back to normal (weird when I thought this was a firmware update, but it kinda makes sense if the smc version has always been 1.23f9).

What I did is I downloaded smcfancontrol and set it to 6200rpm before I start doing something hardcore, and return it to normal when I finish.

With this when I play wow, the temp is always at 67C. And before the temp went up to 80 and remained around 80. When I did intensive tasks I never experienced core shutdowns but i did experience the shuttering. With this while playing wow I dont even experience shuttering.

That means you wont hear the fan unless you want to.

So yea, apple, please put the smc update up your ...