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Minimum Fan Speed, need to reset but how?

K

Klrbee25

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 23, 2007
56
0
Hey Everyone,

I have a 24" iMac which I noticed was running especially hot one day since my apartment doesn't have A/C. I downloaded some fan control programs (Fan Control and SMCFanControl) but now have a minor issue.

I started with Fan Control which apparently only notices two of my system's three fans. Somewhere in the mix of uninstalling it and switching to SMCFanControl, the minimum speed of my CPU fan was changed from 600rpm to 1900rpm. Now I've completely removed Fan Control and am solely using SMCFanControl, but SMC is reading some file making it believe the Apple setting for minimum CPU fan speed is 1900 instead of 600rpm.

Does anyone know which OS X file needs to be edited to reset the minimum speed for this fan so SMC will allow me to drop the speed?

Thanks,

Alex
 
M

mindnumbed

macrumors newbie
Dec 25, 2007
1
0
SMCFanControl

Hey,
fixing the detected minimum speeds is easy: quit SMCfancontrol and open the Applications folder, then right-click (control-click) the SMCfancontrol icon and choose "show package contents". You can then edit the application's internal settings.

The file you want is at Contents/Resources/Machines.plist

You should open it in textedit and find the entry for your machine; it's probably the one at the bottom which will look something like:

Code: 
	<dict>
		<key>Comment</key>
		<string>Autogenerated</string> [B]<-- this is the line to look for[/B]
		<key>Fans</key>
		<array>
			<dict>
				<key>Description</key>
				<string>Leftside</string>
				<key>Maxspeed</key>
				<integer>6000</integer>
				<key>Minspeed</key>
				<integer>500</integer>
				<key>selspeed</key>
				<integer>500</integer>
			</dict>
			<dict>
				<key>Description</key>
				<string>Rightside</string>
				<key>Maxspeed</key>
				<integer>6000</integer>
				<key>Minspeed</key>
				<integer>500</integer>
				<key>selspeed</key>
				<integer>500</integer>
			</dict>
		</array>
		<key>Machine</key>
		<string>Imac2,1</string>
		<key>Maxspeed</key>
		<integer>6000</integer>
		<key>Minspeed</key>
		<integer>500</integer>
		<key>NumFans</key>
		<integer>2</integer>
	</dict>

find the fan which has something like
Code: 
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1900</integer>

and change both occurrences of 1900 (minspeed and selspeed) to the original value of 600. You might want to try searching the file for all occurrences of 1900.

You can also use this technique to make your computer even quieter than Apple's defaults by decreasing the speed further, but BE WARNED, THAT IS DANGEROUS. However, if you stick to just resetting to Apple's defaults, you should be fine.

HTH,

MN

P.S. In case anyone reads this and wants to slow down their noisy MacBook Pro fans, I should add that I'm not affiliated with SMCFanControl and that modifying those files to allow your fans to run slower is potentially very dangerous; I won't take responsibility for your computer blowing up. That said, I lowered my minimum speed from 2000 to 1000 and now it's quiet and still cool :)
 
K

kd5ftn

macrumors newbie
Dec 11, 2006
16
0
I recently had my 24" iMac in for servicing, and now that it's back, it's much louder.

When inactive, my CPU heatsync is at a gentle 32.5 degrees Celcius. My FanControl minimum CPU fan speed is 1200rpm, yet the CPU fan never drops below 3200rpm.

I can crank it up higher than 3200, but never below. It's considerably louder and rather annoying, while not even being close to overheating.

I've also tried SMCFanControl which also will not bring this CPU fan speed down.

Any ideas?
 
Y

yanez

macrumors newbie
Jan 8, 2012
4
0
Now it's

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<array>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Left Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1000</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Right Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1000</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBookPro1,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1000</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>2</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Left Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1000</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Right Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1000</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBookPro1,2</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1000</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>2</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Left Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Right Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBookPro2,2</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>2</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Left Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Right Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBookPro2,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>2</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Left Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Right Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBookPro3,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>2</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Left Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Right Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBookPro4,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>2</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Left Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Right Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBookPro5,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>2</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Left Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Right Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBookPro5,2</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6000</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>2</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>MainFan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6200</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1500</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1500</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBook1,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<string>6200</string>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1500</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>1</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>MainFan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6200</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBook2,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<string>6200</string>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>1</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>MainFan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6200</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBook3,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<string>6200</string>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>1</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>MainFan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6200</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBook4,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<string>6200</string>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>1</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>MainFan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6200</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBook5,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<string>6000</string>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>1</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>MainFan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6200</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBook5,2</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<string>6200</string>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>1</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>MainFan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6200</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBookAir1,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<string>6200</string>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>1</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>MainFan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>6200</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1800</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacBookAir2,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<string>6200</string>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>2000</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>1</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>MainFan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>5500</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1500</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1500</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacMini1,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<string>5500</string>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1500</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>1</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>MainFan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>5500</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1500</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1500</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacMini2,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<string>5500</string>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1500</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>1</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>MainFan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>5500</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1500</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>1500</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacMini3,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<string>5500</string>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>1500</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>1</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Fans</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>CPU Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>2900</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>500</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>500</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>PCIe/HDD Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>2900</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>500</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>500</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Rear Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>2900</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>500</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>500</integer>
</dict>
<dict>
<key>Description</key>
<string>Power Supply Fan</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>2800</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>600</integer>
<key>selspeed</key>
<integer>600</integer>
</dict>
</array>
<key>Machine</key>
<string>MacPro1,1</string>
<key>Maxspeed</key>
<integer>2900</integer>
<key>Minspeed</key>
<integer>500</integer>
<key>NumFans</key>
<integer>4</integer>
</dict>
</array>
</plist>
 
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