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Apple Releases MacBook SMC Firmware Update 1.1

aristobrat said:
34C is really, really low. 54C sounds more normal. How does your MacBook feel to the touch? Warmer? Perhaps it was reading the temp incorrectly before and is now reading it correctly?
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Is this under normal operating conditions? Not pushing it?

According to CoreDuoTemp and iStatPro, my MB is usually around 19 to 25C. I've seen it reach 50ish when I push it. :confused: :confused:
 
What's the vibe on this update for people who haven't had any RSS problems so far, and whose machines haven't been in for service at all???

I'm tempted to do it anyway, to stave off the possibility that it might eventually go to **** in a couple months (a la people whose week 19 machines have been fine till yesterday kinda thing), but then that old saying "if it ain't broke don't fix it" pops into my mind...
 
runninmac said:
Oh dang, these firmware updates make me nervous... so im going to wait and let others be the guinea pig.
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No way I'm going to do this update. This will not benefit me in any way whatsoever. At most, it'll ignore any "true" problem and not shut down when necessary. I won't install this update for like 6 months to see if this happens to others. Why should I install it when I don't even have this RSS issue, right? It'll just create a safety hole in my system.


kainjow said:
After applying the update, it seems like it's running cooler. I'm getting 53-54C now, when normally it's 58-59.
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Ah yes, let these types of posts begin. ;)
 
Although I never had a RSS, I did apply the update.
I'm curious about those temps you are mentioning though.

I have CoreDuoTemp installed and it shows 57C without doing anything fancy! Just Mail.app and Safari are open and I haven't done any serious work in the meantime.

34C seems kinda low :/
 
Just installed the update on a week 39 MB. So far so good.

However, iStat Nano (the latest one from today) can't read the temp. It's got a new 'Fans' setting, but no joy there either.

FanControl and CoreDuoTemp finally agree, however, on the temperature. Previously CoreDuoTemp showed the temp at boot-up, or out of sleep, which was why I was reporting 19C. Now the temp under minimal load hovers around 50-54 - which is fine.

jhande
 
Shagrat said:
Think you're imagining it. Have updated my MB and i still can't hear the fan in normal usage. I expect it will kick in at some time when it decides things are getting a bit hot.
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I think the original poster was talking about the speaker volume, and I happen to agree - I think my speaker volume is slightly louder.
 
Seems to have solved my Macbook shutdown problem. It used to shut down 4-5 times a day.. since I applied the patch.. it hasn't shut down since the last 5 hours. It's also very quiet.. it was always quiet but sometimes the fans would kick in.. now I hear nothing.

Quite pleased that Apple takes notice and figures out solutions rather quickly.
 
Shagrat said:
Think you're imagining it. Have updated my MB and i still can't hear the fan in normal usage. I expect it will kick in at some time when it decides things are getting a bit hot.

What I don't understand is that i only started getting shutdowns after the upgrade to 10.4.8 and it's associated firmware UG. And it seemed truly random, i.e. shortly after bootup (when the MB was still cool!) or after several hours, which is why I don't understand how a thermally expanding heatsink could be the culprit. If so, then it should always shutdown as the temperature rises to a certain point.

Dunno, just hope this new updater fixes the problem.
Click to expand...

Same here.. my MB started shutting down after updating to 10.4.8 (and the fan firmware update I think) It would shut down when I would just start her up.. or, as you mentioned.. after several hours of use. I formatted the drive and reinstalled 10.4.6.. but shutdowns continued. Weird.
 
Music_Producer said:
Same here.. my MB started shutting down after updating to 10.4.8 (and the fan firmware update I think) It would shut down when I would just start her up.. or, as you mentioned.. after several hours of use. I formatted the drive and reinstalled 10.4.6.. but shutdowns continued. Weird.
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I read somewhere that starting up produces an early peak of stress and heat before it settles down again. This might explain why it either happens very early on OR when the machine has warmed up generally.
 
kainjow said:
Well my MB was bought the day they were announced - my local Apple store didn't have them on display yet :) and mine hasn't had the shutdown issue.
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Same here. Got a black one the day of release from apple store and have not had a single problem. I guess that was the only good batch.
 
Abstract said:
No way I'm going to do this update. This will not benefit me in any way whatsoever. At most, it'll ignore any "true" problem and not shut down when necessary...
Click to expand...

Isn't everyone assuming here that the root problem is a heatsink issue? Has Apple ever announced that it was? Perhaps it isn't at all, or that's only part of the equation, and it is in fact an SMC control problem. There's a lot of FUD here - people saying they've had extra screws drilled in their MacBooks which is total BS.

I wouldn't try second-guessing Apple engineers. If they've released an update recommended to make the MacBook more reliable, I say use it.
 
mustgroove said:
What's the vibe on this update for people who haven't had any RSS problems so far, and whose machines haven't been in for service at all???

I'm tempted to do it anyway, to stave off the possibility that it might eventually go to **** in a couple months (a la people whose week 19 machines have been fine till yesterday kinda thing), but then that old saying "if it ain't broke don't fix it" pops into my mind...
Click to expand...

I've got a week 18 BlackBook, no problems at all, never a random shutdown after both the 1.0 and 1.1 firmware updates.

The 1.0 raised my idling temp to around 54º and the 1.1 update pushed it up to about 56º but other than that no problems.
 
drlunanerd said:
Isn't everyone assuming here that the root problem is a heatsink issue? Has Apple ever announced that it was? Perhaps it isn't at all, or that's only part of the equation, and it is in fact an SMC control problem.
Click to expand...
The heatsink most definitively the culprit in my case. I had my MB 1.83GHz repaired three days ago and haven't had a RSD since. The heatsink was replaced, but I didn't get a free screw.
 
Seems weird that a hardware problem is being solved by a software fix? :confused:

How can a firmware update stop a wire shorting the circuit?
 
Everthings good here. Installed on MacBook 1.83GHz Core Duo, 2GB RAM, 100GB HD. Downloaded, restarted, fans came on full blast for about 4 seconds, rebooted and everything is fine. Never had (and I hope never will) have the RSS but I installed anyway. Bootup chime seems a little louder and bootup time is decreased! :D
 
stuartluff said:
Seems weird that a hardware problem is being solved by a software fix? :confused:

How can a firmware update stop a wire shorting the circuit?
Click to expand...
As has been suggested earlier, by instructing the controller to ignore anomalous input from the sensor, or by kicking in the fans earlier to prevent rapid expansion of the heatsink on startup, or both.
 
skunk said:
As has been suggested earlier, by instructing the controller to ignore anomalous input from the sensor, or by kicking in the fans earlier to prevent rapid expansion of the heatsink on startup, or both.
Click to expand...

But still its not a total fix is it. If you really push your machine it is likely to shutdown again. Also 'ignoring' a potential fire hazard is a bit dangerous dont you think.
 
MacinDoc said:
So, it looks like Apple is trying to fix the problem by keeping the MacBook cooler, thus preventing the heat sink from expanding enough to come into contact with the cable. A simple, elegant solution, except it will likely cause increased fan use and decreased battery life
Click to expand...

Not so elegant then, eh?
 
Are the heatsink sensors necessary?

Well I'm not a MAC expert by any means but here's a thought.

I've built many PCs and none of the heatsinks that ship from AMD or Intel have had heat sensors or wires on them. The only wires are for monitoring the RPM of the fan which is attached to the top of the heatsink.

The CPU has its own temperature monitoring and doesn't depend on the heatsink.

Maybe the thermal sensors on the heatsink are not needed completely or at all? The initial solution, before new firmware was available, was to simply replace the heatsink, but now they can safely ignore the short?
 
this update as worked great for me so far! I was having random shutdowns at least 5 times a day and I haven't had one since last night. I also notice that my macbook is cooler (around 35 degrees C), and that's with about 6 programs open. Normally it would be around 60....and after hearing other people say that the built-in speakers are louder, it seems like mine are too....but that's probably all in my head.
 
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