Does iStat menus really work correctly with M1 macs?

[Spindel]

I have used iStat Menus for a while.

Now that I gotten my M1 mac I get the feeling that it is off reporting on CPU. The reported CPU utilization is constantly really low no matter what I do on the computer.

Also there seems to be no temp sensor for the SoC (or at least iStat can't read it).

 

[Spindel]

OK

So I just found out that if I don't group all CPU cores it seems more like I would expect, But the grouping is really random on where it places each core (LP vs HP) and also it get's kind of cluttered to have 8 graphs in the top bar

 

[edk99]

Do you have version 6.5.1? If so it supports the M1 Macs

iStat Menus version history

Makers of iStat Menus, Skala and other great apps.

bjango.com

6.51​

18 November 2020

• Added support for Apple Silicon Macs.

 

[Spindel]

Yes I have 6.51

 

[Diskutant]

you can compare those values with what the ActivityMonitor shows

 

[Colonel Panik]

Hm, I was looking at the CPU usage and realised that if I click on the 30 day history I see a full 30 days history. Given that I only received the MacMini (M1) on the 24th Nov it seems that there's something odd alright...
Anyone else have a history that extends beyond the arrival of their machine?

 

[MevetS]

Hm, I was looking at the CPU usage and realised that if I click on the 30 day history I see a full 30 days history. Given that I only received the MacMini (M1) on the 24th Nov it seems that there's something odd alright...
Anyone else have a history that extends beyond the arrival of their machine?

Does the 'history' start when iStatMenus is installed? Or does iStat read data generated elsewhere? If it is the later could you seeing post assembly testing done prior to shipping?

 

[mrj412]

Did you migrate your data from a different Mac? If so, it likely copied the iStats Menu application's performance history database as well.

Bjango has stated on their Twitter that it is now a universal app but they are still actively working on getting the application updated for the new M1 specific hardware sensors.

 

[Colonel Panik]

Thanks @MevetS and @mrj412.
While answering your questions, I figured it out...

Because of bluetooth issues and cos as a dev I tend to install all sorts of things, I decided that this MacMini would be a clean machine. iCloud data (AppleID) was shared between this and my older machine, and I have a licence for Setapp for three machines.

I decided to look at where iStats keeps its database for the historical data:
~/Library/Application Support/iStat Menus/databases
That file was exactly the same size as the same databases file on my other Mac, which is strange. So I decided to delete the database on this machine and restart.
Now the data only shows history for the last hour.
Question is how did the iStats Menus database get copied from one machine to the other? I reckon it was one of the /Application Support/ folders that I copied over, knowing that I'd want the same settings and data. Didn't check inside to realise that I was copying a database file.

To double check, I uninstalled iStats Menu and it deleted the /Application Support/iStat Menus folder. Then I restarted and reinstalled iStats from Setapp, and the history makes sense now

User Error Signification: ID10t

 

[Sowelu]

The latest version of iStat Menus does work with M1 Macs, it's just a bit awkward in this current version.

I am hoping that Bjango simplifies the 'Sensor' temperature views with the option to show an average of the temps in the SoC proximity, versus a never ending list of cryptic sensors/temps. I'd also like to see this simplified or averaged temp in the CPU dropdown menu as shown on version for Intel Macs.

I love this app, have been using it for years - and I am a fan of Bjango!

 

[Le0M]

I got the latest version of iStat Menu on my M1, but GPU is stuck at 0%.
Anyone else?

 

[Spindel]

I got the latest version of iStat Menu on my M1, but GPU is stuck at 0%.
Anyone else?

I have the appstore version and get readings for both CPU and GPU. But since no update has come since OP i still suspect the CPU readings are off. GPU seems to be correct.

And I’m still waiting for an update that gives more temp sensors than just the SSD.

 

[AdamNC]

I bought it and within a 3 hours asked for a refund. I was testing it and during a Cinebench test it said my MBA reached only 60 degrees F. And CPU usage was 40 percent then after the test it sat at 100% for an hour. Had my refund within 72 hours.

 

[Spindel]

I've even contacted the developer about sensorpack update for App Store version and haven't gotten any response (this is 5 weeks ago).

Sad since I've used iStat Menus for a long time on my intel mac before I got the M1 and I've always recommended it then.

My biggest problem is that I've not found an alternative that I think is good, I really don't like iStatistica. Menumeters I haven't used in 10 years maybe they have a working version now, I don't know.

 

[Stefdar]

I ditched iStat menus as it is not fully compatible with M1 yet and it's been months now and an update is not coming... Try Menubar Stats, its the only one fully compatible with M1 and Big Sur with a boatload of compatible widgets, and a much lower CPU percentage!

 

[iHorseHead]

No, it doesn't.
I have a brand new MacBook Air M1 and it showed me that battery life is 2% while Apple shows it's 100%.
Deleted it and asked for a refund.

 

[Spindel]

I ditched iStat menus as it is not fully compatible with M1 yet and it's been months now and an update is not coming... Try Menubar Stats, its the only one fully compatible with M1 and Big Sur with a boatload of compatible widgets, and a much lower CPU percentage!

I actually installed it right before I saw this post, and it seems to do the job correctly so I guess I'm abandoning iStat menus.

 

[haruhiko]

iStat Menus is still not working well on M1 Macs and the new M1 Pro MacBooks. I uninstalled it and installed TG Pro, TG Pro is working so well.

 

[Sowelu]

iStat Menus was fully working with the M1 there for a while, but apparently it doesn't fully work with the M1 Pro and M1 Max. All the modules work except for 'Sensors', which is an important one, so I hope the developer addresses this with an update.