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Huge success undervolting the Air!
- Thread starter Adam Ierymenko
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the same happened to me as well. but coolbook worked just fine until i changed the throttling set to high and the max temp to 85c. the system keeps completely locked up.
ho boy, it wasn't the throttling that makes the freeze up, but it's coolbook!
the settings from this website ( http://plasmadesign.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/macbook-air-core-shutdown/ ) used to be ok with my MBA for months, but suddenly it's not working anymore.
I think my chip is failing since it's not getting enough juices.
increasing the voltage step by step didn't help much. it's still freezing up.
the only way to get this mba stable is to disable coolbook and let MBA use the default voltage for the chip.
be warned guys.
the settings from this website ( http://plasmadesign.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/macbook-air-core-shutdown/ ) used to be ok with my MBA for months, but suddenly it's not working anymore.
I think my chip is failing since it's not getting enough juices.
increasing the voltage step by step didn't help much. it's still freezing up.
the only way to get this mba stable is to disable coolbook and let MBA use the default voltage for the chip.
be warned guys.
Well, this is not the right way to configure CoolBook. You should start with the higher voltage settings and go down one step. At each step test the single setting with CPU test for at least 20 minutes, without throttling (only add the setting you want to test). Once you get to an unstable setting go up of two or three steps.
If you still experience freezing from time to time just set them a step higher.
I dont understand why so many users try the settings suggested by others. It should be clear, if you read the manual, that each CPU has different settings and that is also true regardless of the fact that the CPU is of the same model and is installed in the same model of mac. That means each one should go through the step of trying and testing to get good results.
hi Aleni
I am surprised to find someone with EXACTLY the same experience as me!
1. bought my MBA 1.8Ghz/SSD around Feb-March when it came out
2. for about 2 months suffered about core shutdowns (drove me nuts)
3. finally, settled with the coolbook solution; it helped (with voltage around 0.9-0.95) no more coreshutdowns. I've used it ever since with no problems...
4. ...until recently, I'd say maybe 3 weeks or so, I start getting my computer freezing all the time. This happens at very low temperatures, like at 50-55F when I am barely using the machine; I'll suddenly move the mouse and boom, screen frozen, mouse and keyboard unresponsive. Nothing responds, even if I wait. I have to reboot by pressing the power button. I suspect coolbook but not sure, because I haven't dared remove coolbook yet (core shutdowns drive me nuts and happened all too easily for me).
So seems like roughly the same pattern.
Aleni: are you getting the freezing at low temperatures too?
I am surprised to find someone with EXACTLY the same experience as me!
1. bought my MBA 1.8Ghz/SSD around Feb-March when it came out
2. for about 2 months suffered about core shutdowns (drove me nuts)
3. finally, settled with the coolbook solution; it helped (with voltage around 0.9-0.95) no more coreshutdowns. I've used it ever since with no problems...
4. ...until recently, I'd say maybe 3 weeks or so, I start getting my computer freezing all the time. This happens at very low temperatures, like at 50-55F when I am barely using the machine; I'll suddenly move the mouse and boom, screen frozen, mouse and keyboard unresponsive. Nothing responds, even if I wait. I have to reboot by pressing the power button. I suspect coolbook but not sure, because I haven't dared remove coolbook yet (core shutdowns drive me nuts and happened all too easily for me).
So seems like roughly the same pattern.
Aleni: are you getting the freezing at low temperatures too?
yes, im getting the hung up at low temperature as well.
i just left the computer for a while, didn't have any programs running, and when i'm back, it's completely frozen.
by disabling coolbook and not having the default voltage values back is still freezing this thing.
the only way to make it stable is to enable coolbook, restart, clear all the settings, and set the default settings back and save, restart computer again, disable coolbook, and restart again. viola.
but now, the temp is really high. it's 48-57c idling.
but i haven't experienced the core shutdown while watching flash video. maybe it's 10.5.4 update that makes the core shutdown disappear.
i just left the computer for a while, didn't have any programs running, and when i'm back, it's completely frozen.
by disabling coolbook and not having the default voltage values back is still freezing this thing.
the only way to make it stable is to enable coolbook, restart, clear all the settings, and set the default settings back and save, restart computer again, disable coolbook, and restart again. viola.
but now, the temp is really high. it's 48-57c idling.
but i haven't experienced the core shutdown while watching flash video. maybe it's 10.5.4 update that makes the core shutdown disappear.
I see! Actually had a similar experience with my MacBook. It worked fine with CoolBook for months and a couple weeks ago it started freezing while browsing or reading emails. This is what I did:
1)Reset the standard settings
2)Unistalled CoolBook
3)Removed any file related to CoolBook
4)Reinstalled Coolbook
5)Went through the configuration, but set the voltages 4-5 step higher than before.
All that with restarting between each step.
It solved my issue, although it may not apply to the Air.
Somehow I thought it was the heat of the summer that needed a higher settings for stability. The fact that many are experiencing freezing make me also think at something with the updates.
Using coolbook completely eliminated all problems I've had with the Air shutting down one core, however I still have a problem with the noise.
Once I power my computer on, it remains idle at 2500 RPM for a while and then eventually powers up. As long as it's below or around 4800, I experience no annoyance with the sound, but once it powers up to 6200, it get's annoying fast, especially if using the computer in public.
Also, I think there's some extra problem with my fan control because if I shut down ALL applications and just leaves my computer idle, it takes a long time +10 minutes for the fans to slow down, even if it already is (like right now at around 50 degrees celsius). It doesn't get much cooler than this anyways, so why do the fans have to run so loud?
So, what I would like is a suggestion on fan limit applications. Did a fruitless search (all programs just seem to limit downwards, not upwards). Don't worry, I'll try it out slowly so I don't mess anything up.
Once I power my computer on, it remains idle at 2500 RPM for a while and then eventually powers up. As long as it's below or around 4800, I experience no annoyance with the sound, but once it powers up to 6200, it get's annoying fast, especially if using the computer in public.
Also, I think there's some extra problem with my fan control because if I shut down ALL applications and just leaves my computer idle, it takes a long time +10 minutes for the fans to slow down, even if it already is (like right now at around 50 degrees celsius). It doesn't get much cooler than this anyways, so why do the fans have to run so loud?
So, what I would like is a suggestion on fan limit applications. Did a fruitless search (all programs just seem to limit downwards, not upwards). Don't worry, I'll try it out slowly so I don't mess anything up.
Yeah, I would like that too ...
Problem is most people here is just like Apple, not trusting you with freedom to tweak your own machine.
Limit Fan
Hi Guys!
You can limit the max fan speed with smcFanControl. Even though the application does not offer any GUI to do so, you can set the appropriate parameters via terminal:
for 6200 max:
/Applications/smcFanControl.app/Contents/Resources/smc -k F0Mx -w 60e0
for 4000 max:
/Applications/smcFanControl.app/Contents/Resources/smc -k F0Mx -w 3e80
Alternative settings:
6200 - 60e0
5600 - 5780
5000 - 4e20
4800 - 4b00
4000 - 3e80
3600 - 3840
3000 - 2ee0
2500 - 2710
I found 4000rpm to be absolutely sufficient on my machine and with my working habits.
BEWARE: BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THESE SETTINGS!!! Limiting the fan-speed on a too low setting will cause harm to the CPU (or at least freeze the system).
Cheers,
kt
Hi Guys!
You can limit the max fan speed with smcFanControl. Even though the application does not offer any GUI to do so, you can set the appropriate parameters via terminal:
for 6200 max:
/Applications/smcFanControl.app/Contents/Resources/smc -k F0Mx -w 60e0
for 4000 max:
/Applications/smcFanControl.app/Contents/Resources/smc -k F0Mx -w 3e80
Alternative settings:
6200 - 60e0
5600 - 5780
5000 - 4e20
4800 - 4b00
4000 - 3e80
3600 - 3840
3000 - 2ee0
2500 - 2710
I found 4000rpm to be absolutely sufficient on my machine and with my working habits.
BEWARE: BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THESE SETTINGS!!! Limiting the fan-speed on a too low setting will cause harm to the CPU (or at least freeze the system).
Cheers,
kt
WOW, thanks kt, works like charm on my MB 2.1
I can still rise the fan speed if I need to - manually - choosing pre-saved setting.
This was mentioned a long time ago. Furthermore, if you were to lock it at 2500, it would cool the system but after a period of time, the system will sleep to prevent damage.
So what, it's much better to have this kind of information [over]flowing around, than constantly hear dumbbell warnings of danger and blasphemy against holy creation, or how apple is righteous limiting my rights, because there are dumbbells (them referring themselves
) who might screw something up, and blame apple for that, which is pain to ears of other dumbbells.Understood, risks are all mine, just as the freedom to have my mac my way.
P.S. got your message - locking it at 2500rpm (1800 in MB) would be really dumbbellish
Freezes
My story is exactly the same with my 1.6/80.
I thought that if the voltage I set (0.9V) across the board is not sufficient to keep the CPU running, I would expect a kernel panic, not a freeze and that's an advantage of having a Mac over a Windows PC.
I always had freezes when working on Windows through VMWare Fusion, and that too, when i am generally away from my MBA. I was thinking the freeze was somehow caused by a Windows process.
I am still unsure if it is caused by Coolbook, and not the recent 10.5.4 update. Is there anyone around here who has experienced a freeze but haven't used coolbook?
My story is exactly the same with my 1.6/80.
I thought that if the voltage I set (0.9V) across the board is not sufficient to keep the CPU running, I would expect a kernel panic, not a freeze and that's an advantage of having a Mac over a Windows PC.
I always had freezes when working on Windows through VMWare Fusion, and that too, when i am generally away from my MBA. I was thinking the freeze was somehow caused by a Windows process.
I am still unsure if it is caused by Coolbook, and not the recent 10.5.4 update. Is there anyone around here who has experienced a freeze but haven't used coolbook?
I've never experienced a freeze, just stuttering. Even when I was running vmware.
Big thanks to kuehltruhe, just what I wanted. Of course, I'd monitor my system closely when running on low fan speeds.
When I enter "/Applications/smcFanControl.app/Contents/Resources/smc -k F0Mx -w 3e80" into terminal I get "no such file or directory. Help me out, I know nothing about how to work terminal, but I really want to throttle my fan down a bit.
Haha silly
You should check smc's path first then.
I'm assuming you on a Leopard.
1) in spotlight type "smcf", if app is highlighted press '⌘I' (or Command + I if you will), it should open Info "column" see there if your app is located somewhere different.
2) edit that line you enter in terminal, in textedit for example.
(For me it's "/Applications/MyUtilities/smcFanControl.app/Contents/Resources/smc -k F0Mx -w 4b00")
3) copy it from textedit & paste it into terminal, press enter, should be OK.
P.S. check if you at your user directory in terminal, type cd + enter.
Anyone noticed that this change for smcFan is not persistent ?
Had my fan back on 6200 after I rebooted.
Don't do it often, not a big deal to enter it again ....
but still would like to make it stick
Had my fan back on 6200 after I rebooted.
Don't do it often, not a big deal to enter it again ....
but still would like to make it stick
Anyone noticed that this change for smcFan is not persistent ?
Had my fan back on 6200 after I rebooted.
Don't do it often, not a big deal to enter it again ....
but still would like to make it stick
In another thread about throttling the fan someone was talking about how to make a simple automator application that would essentially do the terminal thing upon startup. I don't know how to do that either. Having my fan come on at 6200 in a quiet place is annoying enough for me to want to figure out how though.
Oh, yeah, shouldn't be too complex (admittedly used Automator only few times, and it's not that intimidating anymore
)Still some links would be helpful.
I like it when this forum is rich & resourceful