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Huge success undervolting the Air!
- Thread starter Adam Ierymenko
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finally my mba 1.6 can run 1080p movies without stuttering 
using msrtools i can see the cpu is running at 1.60ghz on both cores. temperature is 77 degrees, but i could lower it because i'm using the 1.0000v setting
Is there also a program like this for windows, because i use bootcamp for games and there the cpu is also stuck at 1.2ghz under load.
using msrtools i can see the cpu is running at 1.60ghz on both cores. temperature is 77 degrees, but i could lower it because i'm using the 1.0000v setting
Is there also a program like this for windows, because i use bootcamp for games and there the cpu is also stuck at 1.2ghz under load.
http://homepage.mac.com/holtmann/eidac/
smcFanControl
I does not limit max RPM, but with two friends of mine with AIRs (I don't have one myself, just helping others) a lot of the fan noise issues has been sorted out by using smcFanControl to increase the minimum fan speed to about 3800-3850, which is the max fan speed you can have before it gets audible in a reasonably quiet environment.
This reduces the idle temperature of the CPU, and it significantly increase the time the CPU has to be under load before the fan ramps up to an audible speed.
The fan algorithm, at least in earlier OS X/Air firmware releases, is not to good. It normally ramps up too late, and spins up to full speed to cool things down, then it slows down again just so the cpu can get hot again.
Maybe its better in later releases, I don't know for sure.
I know its the opposite of what you ask for, but give it a try anyway. Use it to set the highest idle RPM you can accept from a noise perspective. You might be surprised.
One of the two persons using this runs it with coolbook. Its a while since I helped him with this, but if I remember right, with the best coolbook settings he got and smcfancontrol at 3800 rpm, he ran idle temps on his air in the 37C area....
Good luck!
Just thought I would share my settings
I have had KP's on 1600 when I went one setting lower, and KP's on 1800 at the same
I have been running definitely cooler than before and I had the settings from the OP
Bottom line I would really test what your chip can do. Earlier on people have said to just try and see and I couldnt agree more - it really does seem like all chips are not created equal
I have had KP's on 1600 when I went one setting lower, and KP's on 1800 at the same
I have been running definitely cooler than before and I had the settings from the OP
Bottom line I would really test what your chip can do. Earlier on people have said to just try and see and I couldnt agree more - it really does seem like all chips are not created equal
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You have to put 'temp limit' in coolbook at 'off', then you can fully use your macbook cpu power.
Because if you set a limit it will clock down to 800mhz to lower the temperature to the value you selected.
I put only 1 setting in coolbook, that is 1600mhz, and put the voltage at 0.9125V.
Now I run 2 terminal windows with yes > /dev/null and the temperature reaches 90 degrees celcius, i let it run for 15minutes.
When i put the default voltage for 1600mhz it quickly reaches 100 degrees and the cpu starts to run at 1200mhz (built in protection from intel) in order to lower the temperature.
This is proof that the macbook air cannot run at full power when you run it without coolbook.
Or can someone can prove me wrong?
Maybe there is something wrong with the air i got?
Because if you set a limit it will clock down to 800mhz to lower the temperature to the value you selected.
I put only 1 setting in coolbook, that is 1600mhz, and put the voltage at 0.9125V.
Now I run 2 terminal windows with yes > /dev/null and the temperature reaches 90 degrees celcius, i let it run for 15minutes.
When i put the default voltage for 1600mhz it quickly reaches 100 degrees and the cpu starts to run at 1200mhz (built in protection from intel) in order to lower the temperature.
This is proof that the macbook air cannot run at full power when you run it without coolbook.
Or can someone can prove me wrong?
Maybe there is something wrong with the air i got?
If you open your air up, there is a way to fix some things and let heat come out, boosting performance their. Though, then again, there goes protection plan
Does the Rev. B fix this problem?
Does the Rev. B fix this problem?
If you open your air up, there is a way to fix some things and let heat come out, boosting performance their. Though, then again, there goes protection plan
Does the Rev. B fix this problem?
it should be with the new 45nm processor.
I had disabled Coolbook when Apple's update was released that supposedly fixed this problem (Rev. A MBA). Now, I'm wondering if Coolbook can be used to deal with the new problem that Apple's update caused... the dreaded kernel_task using a majority of the CPU...
Anyone know? Or any updated Coolbook settings in light of Apple's MBA update?
Anyone know? Or any updated Coolbook settings in light of Apple's MBA update?
about kernel task
@Bleh5 I know what you mean with kernel task using lots of cpu sometimes, but that might just be due to the stuff you do with your machine, afaik there's no evidence otherwise. I'm no expert on all details on OS X system architecture but I think everything that requires the kernel to do stuff (so basically everything) could cause a high cpu load for kernel_task. This might be due to bad drivers (hard to prove and unlikely I think) but in that case reactivating coolbook wouldn't do anything at all.
@Bleh5 I know what you mean with kernel task using lots of cpu sometimes, but that might just be due to the stuff you do with your machine, afaik there's no evidence otherwise. I'm no expert on all details on OS X system architecture but I think everything that requires the kernel to do stuff (so basically everything) could cause a high cpu load for kernel_task. This might be due to bad drivers (hard to prove and unlikely I think) but in that case reactivating coolbook wouldn't do anything at all.
finally my mba 1.6 can run 1080p movies without stuttering
using msrtools i can see the cpu is running at 1.60ghz on both cores. temperature is 77 degrees, but i could lower it because i'm using the 1.0000v setting
Is there also a program like this for windows, because i use bootcamp for games and there the cpu is also stuck at 1.2ghz under load.
can you post your coolbook settings? I'm still getting some mild 'chopiness' when viewing 1080p vids...
anyone using coolbook with the MBAir Rev B SSD?
interested in undervolting in order to extend batt life
Yes, at .92 running stable. Not only does it help battery but also runs cooler, thus less fan noise.
anyone using coolbook with the MBAir Rev B SSD?
interested in undervolting in order to extend batt life
stable at 0.95 for 1062mhz, and .9750 for 189mhz. might go lower voltages, but haven't have the time to test it further.
btw, i cannot set the voltage for 798mhz, so it's still using the stock 0.925. anybody can set it with the new air? the option is just greyed out, i can't set it right away. sucks..
Change 798mhz to make it a lower voltage? .925 is the lowest it goes, and that's a good thing.
for some reason i can only get the options for 798, 931, 1596 and 1862 mhz...this is kind of bothering me..
how can i score the 1000 and 1200 options?
also, what apps do you guys use to check your processor speed and such..is this safe to run with SMCfan? i'm getting some weird results and non-matching CPU temps...
sorry for the nooobie q's
how can i score the 1000 and 1200 options?
also, what apps do you guys use to check your processor speed and such..is this safe to run with SMCfan? i'm getting some weird results and non-matching CPU temps...
sorry for the nooobie q's
my old 1.6ghz air can run 800mhz at 0.90v. so with this new macbook air, 798mhz is supposed to be ok with lower voltage setting.
yes, it works with 10.5.6.