Is it safe to use smcFanControl?

[Chiuy]

MBP 13" 2011 i5
I was wondering if it is safe to use smcFanControl and shoot it up all the way to 6200 RPM.
Will this screw up my MBP or the fans if I do?
And whats the safest highest RPM you can go up to?

 

[Intell]

It is completely safe. smcFanControl will limit the maximum speed to the max speed allowed by Apple. If you think it broke your Macbook Pro, just shut it down. Not a restart, complete shutdown. This will reset the fan speed back to the normal settings.

 

[RainCityMacFan]

If you crank up the speed high as possible for a long time you'll wear out the fan's bearing a bit quicker than normally.

I would just recommend letting the MBP control the fan speed. Unless you have to keep it cool, like if you were using it on your lap or something.

 

[fryc86]

I loved using SMC, but eventually I uninstalled it because at one point (I'm not sure when or how) it got stuck at the max and I couldn't lower the fans no matter what I tried to do. I uninstalled and my fans still won't run below close to 6000 rpm no matter how little I'm using it... I can't say this is an SMC problem, but something to look out for.

 

[Erasmus]

I loved using SMC, but eventually I uninstalled it because at one point (I'm not sure when or how) it got stuck at the max and I couldn't lower the fans no matter what I tried to do. I uninstalled and my fans still won't run below close to 6000 rpm no matter how little I'm using it... I can't say this is an SMC problem, but something to look out for.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964

What are your CPU temps?

 

[fryc86]

Thanks 🙂 Yeah that SMC reset was one of the first things I came across when this first started. I may not be doing it right, but following the instructions, and having tried it a number of times since this started hasn't changed anything...

Anyways, these are my temps:

and my computer is sitting at about 93% idle so I don't think there is anything running that is tasking the system:

Yet, the fans are right up at 5998 rpm where they always are...

It's nice that it stays nice and cool because of this. But the noise is annoying in quiet places, and as mentioned above they could wear down over time. I'm thinking a visit to the mac store is in order, but I've finally got this thing configured exactly the way I want it, and don't want to mess with redoing everything at the moment...

 

[Treeman574]

SMC fan control works great. Usually leave it off in winter and at about 3500-400rpm for hot summer days, or when using an external monitor.

No problems so far, but I imagine you'll need to get an updated version for lion.

 

[palpatine]

I figure that it is an easy choice.

You can trust the engineers who went to school for years, worked in the industry for years, and dedicated countless hours to designing our computers. Or, you can install some software and fiddle around with it yourself 🙂

I am also the kind of guy who doesn't change his own brakes, doesn't change his own oil, and doesn't even tune his own board. I prefer to stick to the stuff I know, and leave the rest to the experts 🙂

 

[Chiuy]

I figure that it is an easy choice.

You can trust the engineers who went to school for years, worked in the industry for years, and dedicated countless hours to designing our computers. Or, you can install some software and fiddle around with it yourself 🙂

I am also the kind of guy who doesn't change his own brakes, doesn't change his own oil, and doesn't even tune his own board. I prefer to stick to the stuff I know, and leave the rest to the experts 🙂

Or get rip off by the mechanic. lol.
I remember paying $100 for some stupid oil change then they found more problems and fixed it without consulting with me, costing $1500 in repairs. Damn.

 

[palpatine]

Or get rip off by the mechanic. lol.
I remember paying $100 for some stupid oil change then they found more problems and fixed it without consulting with me, costing $1500 in repairs. Damn.

a perennial problem. you gotta find a good mechanic, and you gotta accept the idea that parts are usually cheap and labor is outrageously expensive. your repairs might have been necessary. we took our car in for a 40 dollar oil change and ended up spending 800 two weeks ago. i could have spent the weekend trying to install brakes (i have done it before) to save money, but i've got better things to do. it is money well-spent 🙂