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Undervolting Macbook Pro
- Thread starter LPA5000
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Hello,
I'm having a question about using coolbook.
I'm having a Macbook Pro 15" 2.66gHz.
I recently purchased a CoolBook license and immediately tweaked around with it and found working pairs like
1596MHz at .935V and it is stable for me (that's my setting when I'm unplugged and on battery)
Is it alright to go BELOW the DEFAULT VOLTAGE of the laptop which (at 1596MHz) is 1V?
I'm having a question about using coolbook.
I'm having a Macbook Pro 15" 2.66gHz.
I recently purchased a CoolBook license and immediately tweaked around with it and found working pairs like
1596MHz at .935V and it is stable for me (that's my setting when I'm unplugged and on battery)
Is it alright to go BELOW the DEFAULT VOLTAGE of the laptop which (at 1596MHz) is 1V?
You do realize that is the whole point of the program don't you? You are lowering the voltage to decrease heat and increase battery life. As long as the computer stays stable and doesn't kernel panic then you are doing it right.
I've got to say that I'm truly shocked at what CoolBook did for my MBP.
My MacBook Pro had been heating up lately, so I downloaded Fan Control to kind of keep an eye on it. My MBP was running around 89*C which made me really uneasy. I tweaked the fan speed and got the temp to float between 62*C - 68*C, but my fans were running at like 4,900 RPM (constantly)...the equivalent of somebody constantly winded on a treadmill.
Mind you, I had two browsers open (both with multiple tabs), Word, Excel, ChemDraw and iTunes going at the same time (to name a few).
Also, I have a 500GB HDD in my MBP, so that may (or may not) be contributing to the internal heat problem (I'm thinking not though, because it's been in for about 5 months now with no overheating issues, and also because of my lightswitch-like results from simply undervolting...as you'll see below).
Not wanting to do a lot of trial-and-error, nor wanting to go through kernel panics and safemode reboots, I found the website of a guy named Eric Cheng and he happened to also have a 2.33Ghz MBP that he installed CoolBook on. I copied his settings and look at my temperature drop (in both *C and *F):
I had a drop from approximately 65*C to (according to CoolBook right now) 37*C....that's a 28*C drop! (roughly 50*F)...and my internal fans are running at 1,610 RPM.
That's Amazing!
And yes, I have all of the aforementioned programs running once again to make sure that I have the same conditions that I had pre-CoolBook.
I should note that I also disabled about 1,000 fonts in my font cache because they were making my MBP a little slow, but I think that they might have had only a minimal (if any) affect on the temp prior to CoolBook.
I've got to say, buying CoolBook was the best $12.50 I think I've ever spent on my MBP.
Hopefully this helps some other MBP user out there who's laptop is acting more like a stovetop.
J.
My MacBook Pro had been heating up lately, so I downloaded Fan Control to kind of keep an eye on it. My MBP was running around 89*C which made me really uneasy. I tweaked the fan speed and got the temp to float between 62*C - 68*C, but my fans were running at like 4,900 RPM (constantly)...the equivalent of somebody constantly winded on a treadmill.
Mind you, I had two browsers open (both with multiple tabs), Word, Excel, ChemDraw and iTunes going at the same time (to name a few).
Also, I have a 500GB HDD in my MBP, so that may (or may not) be contributing to the internal heat problem (I'm thinking not though, because it's been in for about 5 months now with no overheating issues, and also because of my lightswitch-like results from simply undervolting...as you'll see below).
Not wanting to do a lot of trial-and-error, nor wanting to go through kernel panics and safemode reboots, I found the website of a guy named Eric Cheng and he happened to also have a 2.33Ghz MBP that he installed CoolBook on. I copied his settings and look at my temperature drop (in both *C and *F):
I had a drop from approximately 65*C to (according to CoolBook right now) 37*C....that's a 28*C drop! (roughly 50*F)...and my internal fans are running at 1,610 RPM.
That's Amazing!
And yes, I have all of the aforementioned programs running once again to make sure that I have the same conditions that I had pre-CoolBook.
I should note that I also disabled about 1,000 fonts in my font cache because they were making my MBP a little slow, but I think that they might have had only a minimal (if any) affect on the temp prior to CoolBook.
I've got to say, buying CoolBook was the best $12.50 I think I've ever spent on my MBP.
Hopefully this helps some other MBP user out there who's laptop is acting more like a stovetop.
J.
Hey reallynotnick,
Two things:
1. Can you post your settings for this guy?:
2. I notice you're running a 500GB WD Scorpio in your MBP. How do you like it and why did you choose that over the Seagate 500GB HDD (out of curiosity)?
J.
1. Everyone's settings are going to be different for coolbook because each CPU is different. The reason why these CPUs run at higher then needed voltages is because they can guarantee they won't crash, otherwise they would have to rigorously test each CPU like I did with coolbook. You just have to set the voltage and then run CPUtest and wait and see if it crashes, if it does then you have to go to a higher voltage, if it doesn't then you could possibly go lower.
As a starting point here are a few voltages that I found very stable on my computer (I tested each for about an hour and then bumped it up 2 levels to what I have posted so it is 100% uncrashable), you'll have to test it out yourself to see whether your computer needs to go higher or can go lower.
1596mhz - .875v
1995mhz - .900v
2261mhz - .925v
2. I don't want to side track this thread, there are plenty of WD Blue threads but basically this review sold me on it. My only complaint is I can hear it in a silent room but it's really not that bad, I'm curious if the 640GB version fixed that but I'm not really in the market so I haven't checked out new hard drives.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/17010
@reallynotnick
How did you manage to get voltage values below the default?
Are you supposed to go to the Terminal?
As you see I didn't really understand Magnus manual where he says about the Terminal... The x-value, is that supposed to be additional voltages from my current setting?
Terminal commands for advanced settings
1) For some CPUs additional voltages can be added to the voltage selector. Certain computers can crash if you try to find the lowest selectable voltage.
That is the reason to limit the function to only try to find a specified number on additional voltages. Start with low numbers and try to find the limit.
You probably don't need to use a setting higher than 10.
Use the following command, where 'x' is the number of additional voltages you will try to find:
defaults write se.coolbook.CoolBookController2 LoopCnt x
Restart the app after you change the setting.
2) If you think the temperature reading is off, you can adjust it using an offset setting.
Use the following command, where 'x' is the positive or negative offset in °C:
defaults write se.coolbook.CoolBookController2 Offset x
Restart the app, and save the settings for the offset to become active.
How did you manage to get voltage values below the default?
Are you supposed to go to the Terminal?
As you see I didn't really understand Magnus manual where he says about the Terminal... The x-value, is that supposed to be additional voltages from my current setting?
Terminal commands for advanced settings
1) For some CPUs additional voltages can be added to the voltage selector. Certain computers can crash if you try to find the lowest selectable voltage.
That is the reason to limit the function to only try to find a specified number on additional voltages. Start with low numbers and try to find the limit.
You probably don't need to use a setting higher than 10.
Use the following command, where 'x' is the number of additional voltages you will try to find:
defaults write se.coolbook.CoolBookController2 LoopCnt x
Restart the app after you change the setting.
2) If you think the temperature reading is off, you can adjust it using an offset setting.
Use the following command, where 'x' is the positive or negative offset in °C:
defaults write se.coolbook.CoolBookController2 Offset x
Restart the app, and save the settings for the offset to become active.
WOW
The whole purpose of under volting is to set it "under" the default voltages. I highly recommend combining CoolBook + sncFanControl
I use Coolbook on my MBP Santa Rosa with GREAT success! Took me a while to get it setup correctly (and a little help from a good friend) but now it rocks. I use Pro Tools extensively with numerous CPU intensive virtual instruments such as BFD2 and I'm seeing wonderful performance like never before. For example, I had 24(!) virtual instruments going at one time, made up of 1 BFD2, 1 Mini Grand and 16(!) MTron Pros, and the rest being Xpands and Vacuums. I also had a reverb, a delay, 1 Master Fader and 4 empty audio tracks. My laptop's temperature stayed at around 57 C and the CPU reading was just a little over the midline of the meter. The session played back fine but I got an error message at the very end when I saved the session... the session was saved however but Pro Tools 'quit unexpectedly' after saving. I only really did this as a test as I would never have that many virtual instruments in one session but I was very happy to see that Pro Tools actually still worked fine after all that CPU stress. Here are my Coolbook settings:
(Adapter)
800 Mhz : 0.8500 V
1200 Mhz : 0.8500 V
1400 Mhz: 0.8500 V
1600 Mhz : 0.8500 V
1800 Mhz : 0.9500 V
2200 Mhz : 1.0000 V
2400 Mhz : 1.0500 V
Throttling level : Very High
Temp limit : Off
MBP specs:
2.4 Ghz
6GB Ram
OWC Mercury Pro Internal SSD 60GB (System Drive)
WD Scorpio 'Black' 320GB Internal HDD (Audio Drive) upgrading soon to
Kingston SSDNow V Series Internal SSD 128GB
My settings for the battery are the default settings. I don't really care about performance when I use the battery so I just left them as they were.
Coolbook has done amazing things for my computer, I'm getting killer performance from an almost 4 year old machine! My latest Geekbench scores killed all the 2007, 2008, 2009 and some of the early 2010 Macbook Pro 13 & 15 inch models! In addition to this, my computer is a lot cooler.. temperature readings are about 40 C when doing normal stuff (Safari, iTunes, etc). I know that the temperature will drop more when I replace the second internal hard drive to a Solid State. I also use Fan Control which is equally awesome, here are my settings:
Base speed: 3000 RPM
Lower Threshold: 40 C
Upper Threshold: 70 C
I favored Fan Control over SMC Control because it lives in the System Preferences and does its thing on its own.
I HIGHLY recommend Coolbook to all Pro Tools and BFD2 users out there. I know how frustrating it is when things 'don't work'. BFD2 is one huge CPU hog... it just WON'T RUN if you don't have a killer machine. Period.
I hope this little posting helped, cheers!
(Adapter)
800 Mhz : 0.8500 V
1200 Mhz : 0.8500 V
1400 Mhz: 0.8500 V
1600 Mhz : 0.8500 V
1800 Mhz : 0.9500 V
2200 Mhz : 1.0000 V
2400 Mhz : 1.0500 V
Throttling level : Very High
Temp limit : Off
MBP specs:
2.4 Ghz
6GB Ram
OWC Mercury Pro Internal SSD 60GB (System Drive)
WD Scorpio 'Black' 320GB Internal HDD (Audio Drive) upgrading soon to
Kingston SSDNow V Series Internal SSD 128GB
My settings for the battery are the default settings. I don't really care about performance when I use the battery so I just left them as they were.
Coolbook has done amazing things for my computer, I'm getting killer performance from an almost 4 year old machine! My latest Geekbench scores killed all the 2007, 2008, 2009 and some of the early 2010 Macbook Pro 13 & 15 inch models! In addition to this, my computer is a lot cooler.. temperature readings are about 40 C when doing normal stuff (Safari, iTunes, etc). I know that the temperature will drop more when I replace the second internal hard drive to a Solid State. I also use Fan Control which is equally awesome, here are my settings:
Base speed: 3000 RPM
Lower Threshold: 40 C
Upper Threshold: 70 C
I favored Fan Control over SMC Control because it lives in the System Preferences and does its thing on its own.
I HIGHLY recommend Coolbook to all Pro Tools and BFD2 users out there. I know how frustrating it is when things 'don't work'. BFD2 is one huge CPU hog... it just WON'T RUN if you don't have a killer machine. Period.
I hope this little posting helped, cheers!
I am getting amazing battery life with Coolbook, 5.5 hours! This is of course with the display light set pretty low and no peripherals connected. I am enjoying very low temperatures, 30 C. Amazing!
Anyone get this to work on 2011 macbook pro?
edit: nm, i answered my own question: http://www.coolbook.se/CoolBook.html
in short, can't be done on i5,i7
Last edited:
Thats sweet tempt your getting. I thought I would try Coolbook just to increase battery life and it worked a treat.
Stock
798MHz 0.8750V
1596MHz 1.0000V
1862MHz 1.0250V
2128MHz 1.0500V
2394MHz 1.0750V
2660MHz 1.1000V
Max Load Temp 80/90s, fan speed 3900rpm and increasing. Very sensitive to room temps. Realistic battery performance 7hrs
Coolbook Magic
798MHz 0.8750V
1596MHz 0.8750V
1862MHz 0.8750V
2128MHz 0.8875V
2394MHz 0.9250V
2660MHz 0.9750V
I've done CPU tests at different loads and using "cpu test" and its stable over each frequency. Now its temps are around 70/80s, fan speed 2983rpm. I would say i've easily dropped 10 degrees. Battery life has improved with now a realistic battery performance of 9-10hrs 96%healthy (just like apple said it would)
Very happy with coolbook. I would recommend it for all portable macs. I would say I got a lucky cpu which likes to slurp the "v juice" but there is room for all cpus out there to drop some voltages. With a portable device battery is everything, coolbook lowered my temps and improved battery life. Lower temps = lower fan rpm = less fan voltage requirements ... basically helps everything.
Using Grapher, type y=0.798+x^8, hopefully it should help some of you new to coolbook of how cpu voltages and frequency are related (my cpu only, not 100% accurate as its just a guide
)Thats sweet tempt your getting. I thought I would try Coolbook just to increase battery life and it worked a treat.
Stock
798MHz 0.8750V
1596MHz 1.0000V
1862MHz 1.0250V
2128MHz 1.0500V
2394MHz 1.0750V
2660MHz 1.1000V
Max Load Temp 80/90s, fan speed 3900rpm and increasing. Very sensitive to room temps. Realistic battery performance 7hrs
Coolbook Magic
798MHz 0.8750V
1596MHz 0.8750V
1862MHz 0.8750V
2128MHz 0.8875V
2394MHz 0.9250V
2660MHz 0.9750V
I've done CPU tests at different loads and using "cpu test" and its stable over each frequency. Now its temps are around 70/80s, fan speed 2983rpm. I would say i've easily dropped 10 degrees. Battery life has improved with now a realistic battery performance of 9-10hrs 96%healthy (just like apple said it would)
Very happy with coolbook. I would recommend it for all portable macs. I would say I got a lucky cpu which likes to slurp the "v juice" but there is room for all cpus out there to drop some voltages. With a portable device battery is everything, coolbook lowered my temps and improved battery life. Lower temps = lower fan rpm = less fan voltage requirements ... basically helps everything.
Using Grapher, type y=0.798+x^8, hopefully it should help some of you new to coolbook of how cpu voltages and frequency are related (my cpu only, not 100% accurate as its just a guide
So I've moved on to a 2011 15" MBP 2.3 Quad i7 with Antiglare screen. Got rid of the old 2007 because Apple's Logic Studio wasn't performing that great on it. The laptop's temperature still hovers around 35 - 40 degrees C with normal usage, without Coolbook obviously.
Just so you guys know, changing your voltage will void your warranty... Definitely not something to discuss at the Apple Store
tell me a way of proving it
and I'll happily agree with you.if you under volt it, the worst case scenario is that you might end up with a kernel panic.
On the contrary, if you over volt it (mostly known as over clocking), if your cpu does not have a temperature fail safe mechanism, you might fry it