PCI and PS fan speed problems with non-Apple video cards

[handheldgames]

my .02

In my instance, with a 2GB EVGA 680GTX, I do not have that issue on 10.9.1. Running a Gigabyte 7950, the PCI fan speeds up and down on a regular basis. The 680GTX is flashed with it's standard clocks/power requirements.

This is with a fully loaded MP: 4 HDD, 1 SSD in the Optical Bay, 4 PCI Cards: SATA Express, SATA 3.x, Powered USB3, video card.

As the OP noted, running the 3D test at startup resolves the issue for the 7950.

 

[ScottishCaptain]

It would be nice if someone with this problem could do the AHT to see if they have the same reported problem as OP (power supply sensor). The result would either confirm a theory or eliminate it.

No problem over here. All tests passed under AHT and ASD (3S149).

-SC

 

[RumoredTone]

Just as a follow-up. My GTX 670 4GB is running smoothly after that Open Extensions trick. I'm in Octane standalone right now rendering, GPU is at almost full load, and fan speed is just under 1,350RPM. Very subtle hum. Love it!

Hi riggles, I'm glad to hear this was helpful for you. And thanks everyone else for the contributions!

I also want to share a link to a new thread started by ScottishCaptain, requesting SMC data from the community (in the hopes of getting to the bottom of things). I'll also update my original post to add the link to my list.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1694103/

 

[Synchro3]

Hello all,

Conclusion

So for me, the only way to get 100% correct behavior is to use slot 1 and the OpenGL Extensions Viewer trick after cold starts. The fans then run at their correct 800/600/600/600/856 speeds at low-load, and only increase slightly under heavy load. Based on all my observations, I'm inclined to think the problem is more about an error in power-sensing than heat-sensing.

It may be entirely unrelated, but it does make me wonder. In any case, I hope this post is helpful. If anyone has any questions or other information they can share, please do. Thanks!

You can just start CUDA-Z instead of OpenGL Extensions Viewer. Has the same effect; fans are running normally after again.

http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/CUDA-Z-Download-103528.html

 

[ActionableMango]

No problem over here. All tests passed under AHT and ASD (3S149).

-SC

Thanks for doing that. Doing so rules out OP's power sensor.

 

[ScottishCaptain]

I seem to recall there being a note about that in the ASD documentation a long time ago. I don't think the power sensor was faulty- it was AHT/ASD that was faulty, by checking the sensor and assuming it would read within a range for which the hardware was not originally designed for (hence causing an error). I'm pretty sure later versions of AHT and ASD contained the proper thresholds, and therefore didn't report an error.

-SC

 

[slughead]

So now that I've upgraded my other computers fans, I actually am noticing the 1900RPM my PCIe fan is doing.

I have a MP 5,1 Hexcore, an unflashed GTX670 in slot 2, and an 5870 (from Apple) in Slot 1. I have the 5870 just for bootscreens (ugghhh). The 5870 is hooked up to the two 6-pins on the mainboard, 670 has external power.

I downloaded this app (mentioned previously) to manually control the fans.

I noticed that PCIe slot 1 is 47C while idle.

I actually have a SECOND 120mm fan in the PCIe bay I rigged up with a manual fan controller (hint: remove the HD from bay 1). I built a manual fan controller and I keep at around 1400 RPM as well.

So I used Macs Fan Control to change the Fan to respond to "PCIe Slot 1" at 55 C. The temperature bounces around between 47 and 55 and the application spins up quickly and immediately. You can actually broaden the range between min and max temp to make it more slow.

For some reason, it says the minimum RPM of the fan is 1423... I read in another thread it should be 900? Is this true with the 5,1 ?

This did it. My fan is now running at 1400RPM and it's quiet like a kitten. This had NO IMPACT ON TEMPERATURES.

I'm wondering if maybe the system knows something I don't--like the actual GPU temperature.

Anyone know of an app that can give me a temperature on my GTX670 or 5870?

 

[ActionableMango]

Anyone know of an app that can give me a temperature on my GTX670 or 5870?

http://www.bresink.com/osx/HardwareMonitor.html

 

[0x2102]

@slughead:

I think my defaults/minimums are 800rpm for PCI and 600rpm for PS. I actually run them lower than that with the script that follows and then I use Macs FAN Control to run/control the fans.

Install smcFANControl.app under Applications and copy and past this into the AppleScript Editor and run it. You can save this as a Script and run it as a "Login Item".

(* Description only
set SMC Controller

0640 = 400 rpm
07d0 = 500 rpm
0960 = 600 rpm
0af3 = 700 rpm
0c80 = 800 rpm
0e10 = 900 rpm

Minimum RPM in hex = minRPM in decimal * 4

*)

(* Description only
F0Mn = PCI Fan minimum
F1Mn = Power Supply Fan minimum
*)
do shell script "/Applications/smcFanControl.app/Contents/Resources/smc -k F0Mn -w 0c80"
do shell script "/Applications/smcFanControl.app/Contents/Resources/smc -k F1Mn -w 0960"

Give that a try.

 

[slughead]

@slughead:

I think my defaults/minimums are 800rpm for PCI and 600rpm for PS. I actually run them lower than that with the script that follows and then I use Macs FAN Control to run/control the fans.

Install smcFANControl.app under Applications and copy and past this into the AppleScript Editor and run it. You can save this as a Script and run it as a "Login Item".

(* Description only
set SMC Controller

0640 = 400 rpm
07d0 = 500 rpm
0960 = 600 rpm
0af3 = 700 rpm
0c80 = 800 rpm
0e10 = 900 rpm

Minimum RPM in hex = minRPM in decimal * 4

*)

(* Description only
F0Mn = PCI Fan minimum
F1Mn = Power Supply Fan minimum
*)
do shell script "/Applications/smcFanControl.app/Contents/Resources/smc -k F0Mn -w 0c80"
do shell script "/Applications/smcFanControl.app/Contents/Resources/smc -k F1Mn -w 0960"

Give that a try.

Holy poop that worked. Again, no effect on temperatures....

Why the heck does Apple put the Min fan speed nearly double of the actual min fan speed? Is it a result of adding a second card?

 

[MacVidCards]

I have a MP 5,1 Hexcore, an unflashed GTX670 in slot 2, and an 5870 (from Apple) in Slot 1. I have the 5870 just for bootscreens (ugghhh). The 5870 is hooked up to the two 6-pins on the mainboard, 670 has external power.

Hey, I guess you gave up on 640 for boot screens?

Anyhow, since you are doing a public service, I'd like to contribute.

Can you set up a comparison of what the fan speeds are with just one or the other in slot 1 or 2 and what they are with both populated?

If you send me your 670 I'll write an EFI rom that will give it boot screens and PCIE 2.0 speed in Windows. No cost but shipping.

Then you can see if having EFI helps or hurts fan speeds and post results here.

5870 is a pretty heavy load for boot screens, should save you some $$$ on electricity and you could sell 5870 while it's still worth something.

 

[RumoredTone]

For some reason, it says the minimum RPM of the fan is 1423... I read in another thread it should be 900? Is this true with the 5,1 ?

Hi slughead,

I just wanted to share further confirmation of my fan speeds, in response this earlier question of yours. I have the same model MP as you and always get around 800/600/600/600/856 at idle (when the fans are behaving properly). This matches the minimums listed by smcFanControl. I've attached a lil' screenshot of my exact RPMs.

Thanks to everyone for your continued contributions to this thread.

 

[slughead]

Hey, I guess you gave up on 640 for boot screens?

Anyhow, since you are doing a public service, I'd like to contribute.

Can you set up a comparison of what the fan speeds are with just one or the other in slot 1 or 2 and what they are with both populated?

If you send me your 670 I'll write an EFI rom that will give it boot screens and PCIE 2.0 speed in Windows. No cost but shipping.

Then you can see if having EFI helps or hurts fan speeds and post results here.

5870 is a pretty heavy load for boot screens, should save you some $$$ on electricity and you could sell 5870 while it's still worth something.

Hrm.... Definitely a good offer. I have a gigabyte Windforce GTX670 (3 fans). Does that affect the ability to flash it? If you're pretty certain you can do it, I'll send it later this week.

As for the 640 thing, at the time I was struggling with finding a bootable sata III card, and was thinking of adding a second card just for hosting my boot drives. Now that I got my card booting, I don't need the extra slot.

It would be nice to get rid of my 5870. The thing is a dinosaur. luckily Apple's still selling it for $500... maybe I can get a few bucks for it.

 

[brentsg]

I've been wrestling with this. First off I had to do an SMC reset just to get SMC Fancontrol running. That works now.

I used the script above and it runs successfully, but the expansion fan still spins up to 1800RPM and gets loud. Ugh..

 

[0x2102]

I've been wrestling with this. First off I had to do an SMC reset just to get SMC Fancontrol running. That works now.

I used the script above and it runs successfully, but the expansion fan still spins up to 1800RPM and gets loud. Ugh..

You can use "Macs Fan Controller" and change the PCI expansion fan from "auto" to "sensor" based. I would suggest to base it on "PCIE ambient". I have mine set to start at 36 C with a max at 60 C.

 

[brentsg]

Thanks.

It's funny, now that I did the SMC reset.. using that script seems to immediately push my fan speed up.

I removed the script and SMC Fancontrol from my login items and now it's running perfectly for the moment. I know it won't last though.

That solved my PCI fan issue, thanks.

My power supply fan is running at 1265RPM. Perhaps that's necessary, but the 2 PS sensors seem to be reading 27-30C. Any suggestions?

 

[brosenz]

Hello all,

In slot 1, the PCI and PS fans run high after a cold start, but can be "fixed" with the graphics load trick (running the OpenGL Extensions Viewer benchmark). After this, the system fans settle down and seem to behave exactly as they should. This well-mannered behavior carries over through soft restarts (including into Windows) and through sleep/wake. A cold start reverts to bad behavior.

Please could you explain how to do the OpenGL Extensions Viewer benchmark, thanks

 

[RumoredTone]

Please could you explain how to do the OpenGL Extensions Viewer benchmark, thanks

Hi there,

You can download OpenGL Extensions Viewer for free from the App Store. Once you have it, launch it and you'll see several tabs of information. Click on the one labelled "Tests" and then click on the "Test" button on the bottom left of the window to begin a basic test sequence. Just wait until it finishes, and then observe your fans. It will take a while for them to slow down, but they should settle at the correct speeds. Occasionally, you'll need to do it twice before it will work, but usually it only takes one run.

I hope this helps!

 

[brosenz]

Hi there,

You can download OpenGL Extensions Viewer for free from the App Store. Once you have it, launch it and you'll see several tabs of information. Click on the one labelled "Tests" and then click on the "Test" button on the bottom left of the window to begin a basic test sequence. Just wait until it finishes, and then observe your fans. It will take a while for them to slow down, but they should settle at the correct speeds. Occasionally, you'll need to do it twice before it will work, but usually it only takes one run.

I hope this helps!

Yes, it worked, my defaults now are:

Booster1 ~ 927
Booster2 ~ 927
Exhaust ~ 500
Expansion ~ 800
Intake ~ 600
PSU ~ 500

What Temps are you getting idle with these values?, I usually measure CPUA HeatSink and now is ~40C, a little high for me, are you getting the same value?, I have attached a print screen with my current values, thanks

 

[brosenz]

Hi there,

You can download OpenGL Extensions Viewer for free from the App Store. Once you have it, launch it and you'll see several tabs of information. Click on the one labelled "Tests" and then click on the "Test" button on the bottom left of the window to begin a basic test sequence. Just wait until it finishes, and then observe your fans. It will take a while for them to slow down, but they should settle at the correct speeds. Occasionally, you'll need to do it twice before it will work, but usually it only takes one run.

I hope this helps!

I tried today, and the first time the speed moved back to normal, but after a while it got back to a higher value, if I run it again nothing happens, it's a weird behavior.....

 

[naturecollision]

possible reason for this behaviour

hi guys,

from my experience with pcs (I am a recent mac convert) I can say that during boot process many components (including cpu and gpu) will run very hot and/or are somehow put under stress, the reason for this I don't know..

now with this pci fan behaviour I noticed that once booted, if you run any graphic intensive application that is able to have the fan speed going over 2000rpm, will calibrate the fan.

now the question is, why 2000rpm? to me it looks like SMC was programmed to reach 2000rmp at the boot process to cool the components under heavy stress during bootup, once reached 2000rmp, normal behaviour occurs, imho all this is supposed to happen during boot process, and is "normally" achieved.

to test my theory, and I think nobody tried that yet, one should try to install mavericks on a slower drive! - basically with the advent of SSDs the boot process got sped up so much, that SMC gets confused and the time needed to boot got so much quicker, that the 2000rpm for the PCI fan just wont be reached anymore during boot, so far my theory - actually it should make sense, when the mac pro 2009 (which is the same as 2010 and 2012) was designed, nobody really envisioned the speed boost achievable by SSDs.

anyways, pretty far fetched, and I would test this myself, but I don't have the time for it, if anyone could try to see if the PCI fan noise thingy happens when booting from a mediocre hard disk drive, or if anyone knows a tool to prolong the boot process then we would see.

 

[SteveJobzniak]

See this thread for a guide on how to fix this issue:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...when-using-pc-non-efi-graphics-cards.1946672/