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SR MBP - Do your fans run max when charging?

T

twynne

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 21, 2006
805
45
London, UK
I know there are several posts on here about temperature, but this query relates more to the fans. I've noticed after I've plugged the machine back into power that the fans will kick in and run at near max speed the entire time it's charging. This would appear to be regardless of temperature or load, as I'm not doing anything differently than I was when it was on battery or when running on power but fully-charged.

At the moment my CPU reports approx 50 degrees, enclosure about 36, fans each at near 6000 rpm.

Anyone else?
 
Before anyone posts it, I do realise it's normal for a machine to heat up somewhat when charging. But my 15" Core Duo (which was notoriously hot) never did this, so it seems a bit unusual to me.

Processor, by the way, is 60-70% idle at the moment the above measurements were taken.
 
I think I may have found the culprit. When I got my new machine I used Migration Assistant to transfer everything from my old Core Duo machine. It seems it moved across the program Fan Control I had installed to keep the old machine cooler.

I think this program has issues on the new machines. I removed the preference pane and manually deleted the files from \Library and the fans are now at 4500rpm. Still high, but not as bad.

I'll try restarting a bit later to make sure it's all been removed.

Nonetheless, if you've experienced similar please post. :)
 
It is not normal for your fans to be running while the battery is recharging, especially if they weren't on prior to plugging in the charge cable. On any notebook I've ever had the fans only come on long enough to take the system down below the threshold temperature and then they shut off.

Judging from a previous post that you made it appears that you may have found part of the problem (an old fan control program + settings). If the situation does not correct itself after you have tried a full power off reboot then the next thing that I would try would be a completely fresh OSX install. (Erase and reinstall) It is possible that your migration assistant brought over a preferences file that you haven't found or has gibbled a setting (although in unix environments that is unlikely).

If, after trying the above processes, the problem remains then I would highly recommend that you get in touch with Apple and ask for assistance.

Sopranino
 
Sopranino said:
It is not normal for your fans to be running while the battery is recharging, especially if they weren't on prior to plugging in the charge cable. On any notebook I've ever had the fans only come on long enough to take the system down below the threshold temperature and then they shut off.

Judging from a previous post that you made it appears that you may have found part of the problem (an old fan control program + settings). If the situation does not correct itself after you have tried a full power off reboot then the next thing that I would try would be a completely fresh OSX install. (Erase and reinstall) It is possible that your migration assistant brought over a preferences file that you haven't found or has gibbled a setting (although in unix environments that is unlikely).

If, after trying the above processes, the problem remains then I would highly recommend that you get in touch with Apple and ask for assistance.

Sopranino
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. I'll post back with the outcome. :)
 
twynne said:
I know there are several posts on here about temperature, but this query relates more to the fans. I've noticed after I've plugged the machine back into power that the fans will kick in and run at near max speed the entire time it's charging. This would appear to be regardless of temperature or load, as I'm not doing anything differently than I was when it was on battery or when running on power but fully-charged.

At the moment my CPU reports approx 50 degrees, enclosure about 36, fans each at near 6000 rpm.

Anyone else?
Click to expand...

I have the same thig happening on my 17. No transferred files. Same temps. Same fan speeds. Same cpu usage state. Sounds like the lptop is going to take off. I'm contemplating taking it in for service as in this state it's useless for audio work.
 
wirwzd said:
I have the same thig happening on my 17. No transferred files. Same temps. Same fan speeds. Same cpu usage state. Sounds like the lptop is going to take off. I'm contemplating taking it in for service as in this state it's useless for audio work.
Click to expand...

I'm on my 3rd machine now and all 3 have done this. I've noticed it's not (always) immediately when plugged in. It sometimes kicks in shortly after.

I'm not convinced putting it in for service is going to resolve it, but I'm going to report the issue to Apple tonight if I get time. I'd think it's more likely an SMC issue of some sort than a hardware problem.

I am surprised that not more people have posted it, but maybe it's limited to the 17" machines.
 
WTH!!! your fans shouldnt be running at max, thats just outrageous!>! my mbp gets up to about 80°C and the fans only kick up to 3000rpm, that is until i make them go up more to cool down/stay cool.

or is this a regular problem with mb??
 
and was it due to your old software? To be honest i think it is..... have you copied all the stuff across on all 3 of your machines?
 
eenu said:
and was it due to your old software? To be honest i think it is..... have you copied all the stuff across on all 3 of your machines?
Click to expand...

It may have been, but the only software ever installed that had anything to do with fans was Fan Control. This was removed completely on the first SR Macbook I had that had the issue, and has not been installed on any subsequent machine.

In any case, that program only allows you to increase the minimum speed based on temperature. As the temperature has remained unchanged in testing, there is no reason why the fans should be running higher.
 
twynne said:
It may have been, but the only software ever installed that had anything to do with fans was Fan Control. This was removed completely on the first SR Macbook I had that had the issue, and has not been installed on any subsequent machine.

In any case, that program only allows you to increase the minimum speed based on temperature. As the temperature has remained unchanged in testing, there is no reason why the fans should be running higher.
Click to expand...

try icyclone. it lets you choose the fan speed however you want. very simple to use, id recommend using maunal tho, auto is a bit outa control!!! :eek:
 
let me rephrase have you every plugged in a CLEAN new machine and this issue has happened with nothing transferred or installed by you?
 
eenu said:
let me rephrase have you every plugged in a CLEAN new machine and this issue has happened with nothing transferred or installed by you?
Click to expand...

No. And I'm not planning to reinstall OSX to find out either. Logic suggests that my migrated data has nothing to do with it:

- My 15" machine (from which I migrated) never had this issue
- The only installed program (Fan Control) was removed completely on the first 17" machine I had
- Even if Fan Control somehow changed a setting in firmware, firmware would not be migrated by Migration Assistant
- Other users have reported similar

Given the amount of effort involved in a complete reinstallation (days!) it seemed sensible to see if others are experiencing the problem before going to that length. Even then it may be difficult to reproduce as it could be a very specific circumstance in which it happens, but it's worth asking the question.
 
twynne said:
No. And I'm not planning to reinstall OSX to find out either. Logic suggests that my migrated data has nothing to do with it:

- My 15" machine (from which I migrated) never had this issue
- The only installed program (Fan Control) was removed completely on the first 17" machine I had
- Even if Fan Control somehow changed a setting in firmware, firmware would not be migrated by Migration Assistant
- Other users have reported similar

Given the amount of effort involved in a complete reinstallation (days!) it seemed sensible to see if others are experiencing the problem before going to that length. Even then it may be difficult to reproduce as it could be a very specific circumstance in which it happens, but it's worth asking the question.
Click to expand...

I tend to agree with you however.... until you do a full clean install i would be very reluctant to place it down to hardware. Just my 2p worth...
 
eenu said:
I tend to agree with you however.... until you do a full clean install i would be very reluctant to place it down to hardware. Just my 2p worth...
Click to expand...

Thanks - I *do* appreciate the response and I can see the point. I just want to exhaust the 'easy' route before spending days backing up, reinstalling, testing, restoring, etc.

DoFoT9 said:
*shakes fist* get icyclone! :p
Click to expand...

Also appreciate the suggestion, but I'd prefer to sort out the base function of the machine before experimenting with any software solutions.

That said, there is a suggestion on the Fan Control developer's site about using smcFanControl to restore the default settings. I'm going to take (another) look at this tonight.

Does the other poster above (wirwzd) use any fan control software, or have you in the past, and did you use migration assistant to move data to your current MBP?

Thanks all,

Tom
 
twynne said:
Does the other poster above (wirwzd) use any fan control software, or have you in the past, and did you use migration assistant to move data to your current MBP?
Click to expand...


No migrated data.
No fan control software.

Doesn't happen immediately, but the fans will kick in after some time.
Same conditions as your original post.

If I disconnect the power, the fans slowly ramp down to normal starting from the point I disconnect the power.

This happened *before* I installed any additonal software.
 
twynne said:
That said, there is a suggestion on the Fan Control developer's site about using smcFanControl to restore the default settings. I'm going to take (another) look at this tonight.


Tom
Click to expand...

Fan control does not reset the computer even after uninstalling it - yeah pretty lame. I am not sure if it actually did anything to the firmware but it may have, due to the settings still being in tact after uninstallation.

One way to reset your computer: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303319

P.S. Does anybody know if doing a clean install will reset firmware? My gut says no since firmware code is written directly to the specific hardware?
 
Fujikon said:
Fan control does not reset the computer even after uninstalling it - yeah pretty lame. I am not sure if it actually did anything to the firmware but it may have, due to the settings still being in tact after uninstallation.

One way to reset your computer: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303319

P.S. Does anybody know if doing a clean install will reset firmware? My gut says no since firmware code is written directly to the specific hardware?
Click to expand...

I don't believe a reinstallation of OSX would touch the machine's firmware. I know you can download firmware restoration from Apple, but it's not clear if this applies to the SR models as it hasn't been updated since 2006. Anyone?
 
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