On Fri, Mar 19, 2010 at 1:14 AM, Macs R We <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Mar 18, 2010, at 8:12 PM, Michael Brian Bentley wrote: > >> I installed an app on a mac mini that a friend sent me. The machine had a >> history of resetting. I figured it was overheating, and installed >> smcFanControl from <http://www.eidac.de/?cat=4>, and set the fan rate to >> 2972 rpm to keep the running temp of the machine below 105 degrees F, and >> below 100 degrees F most of the time. The mini has been running a while >> (several weeks) without a reset after I installed smcFanControl. >> >> The machine had reset without warning several times in the first few days >> after receiving shipment but before I installed the utility. >> >> I do not know if this will eventually break the fan. > > It will probably burn out a little faster than it otherwise would, but I > wouldn't worry about it. The only reason these things are thermally > controlled in the first place is that Steve imposes a strict noise budget. This building does not have A/C, so I use SMC fan control to monitor system temps. We have a Mac Pro with 4 1TB drives. On a warm day (29C is warm for Nova Scotia) under heavy processing the system disk goes offline, but Apple wouldn't tell me if that is a thermal cutout. With smartmontools and depending on the drive model you can examine disk temperature stats: sudo smartctl -x /dev/disk1 # Mac Pro Server smartctl 5.39 2009-12-09 r2995 [i386-apple-darwin9.8.0] (local build) Copyright (C) 2002-9 by Bruce Allen, http://smartmontools.sourceforge.net === START OF INFORMATION SECTION === Model Family: Western Digital Caviar Green family Device Model: WDC WD10EADS-00L5B1 [...] Min/Max recommended Temperature: 0/60 Celsius Min/Max Temperature Limit: -41/85 Celsius Temperature History Size (Index): 478 (326) Index Estimated Time Temperature Celsius 327 2010-03-18 23:26 36 ***************** 328 2010-03-18 23:27 36 ***************** 329 2010-03-18 23:28 35 **************** ... ..( 16 skipped). .. **************** 346 2010-03-18 23:45 35 **************** 347 2010-03-18 23:46 36 ***************** ... ..( 2 skipped). .. ***************** >From an iMac: sudo smartctl -x /dev/disk0 smartctl 5.39 2009-12-09 r2995 [i386-apple-darwin9.8.0] (local build) Copyright (C) 2002-9 by Bruce Allen, http://smartmontools.sourceforge.net === START OF INFORMATION SECTION === Model Family: Western Digital Caviar Blue Serial ATA family Device Model: WDC WD5000AAKS-40YGA0 [...] Current Temperature: 49 Celsius Power Cycle Min/Max Temperature: 44/56 Celsius Lifetime Min/Max Temperature: 46/58 Celsius Under/Over Temperature Limit Count: 0/0 SCT Temperature History Version: 2 Temperature Sampling Period: 1 minute Temperature Logging Interval: 1 minute Min/Max recommended Temperature: 0/60 Celsius Min/Max Temperature Limit: 1/85 Celsius I don't have a laptop ATM, but laptop drives typically have higher Max temp limits and operating temperatures. Fans are a weak point in many systems. I don't know if Apple sources better quality than, say, Dell. A good fan should run continuously for years, but the ones in white box PC's fail quite often. On my own Dell the original fan failed within a year and was replaced under warranty with one that has lasted 5 years. Recently there have been many reports of systems becoming unstable due to accumulations of dust on cooling fins and fans. Recommended approach is careful cleaning with "canned air" and a vacuum running nearby to catch the dust, but you have to disassemble to get at the areas where dust accumulates. Manufacturers need to add access ports to facilitate routine cleaning. > -- > Macs R We -- Personal Macintosh Service and Support > in the Wickenburg and far Northwest Valley Areas. > http://macsrwe.com > > _______________________________________________ > MacOSX-talk mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.omnigroup.com/mailman/listinfo/macosx-talk > -- George N. White III <[email protected]> Head of St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia _______________________________________________ MacOSX-talk mailing list [email protected] http://www.omnigroup.com/mailman/listinfo/macosx-talk
