The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Tweaks for making Macbook Air run much cooler!

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by Phil, May 8, 2008.

  1. Phil

    Phil Retired

    Reputations:
    4,415
    Messages:
    17,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    I was searching on these and other forums and found out some valuable stuff.

    It's possible to make your MBA run extremely cool.
    By software: By undervolting it's possible make your CPU cores run much cooler without sacrifising performance. I expect it will also add battery life. In OS X you need the app Coolbook, in Win XP Rightmark CPU. It's also possible to run at 1,2 Ghz to make things even more cool.
    http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=460146

    By hardware: If you don't mind opening up your MBA there is another way to make things cooler; Re-applying thermal paste on the CPU. Detailed explanation is here:
    http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=471266

    Another tip I got on this forum: Instead of buying a Mac Superdrive you can buy another brand. The Mac Superdrive will only work on MBA. Other brands, like the LG will work on any Mac and PC. And it's cheaper too! *Just found out it does not let me boot*
    http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.aspx?sku=340156
     
    Phil, May 8, 2008
    #1
  2. kgeier82

    kgeier82 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    129
    Messages:
    757
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    i can vouch for coolbook.

    i bought a new machine though, was not able to transfer my license over to it! what a rip. The guy who manages coolbook is very nice, and answers all sorts of questions fast via email. But he wanted another 10$ for the MBP. If it really needed it, id buy it again, but its cool enough for me.
     
    kgeier82, May 8, 2008
    #2
  3. Arwin

    Arwin Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Doesn't undervolting imply a performance penalty or atleast decrease stability?
     
    Arwin, May 9, 2008
    #3
  4. Phil

    Phil Retired

    Reputations:
    4,415
    Messages:
    17,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    No not at all. Performance stays exactly the same.

    I've been going down to 1,0875 volt with 100% stability. I would go further but the software (RMClock) does not let me.
     
    Phil, May 9, 2008
    #4
  5. Phil

    Phil Retired

    Reputations:
    4,415
    Messages:
    17,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    I need to withdraw this one. The LG does not seem bootable sofar.
     
    Phil, May 9, 2008
    #5
  6. r0k

    r0k Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    104
    Messages:
    406
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I will give coolbook a try on my Penryn macbook. The temp sits at 53c idle, but when I run a cpu intensive task it shoots up rapidly and my fan spins up. Perhaps I will be able to use coolbook to limit the max temp it reaches.
     
    r0k, May 9, 2008
    #6
  7. kgeier82

    kgeier82 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    129
    Messages:
    757
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30

    my fans never go past 3500 on my new mbp.

    i wonder ? load temp is about 74 before fans start to go up a little, never hearable, i love it!
     
    kgeier82, May 9, 2008
    #7