Keep your Mac Cool with smcFanControl

Apple's decision to power their new computers using Intel processors was a very wise decision on Apple's part in my opinions. These computers are so much faster than the old PowerPC versions. However, there is one drawback....HEAT. These things run very hot. In fact, they run so hot that I find it a bit uncomfortable to have my MacBook sitting on my lap while using it. I typically place a book in between me and the MacBook while I'm using it.

To prove to you that these new Macs run hot, heres a screenshot of my MacBook topping 200 degrees Fahrenheit.


smcFanControl allows you to control the speed of your Macintosh computer. You can manually adjust the minimum fan speed to a setting that you choose. For safety, you can't set the fan to a lower speed than the Apple's default settings.

In my test, I set the minimum fan speed to 6200RPM. This is the maximum that you can set the internal fan to run. While idle and moderate web browsing, I was able to have my MacBook running at 102F. This was a significant difference from its default settings. The default settings registered at 115F. Under full load, smcFanControl isn't going to make a difference at all. At full load, the MacBooks already run the fan at full speed.


For everyday use, smcFanControl is a good application to control your fans speed and keep your Mac's temperature in check.