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- geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -4/+175Fans are incredibly low power devices. Normal 80mm computer fans draw about .25 amps at 5V, about 1.2W. For a laptop, the fans are ran at much lower power and usually implement a voltage controller to output different voltages depending on how much cooling is actually needed.
With a 55WH battery like that of the MacBook, that 1.2W fan would run alone for just under 46 hours. Since I don't have a MacBook and have no clue of exactly how long a MacBook battery charge lasts, we'll go with the number for the MacBook Pro at 4 hours. In a perfect world, the MacBook itself would use 14W per hour. Adding 1.2W to that would bring the battery life down to 3.6 hours, a reduction of 24 minutes.
But, because this world isn't perfect, we can adapt a couple of things. One, in all likelihood, the fan would never run at full tilt. In fact, expecting the fan to run at 10% most times would be reasonable, and there's reason to think the MacBook probably has a much more fine grained fan-voltage controller than that. Obviously, .12W added to 14W makes a much smaller splash (battery life change would be within the error bars of the original battery life). And two, Lithium Ion batteries discharge rates are effected directly by platform temperature; decreasing the temperature of the battery decreases the internal resistance of the battery, which in turn lowers the loss of the battery to heat and increases battery life. (Also, this model is broken badly, as laptop fans probably don't peak at over half a watt power draw, making the low end of the fan usage much lower).
I wouldn't worry about the battery power loss, just the additional noise the fans add. But, running the fans at low power probably should keep the machines quite... quiet. - exsst, on 10/12/2007, -5/+72The fan master has spoken.
ALL HAIL THE FAN MAN!
p.s. thumbs up to you. - Zero2aHero, on 10/12/2007, -6/+61Whenever it's doing my macbook is a lot cooler than before. I actually had it on my lap at one point tonight, and I am resting my hands on it without them sweating profusely.
- Twiek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+37Just adding to what geminitojanus said,
Most processors will actually draw slightly less power when kept cooler. I can't remember the site, but a heatsink review (for Socket 939 IIRC) found that when the fans were cranked up all the way, there was an overall *decrease* in power consumption, by something like 1W. Unless you're running 1000CFM fans from a server, the power draw is negligible. - Rigbymatt, on 10/12/2007, -3/+39ill take a wee bit of noise over no testicles
- dontbejack, on 10/12/2007, -1/+27Hey, there's no reason to complain. They're trying to fix the problems.
- TeqnoHaxor, on 10/12/2007, -4/+30The only time I've ever heard my fans kicking in (pre and post update) was while encoding H.264 video.
What I'm really concerned about, is how battery life is affected if the above statement is true. - wavethenavel, on 10/12/2007, -3/+29Name a laptop that runs as fast as a MacBook that *doesn't* have a fan running constantly. My wife's Fujitsu always seems to be running it's fan. My friend's Dell Inspiron has it's fan running while viewing YouTube. This doesn't seem at all unusual, unless someone has an example of how this is poor laptop design.
- noob, on 10/12/2007, -2/+26I've updated and the only difference for me is the absence of the mooing.
- Uruviel, on 10/12/2007, -2/+18I can confirm this. The noise however is pretty low and the MacBook really runs cooler. I'm happy with the update and regarding the battery life ...I'm not noticing any difference still runs straight for about 3 hours.
- cheez, on 10/12/2007, -7/+22yes, it was removed
- danielwsmithee, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17Shutdowns and Kernel panics, that sounds like a hardware problem! Have you taken it in, or ran the diagnostic CD on it?
- wavethenavel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13Unfortunately, the intel macs don't have a processor performance setting. My guess is that the Core Duo's automatically scale their performance based on load (as I can see with CoreDuoTemp showing the processor speed changing with use).
- jbohlinger, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12Yes, it has been my experience that Mac fans never stop talking about their products.
/ducks - TheCheeks, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12wait, the macbooks ran really hot and everyone complained, now the fans on VERY low to keep it cool and everyones complaining?
WTF i love my macbook but you guys need to stop complaining. read above from the fanman, barely any hit to the battery anyways - Lumiras, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11Seems like it isn't that much of a problem. Most desktops run their fans all the time, but they aren't that loud, and I'm guessing that laptop fans would run quieter
But, it looks like Mac users will always find something to complain about. First, their computers are getting too hot, and now that Apple has fixed it, they want to complain about how they fixed it - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Perhaps, but many people actually liked having a cow inside their macbooks. Perhaps it made them feel more environmentally conscious or something.
http://www.appledefects.com/media/moo.mp3 - StephenCIreland, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10actually im quite surprised, after the update it was the first time i have ever seen my macbook have a battery timer over 5 hours, 5:18 to be exact, and it wasnt a crazy figure, that was at 98% and it was at 5:00 by 93%
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10I get the feeling Apple implemented this change to avoid a more inflamed overheating scandal. There's no harm done; it helps your computer and helps the company.
- funbags, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11get over it people, you can hardly hear it.
- inkswamp, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10Anyone experiencing this problem probably has their processor performance set to "highest." I had this same problem with my G5 tower at work and the fix was simple. Go to System Preferences > Energy Saver. Click on the "options" tab and set your processor performance with the drop-down menu to "reduced" or "automatic." A lot of Apple's updates tend to reset that setting to "highest" which will cause your fans to run nonstop. Someone with this problem please try this out and let us know if it works. I suspect it will.
- samdu, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9I installed it and it seems (fingers crossed) to have totally alleviated the random shutdowns. Now I just need to track down the occasional kernel panic cause.
- StephenCIreland, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6same here, except for now the mooing is gone, next the firmware to remove discolouration and ill be fine
- Uruviel, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8If you have an updated MacBook ... put it to your ear. You can really hear the fans ... while, and I tested, before the update there was no noise at all.
- eadnams, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8"This many problems"
I've only really heard of this one issue, which is pretty good for first gen IMO. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7You know I'd really hate to be Apple in this case. You have lots of devoted fans but they like to complain a lot when it comes to noises and little things of that nature. Obviously they have a reason to complain when they pay out a lot of money but to have to listen to everyone collectively moan and groan about something this small has to be annoying.
- bmobile, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I don't think most ppl are angry about this. It seems to me like just a statement of fact. After said update, the fan runs faster.
Personally tho, I am all for this. This MacBook was more like a small oven before. LOL! - thatsiebguy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Having it run full time is alot better than having it run for a few seconds then stop. Before it would just lower the temp to the limit, which it would quickly surpass, now it actually cools it off. Personally I haven't had that much mooing on my week 21 blackbook, but it does run 10-20C cooler now. Overall, its performance is like all the other laptops I've used where the fan runs a good part of the time.
- ibookjournalist, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7It is a hardware problem. The environment is getting too hot for the hardware to function correctly, inevitably causing a shutdown.
- blueigloo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5My Macbook is running great with the new firmware.. about 10-15C cooler, no mooing - and its definitely not an issue have the fans running. You can _barely_ hear it, and when you do its because your purposefully looking for the sound.
- TeKoverride, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Yeah I guess you can hear a little fan noise now, but nothing obtrusive. I don't know about anyone else but I usually don't use my Macbook with it inches from my ear :)
- binderhead, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4do you use your MacBook next to your ear? because i certainly don't hence why i couldnt hear the fans before or after unless the room was quiet.
- fakeXsound, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I had no idea that the fans on my macbook were always on until I read this. Thats how quiet it is. Really nothing to worry about so far.
- kris33, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3This says it all:
"Now we have an update that appears to fix both issues, yet folks are now complaining that in a room with no air conditioner, no music playing, no tv, no voices, you can hear the fan running if you put your ear next to your Macbook. This is unacceptable! I think Apple should also include a pot of gold with the update to compensate for the horrible fan noise. I'm calling Steve right now and demand my pot o' gold!"
WOW!!! You can hear the fan if you put your ear next to your Macbook!!! - JM13, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@samdu^^^^^
I was told that there have been few reported cases of the kernel panics... I was told to reinstall OS X (Archive and Restore) and it took away the problem. - thejokell, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6And the reason for digging me down is...
- tobsterius, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7well, if it is indeed running, then I don't hear it at all.
- totorototoro, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Great update. Fans may be running, but they are running very quietly, and more importantly, no MOO.
- brentzilla, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Actually, if you look around, most Mac users are praising the update. 10% cooler with no moo and a laptop that recovers from full temp in 20 seconds is well worth the slight bit of noise. I can also confirm that my baterry life actually went up due to the lower processor temp. So, yeah...yet another case of the vocal minority of whiners and non-Mac users blowing their complaints out of proportion.
- dafuser, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2My month 1/2 old blackbook runs cooler and I normally don't hear any fan noise at all unless I'm ripping DVD. Seems like a lot of whining over nothing, which is more annoying then being able to hear the fans.
- fakeXsound, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Same here. No mooing or whine, though there was an occasional moo before the update - not that it was a big deal anyway. My legs don't burn anymore, but only time will tell if my sperm count is being depleted by the thing.
- brentzilla, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Because your results are extremely rare considering everyone elses' fans are running non-stop (the expected behavior). You are probably being dugg down out of blind thinking you are a troll. I won't digg you down because you aren't the first person that has said that. It's just rare.
- MonkeyFarts, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"Now we have an update that appears to fix both issues, yet folks are now complaining that in a room with no air conditioner, no music playing, no tv, no voices, you can hear the fan running if you put your ear next to your Macbook. This is unacceptable! I think Apple should also include a pot of gold with the update to compensate for the horrible fan noise. I'm calling Steve right now and demand my pot o' gold!"
Haha, so true. After the firmware update, the fan does run nonstop, yes, but it runs at such a low speed that it's inaudible unless you literally put your head about 3" from the computer and listen carefully. When the fans kick in, it sounds just the same as before. The only real difference to be noted is that my CPU temperature has dropped about 5-10ºF. Not even battery life is affected; I still get close to 4 to 4 1/2 hours running iTunes, Safari, and Adium at 1/2 brightness and "Better Energy Savings" set. - dominantcorked9, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I have used this "reduced" setting on my iMAC G5 Power PC and it seems to slow the fans down allowing less sound put forth by the fans. When you are exporting a video via QuickTime I have noticed fans kick up and whir like crazy. I feel like putting it on this reduced setting does not allow my computer to work as fast, but maybe I am just delusional.
- Cybersqu, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I don't think there should be much battery life difference. The fans draw the most amount of amps when they are spinning up from a stand still, and a small amount less when they are actually running at normal speed. Now I've seen a video that shows the fan stopping and going (from stopped to max rpm) every 2-3 seconds, so I'm thinking that keeping the fan running at even a low rpm would not make too much difference, and as stated above, at least it keeps the machine cooler (always a plus).
- buckrogers1965, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I had a windows based laptop that would just turn on the fan at full speed every time it felt the need, then shut it off suddenly when it was cool enough, so it would kick the blower on and off annoyingly everytime I was doing a compile or encoding video.
I installed this update and don't hear anything over the background noise of the room I am in and my Macbook is now a few degrees cooler according to CoreDuoTemp monitor program. The Macbook also slowly ramps up and slowly ramps down the fan speed so that after a while you can totally tune out the fan noise. It doesn't jar you into noticing it by turning on and off at full speed. - jkronz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Hate to say it, But I got a random shutdown today post update... I'm really bummed as this is the only thing that makes me not like my MacBook. I get about one random shutdown a day. Which is just not acceptable.
On the positive side. The macbook doesn't get hot at all. Even under load. And I too am getting much better battery life. Fully charged I had a 5:38... Actually lasted about 4 1/2 but that is at least 1/2 hour more than before.
Going to take my macbook to the apple store. Hopefully they can fix the random shutdowns... - andrewguy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Yah, mine does not whine or moo or have a loud fan as a matter of fact its silent you can't even hear anything even when you put your ear up to it.. People just like to complain.. Not to mention it looks like a bias source of information. "MacBook notebooks to adjust "fan behavior." And it wasn't talking about Apple users." as quoted from the article.. I'm very pleased with my macbook and its performance and even happier with this new update although it saddens me I can no longer make omelets to go.
-marked as lame. - Aero1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1mine didnt whine or moo'd. the firmware actually makes it run cooler.
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