Mar 24, '08 07:30:03AM • Contributed by: Apple Guy
When I got my PowerBook, I noticed it got ridiculously hot when using it under normal load. This is because the fans don't turn on until the machine gets really, really hot. A program called G4FanControl can help with that problem.
The GUI version runs under Leopard, but requires you to run it every time you log in, and enter your password. Once you do this, you also have to re-set your temperatures, because the app does not remember them. I found a way to work around this problem -- this earlier hint suggested a fix to this, but didn't give any code. After a couple of hours, I finally figured out how to do this (I had to learn how to make the script).
Things you will need for this:
- The command line version of G4FanControl (version 0.4) -- download link
- Lingon by Peter Borg.
- Open up a TextEdit document and make it plain text by choosing Format » Make Plain Text.
- Type the following code:
Replace the /Users/youruser... bit with the full path to the command line app, and replace nn in the next line with the desired target temperature in Celsius.cd /Users/youruser/path/to/g4fanctrol/command/line/app ./g4fancontrol --set nn - Save the file in a place that is permanent, and call it script.sh.
- Launch Lingon and click New, then click 'Users Daemons.'
- Give your new action a name, something like com.yournamehere.fancontrol.
- For 'What,' click Choose and then select the script.sh file you just created.
- For 'When,' click the radio button next to Run it when it is loaded by the system (at startup or login).
- Click Save and type your password.
- Restart your computer
[robg adds: As of this morning, the G4FanControl site seems to be offline, hopefully only temporarily.]
