How to manually speed up fans on PPC G5 2x1.8Ghz to cool it?

[ygddrasill]

Hi everybody,

I recently was given an old 2x1.8Ghz PPC G5 in order to build a personnal server but I have troubleshooting with CPU's temps that are really too hot (75°C with no app open, only Finder).

I know these temps are not that "hot" but I can't imagine what it would be when I'll open Safari, iGetter, iTunes, CyberDuck, Adium and Photoshop CS4...).

I first unmount everything, blown inside some bottled air to make sure there were no dust creating overheating inside and remount everything.

Installed Leopard (last OS installable on PPC machines), made the last updates possible and restart.

Everything is working well althought this CPU's temp is so damn high and fans's speed are still at 300rpm. I was looking for some app that would do the same as SmcFanControl for Intel based Macs but for PPC's ones.

After many internet searches on many forums I finally admitted there were no software able to set fans's speed, the only way was manually editing the AppleFan.kext integer's values.

WhatI did, reducing the integer values to lower rates (256x multiples), then restarted the Mac but nothing happens. As I check the changed values, they indeed are the ones I edited but the fans still are at 300 rpm and the CPU's temp 75°C...

Does somebody have any solution for that issue, I feel I checked everything that was possible but nothing seems to work.

Any help is welcome...

Ygddrasill

[Turboladdade]

75°C does sound pretty hot but then again I've never had a G5 I skipped from G4s to Intels.

First you should determine whether this is acually outside the norm. Are you sure you're reading Celsius and not Farenhit? Have you verified any online references to what the normal range of operating temperatures *should* be? Have you experienced any locking up or crashing yourself?

[ygddrasill]

Hi Turboladdade,

of course I'm reading Celsius Temps!...

Normal temps for idling are about 40°C - 50°C (104°F - 122°F) on these machines.

Thanks anyway...

[Turboladdade]

Well, if that's the case then I would suggest some kind of severe hardware failure is happening and simply speeding up or replacing your fans may only serve as a temporary bandage over the symptoms rather than a cure.

[ygddrasill]

I'm actually running ASD 2.5.8, I'm waiting for the results (long long test...)
Would severe hardware failure permit the machine to start up and run anyway?

If the one of the CPUs was dead, I think the computer wouldn't even start up or would be very slow.

[Turboladdade]

Well it doesn't mean one of your processors is "dead" (vague?) because no your computer probably wouldn't stop. Instead it probably means something seriously wrong with your processor's cooling mechanisms which will probably eventually lead to the "death" of one of your processors. This could be a deterioration of cooling paste or something preventing the proper dissipation of your heat sinks etc... perhaps some flaw in the processor itself is making it generate far more heat than it should.

In other words, something is obviously not functioning properly as your computer should be running within it's normal temperature range. Arbitrarily speeding up your fans is not really going to be addressing the problem itself. Perhaps even one or more fans needs to be replaced?

You want to look for a solution to the problem not a solution to the symptom.

[ygddrasill]

Ok, thanks, waiting for the tests to end... They seem to be good so far.

[ygddrasill]

YES !!! After 3 hours running ASD test the computer returned no error and lost almost 20°C when idling, and even with Safari, CS4 (Ps, Il, Fl, Id open), it works !!! It certainly had a bad setting in temp sensors that was cleaned.

Thank you for your help !

[ygddrasill]

how can I indicate that the problem is solved on the main topic?...

[Turboladdade]

It's self-evident from your post saying so, although I find the situation you describe questionable. There is no solved/unsolved status for topics as many topics are not really problems that need solving.

[ygddrasill]

What do you mean? I just posted it on other forums where guys tried it and it seems to work.
Ok for the status, I just don't want to bore people finding a solution if it's solved, am I wrong?... Just wanted to be kind, but that's not obvious.

Thanks anyway.

[Turboladdade]

Ok for the status, I just don't want to bore people finding a solution if it's solved, am I wrong?... Just wanted to be kind, but that's not obvious.

For example, if somebody starts a topic entitled "What do you think of the new Mac Mini?" then having some kind of UNSOLVED/SOLVED tagline would be redundant.

[ygddrasill]

Ok, but aren't they some guys asking for solutions for problems they have?
As it is my case and with my (quite long) experience of boards, I thought it would be kind to announce that my problem was resolved before they have to read the entire topic to the end.

Lot of boards have this feature.

I love Quadras too...

[leonAzul]

how can I indicate that the problem is solved on the main topic?...

One way would be to post the path to the solution