powermac fan speed question

They are running really slow and I'm wondering if there's a utility that will help me figure out why.
Mark Parker wrote on :

Hi all, I'm new to mac's so forgive if this is a noob question. I'm having some trouble with the intake fans on my powermac G5. They are running really slow and I'm wondering if there's a utility that will help me figure out why. I've been reading up and apparently the fan speeds are software controlled but I can't figure out where to look to see how things are setup. Help is much appreciated. I have many users depending on this machine and right now there's a big box fan in front of it to keep it cool. I'd prefer a more elegant solution.

-Mark

Richard Kilpatrick replied on :

On 31/8/04 5:07 pm, in article ch2bao$gbh$1@redacted.invalid, "Mark Parker" <mparker@redacted.invalid[removemeformail]edu> wrote:

I'm having some trouble with the intake fans on my powermac G5. They are running really slow and I'm wondering if there's a utility that will help me figure out why. I've been reading up and apparently the fan speeds are software controlled but I can't figure out where to look to see how things are setup.

Erm, are you sure it's not just working that way?

G5's normally run the fans very slow. So they're silent - it's more like assisted convection cooling than fan blown. If I look through the holes on my machine, the fans are moving like something out of Total Recall (if I was in Land of the Giants, the inside of a G5 would be the ultimate Sci-Fi location).

Blowing a fan into it will only make them less likely to speed up, since it won't get warm enough.

The software control is built into the OS, nothing you can change on it. If you're worried that they aren't working, reboot the computer whilst holding T to put it into firewire target disk mode. IIRC the fan software doesn't apply and they will run at full speed.

Other test you could do is open the case while the machine is running, then tilt the plastic door out of the way and lift it up out of the slots where it 'hinges'. A red light should come on on the motherboard and the fans should rev up. Put it back as soon as possible, the machine isn't happy without it ;)

Richard

Mark Parker replied on :

Richard Kilpatrick wrote:

Erm, are you sure it's not just working that way?

Pretty sure. I have another just like it 3 feet away and it's fans are running fast, giving a significant difference in air flow out the back. Plus, I downloaded bresink's hardware monitor and the temperatures inside were notably higher than it's brother. Adding the box fan dropped temps on places like the processors and memory controllers between 10 and 20 degrees C.

Basically, I figure that if airflow is half that of it's twin and temps are higher that something isn't working right.

Thanks,

-Mark

Richard Kilpatrick replied on :

On 31/8/04 6:04 pm, in article ch2elv$gg4$1@redacted.invalid, "Mark Parker" <mparker@redacted.invalid[removemeformail]edu> wrote:

Pretty sure. I have another just like it 3 feet away and it's fans are running fast, giving a significant difference in air flow out the back. Plus, I downloaded bresink's hardware monitor and the temperatures inside were notably higher than it's brother. Adding the box fan dropped temps on places like the processors and memory controllers between 10 and 20 degrees C.

Are they both the same hardware revision of G5? Are they both running the same Firmware (there was an update).

And more to the point, did you try my Target mode suggestion.

Sounds like it's broken, tbh. That's one way of checking for software-broken, or hardware-broken ;)

Richard

Mark Parker replied on :

Are they both the same hardware revision of G5? Are they both running the same Firmware (there was an update).

And more to the point, did you try my Target mode suggestion.

Sounds like it's broken, tbh. That's one way of checking for software-broken, or hardware-broken ;)

Richard

I haven't tried your rebooting suggestion. The server in question is servince files for 100+ users and rebooting isn't really an option at this point.

I was able to finally locate (from bresinks hardware monitor app, the apple tech support guy was pretty useless) at least one number for maximum operation temps for cpus and mine is within tolereance so I'm assuming that it just feels a need to differentiate itself from the other.

Thanks for you help. If I find a window, I will try your suggestion.

-Mark

Frank Malczewski replied on :

Mark Parker <mparker@redacted.invalid[removemeformail]edu> wrote:

Are they both the same hardware revision of G5? Are they both running the same Firmware (there was an update).

And more to the point, did you try my Target mode suggestion.

Sounds like it's broken, tbh. That's one way of checking for software-broken, or hardware-broken ;)

Richard

I haven't tried your rebooting suggestion. The server in question is servince files for 100+ users and rebooting isn't really an option at this point.

I was able to finally locate (from bresinks hardware monitor app, the apple tech support guy was pretty useless) at least one number for maximum operation temps for cpus and mine is within tolereance so I'm assuming that it just feels a need to differentiate itself from the other.

Thanks for you help. If I find a window, I will try your suggestion.

-Mark

If they are identical twins, you might want to open up Energy Saver's Options pane and see if the Processor Performance setting is the same on both machines. Highest runs the cpu faster; reduced and automatic run the cpu somewhat slower. Each seems to have different fan behaviors as a result of more or less heat present due to cpu speed.