smcFanControl is a great system utility for any Mac user. The application lets you see your Mac's CPU temperature and to control the speed of the internal fans to cool your Mac down when needed. It runs on the Menubar. Its icon shows the current temperature and speed of the fan. This app is very simple, but it is incredibly useful. I use a Macbook Pro, and it can get a bit hot when running design software or games. Flash is another app that makes it incredibly hot. I would like my Macbook to last forever, and make sure it never runs too hot is a first step.

From the Settings window, you can change some of the icon options, including what is shown in the Menubar (temperature and fan speed, only temperature, etc). You can also choose if you want to see the temperature in Celsius or Farenheit. But the most important thing you can change in this window are your fan speed presets. By default, there are two presets: Default and Higher RPM. Default makes the fan spin at 2000rpm, while Higher RPM is configured at 4000rpm. My Mac's fans can go up to 6000rpm, and that is what I have set in one of my presets. So, when I notice that my Mac is getting hot, I run the fans at 6000rpm for a few minutes to cool it down.

All in all, this app runs great, and it supports most Macs. It is a great tool to have if your Mac tends to get hot.

JF Senior editor

José Fernández

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Monalisa777

I wish I knew about this app before. I would have protected my MBP better from heat exhaustion. Fortunately, it came to me. Also, it is good to make a donation to the people that created the app.

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Achiro

A very useful utility. It allows to keep an eye on your PC cooling system, which is very handy sometimes.

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