Monitor and modify MacBook, MacBook Pro and Mac mini CPU parameters.
CoolBook lets you monitor CPU frequency, voltage and temperature. Registered users may set voltage and frequency manually. This can dramatically reduce heat dissipation, and fan noise. Use your MacBook with full performance without battery. This will reduce battery aging.
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />I've been using CoolBook for over 6 months now. At first, it was a bit difficult to find speed/voltage pairs that wouldn't cause a kernel panic, but after a bit of experimentation (one evening), I found a stable combination. Since then it's been a dream. My Rev1 MacBook Air runs nice and cool.
I had forgotten what a difference CoolBook made until yesterday when I upgraded to Snow Leopard. CoolBook stopped working, and I was shocked by how hot my machine ran. With CoolBook, it never went above 75C. Now it was hitting 104C when working hard!
I uninstalled it and installed v2.17. It's now fine. Just had to write this review once I was reminded how great this little app is.
My settings are:
800MHz 0.9000V
1200MHz 0.9250V
1400Mhz 0.93750V
1600MHz 0.9625V
1800MHz 0.9875V
Throttling Level: High
Temp limit: 75C
Great support from the developer too.
This is an amazing program....but best of all, i...
mtb2005
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...in<br />This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />I bought a 1.83Ghz Core Duo Macbook back 2 years ago, and temperatures would get uncomfortably high--in the mid 80s. So I looked for a solution and found this. I was familiar with overclocking and undervolting from my PC days, so this was very exciting to see that undervolting was available for the Mac!
My temperatures dropped into the high 60s, which is amazing in itself. The icing on the cake, though, is that the lowered voltages also lower the power consumption of the laptop, so my battery lasts regularly into 4 hour region. I was unimpressed with my new 2.53Ghz 13" Macbook Pro's battery life I just purchased last week--until I found out that the next version of Coolbook works with that.
One thing to be aware of is that you probably want a full backup--Carbon Copy Cloner works great--before you do much undervolting. I just messed up my new Leopard installation because of too low voltages, but luckily I have a Time Machine backup that will bring me back. However, this is only a minor setback that is just part of the nature of undervolting. The results once obtained are so worth it.
Pay the $10 for it. You won't be sorry.
Works
madison_mac_user
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This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />My Macbook Air 2nd gen was giving me performance problems.
kernel_task was taking 100% of the CPU when using Firefox to watch Flash video's.
After using CoolBook, and setting the voltage of my mac lower, the temperature of the macbook air is 5-10 degrees cooler and I'm not having problems with kernel_task excessive usage.
I wish there was documentation that said what all the settings where and what they might be set to.
MacBook Air freeze and stopping problem solved
jmues
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This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />Hi,
with Coolbook and proper voltage settings its now possible to run my MacBook Air with full cpu load and even than videos are running properly without stops!
Great App!
My MacBook whines with active Coolbook
Menace030
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This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />This program let my Macbook work with higher CPU and lower voltage but my MacBook makes a whine sound when Coolbook is active.
Dodgy licensing policy
hybster
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This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />You should be aware that the author of the program insists on a strict "one machine" license, you will only be able to use this with one computer. If you upgrade, you will have to pay again. Stupid policy? Up to you...
"The license is for one computer only."
-Magnus Lundholm
Essential MacBook Air Software
trillionandthree
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This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />Completely eliminated the freezing/stuttering issues using common to the MBA using this excellent shareware.
This little piece of genius allows you to undervolt your MBA (less heat, same speed) and throttle the frequency (slow the thing down) when it reaches a pre-determined temperature (I use 75c as my threshold).
Since installing, I'm back into stutter-free HD video while downloading via iTunes.
I actually had to pull my eBay auction (now I love my MBA).
Can you say, "Apple should be spanked for not getting this in the firmware the first time around?"
Let's here if for the little guy!