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MacBook CPU throttling: anyone tried this "fix"?

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:12 pm
by kettensaege
just found this one at apple discussions
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jsp ... 7&tstart=0
has anyone tried this yet and can you report how it changes performance?
thanks!

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:33 pm
by AdamJay
holy crap

i just went through the steps and rebooted

Live 5 Performance Test score now : 28% peak!


holy CRAP!!

this is the holy grail for macbook pro + live 5.



update:
it looks like this is undone when you repair permissions...
:?

trying to figure it out..

more later...

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:34 pm
by Digi V
adamjay please get back to us with feedback.


i read the thread, i posted a message on it regarding a few things.




so far others are having battery life issues dropping to 2 hours.

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 5:57 pm
by warpus
We really just need someone to write an applet that lets the user interactively control the CPU throttling.

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:21 pm
by AdamJay
okay well i think i've got it. but im unsure how safe it is.

it turns out if you just delete the kernel extension titled "IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext" that is mentioned in the discussions.apple.com thread (located in: System -> Library -> Extensions -> IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext),
the throttling stops, and you can repair permissions/reboot and the throttling will still stay off.

Now, i dunno what other stuff is in that kernel extension, but i've been running pretty solidly without it.. opened and tested all my apps and plug-ins and so far so good.

i'll keep you posted, but this looks like the fix.

just to be safe: backup all your data before you do this.
and also backup the .kext file that you are deleting.

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:26 pm
by Danny Futuro
hey adam, this is a bit off topic, but are you using your macbook for your main production rig, or do you still have a dedicated studio machine?

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:36 pm
by AdamJay
danny, the macbook does it all.

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:14 pm
by AdamJay
well guys i think deleting that .kext kernel extension is indeed the fix.
for one thing, this kernel extension is not on my iMac G5's system library, so i don't think it can be THAT vital.

i just put my macbook pro through its paces for an hour, with the kernel extension deleted.

running 32 applications, simultaneously. notably: the live performance test with some WaveArts AU's and ableton reverbs stacked on..
the big lebowsky on DVD player, and every other app in my applications folder.

it didnt break a sweat. Menu Meters never showed more than 70% per core, and i used about 1GB of ram. It was like driving your car at 90mph for the first time.

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:24 pm
by DJSK
Will doing this mess up the warranty?

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:37 pm
by Danny Futuro
AdamJay wrote:danny, the macbook does it all.
sweeeeeeeeeet.

Now i know for sure that I want to sell this G5 iMac for a 17" MBP.

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:39 pm
by glitchrock-buddha
AdamJay wrote:well guys i think deleting that .kext kernel extension is indeed the fix.
for one thing, this kernel extension is not on my iMac G5's system library, so i don't think it can be THAT vital.

i just put my macbook pro through its paces for an hour, with the kernel extension deleted.

running 32 applications, simultaneously. notably: the live performance test with some WaveArts AU's and ableton reverbs stacked on..
the big lebowsky on DVD player, and every other app in my applications folder.

it didnt break a sweat. Menu Meters never showed more than 70% per core, and i used about 1GB of ram. It was like driving your car at 90mph for the first time.
Have you noticed significantly less battery life or any heat issues with this change?

I can't help but wonder why the people at apple didn't think to just remove this file in the first place if it's not necessary.

grb

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:25 pm
by Digi V
glitchrock-buddha wrote:
AdamJay wrote:well guys i think deleting that .kext kernel extension is indeed the fix.
for one thing, this kernel extension is not on my iMac G5's system library, so i don't think it can be THAT vital.

i just put my macbook pro through its paces for an hour, with the kernel extension deleted.

running 32 applications, simultaneously. notably: the live performance test with some WaveArts AU's and ableton reverbs stacked on..
the big lebowsky on DVD player, and every other app in my applications folder.

it didnt break a sweat. Menu Meters never showed more than 70% per core, and i used about 1GB of ram. It was like driving your car at 90mph for the first time.
Have you noticed significantly less battery life or any heat issues with this change?

I can't help but wonder why the people at apple didn't think to just remove this file in the first place if it's not necessary.

grb
exactly, there has to be SOMETHING.

it must be battery life that or heat issues.


i cant think of anything else.


though, i love adamjays comment "danny,the mackbook does everything"


same here!

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:31 pm
by steve-o
glitchrock-buddha wrote:
AdamJay wrote:well guys i think deleting that .kext kernel extension is indeed the fix.
for one thing, this kernel extension is not on my iMac G5's system library, so i don't think it can be THAT vital.

i just put my macbook pro through its paces for an hour, with the kernel extension deleted.

running 32 applications, simultaneously. notably: the live performance test with some WaveArts AU's and ableton reverbs stacked on..
the big lebowsky on DVD player, and every other app in my applications folder.

it didnt break a sweat. Menu Meters never showed more than 70% per core, and i used about 1GB of ram. It was like driving your car at 90mph for the first time.
Have you noticed significantly less battery life or any heat issues with this change?

I can't help but wonder why the people at apple didn't think to just remove this file in the first place if it's not necessary.

grb
Possibly to introduce an OS upgrade and claim increase in speed (due to the upgrade)?

Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 12:07 am
by kenn michael
wow! big difference over here!

as fast as it was before, it feels like a new machine now!

Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 12:22 am
by Digi V
i'm waiting a little while before doing this to my machine.