tgpro
Fan Control Comes to M4 Macs in TG Pro 2.97
26/03/25 20:41
TG Pro 2.97 is now available and introduces full support for fan control on all M4 Macs, as well as select M3 models. This includes the MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Studio, making TG Pro the first and only app that can take full control of the fans on these machines.
What’s New in TG Pro 2.97
- Full manual and automatic fan control for M4, M4 Pro, M4 Max, and select M3 Macs.
- TG Pro can manage fan speeds even when the hardware has turned them off.
- Automatically restores fan control after Siri or voice dictation has finished, ensuring consistent cooling performance.
- Improved cooling during CPU and GPU intensive tasks.
- Continued support for temperature monitoring across all Macs, including fan-less models like the MacBook Air.
By default, macOS tends to keep fans at low speeds, even when internal temperatures rise significantly. This can result in higher thermal stress during long or intensive workloads.
With TG Pro, fan speeds can be boosted on demand or automatically adjusted to maintain cooler temperatures, which helps to extend performance and potentially reduce thermal throttling.
Before TG Pro (macOS fan control):
During a CPU stress test using our free app Endurance, macOS keeps the fans at minimum speeds, causing CPU temperatures to rise significantly.
With TG Pro Boosting Fans:
TG Pro raises fan speeds to the maximum, helping reduce CPU temperatures significantly.
Supported Macs
Fan control in TG Pro 2.97 is available on all M4-series Macs with internal fans, as well as select M3 models:
- MacBook Pro (M4, M4 Pro, M4 Max, M3 Max)
- iMac (M4)
- Mac mini (M4, M4 Pro)
- Mac Studio (M4 Max, M3 Ultra)
Get the Update
TG Pro 2.97 is a free update for all existing users.
To update in-app, use the TG Pro menu bar item → About -> Check for Updates.
Comments
TG Pro: Advanced Temperature Monitoring for Apple's M3 series
21/11/23 16:58
At Tunabelly Software, we're proud to announce that TG Pro 2.88 stands as the only application offering what we believe to be the most accurate temperature monitoring and fan control for Apple's M3 series Macs. Achieving this milestone involved non-stop research, testing, and dedication to overcoming numerous challenges.
To see the results of our efforts firsthand, we invite you to explore TG Pro. Compatible with macOS 10.13 and later, download now and enjoy a 14-day free trial.
Here are a few of the challenges that were encountered while working on adding support for the Apple Silicon M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max models.
One of the most significant hurdles we faced was deciphering the sensor data for the M3 series, especially for the M3 Max with its robust architecture. Mapping out which sensors correspond to specific CPU and GPU cores was an intricate task, given the sheer number of sensors involved. For the M3 Max, there is a total of 2709 values exposed, some of which are temperatures, some are related to fan speeds, some are related to power usage, although the majority are a mystery (since they are not documented by Apple). Here’s a small sample of the list of potential temperature sensors to try and map:
Tp04 [flt ] 87 (bytes e7 a3 ad 42)
Tp05 [flt ] 93 (bytes b4 70 b9 42)
Tp06 [flt ] 98 (bytes 00 18 c3 42)
Tp0C [flt ] 90 (bytes e3 35 b3 42)
Tp0D [flt ] 96 (bytes b0 02 bf 42)
Tp0E [flt ] 99 (bytes 00 c8 c6 42)
Tp0K [flt ] 84 (bytes c3 5c a7 42)
Tp0L [flt ] 90 (bytes 90 29 b3 42)
Tp0M [flt ] 94 (bytes 00 68 bb 42)
Tp0R [flt ] 89 (bytes 9f 01 b2 42)
Tp0S [flt ] 94 (bytes a3 8a bb 42)
Tp0T [flt ] 99 (bytes 00 b0 c6 42)
Tp0U [flt ] 93 (bytes 63 95 ba 42)
Tp0V [flt ] 100 (bytes 63 95 c8 42)
Tp0W [flt ] 106 (bytes 00 f8 d4 42)
From this small list, how do we know if any are temperatures, and if so, what component do they belong to? It was incredibly difficult, although we believe we have determined the best way to map the values to the CPU & GPU cores, and will continue to refine as we discover more details.
The diversity of models and configurations within the M3 series added another layer of complexity. Ensuring TG Pro's compatibility across all these variations was no small feat, however we were committed to providing comprehensive support for every M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max model. Not only were there multiple new models to support (ex: iMac and MacBook Pros), some of the same models could have different versions of the same chip.
For instance, one configuration of the MacBook Pro (16-inch, Nov 2023) might feature an M3 Max with a 14-core CPU and 30-core GPU, while another variant boasts a 16-core CPU with a 40-core GPU.
A unique aspect of the M3 series is the hardware-controlled fan activation. Currently, TG Pro can control fans only when the hardware activates them. We're actively exploring workarounds to enhance fan control functionality while adhering to the system's hardware limitations.
In the course of the research that was necessary to support these new chips, a few interesting features of the M3 Max were discovered.
The M3 Max chip contains three distinct CPU clusters:
Efficiency: Low-power cores that are highly efficient but less powerful.
Performance: The first set of powerful cores with higher clock speeds and increased power consumption.
Performance: The second set of powerful cores.
We observed that under light loads, only the first Performance cluster reports back valid temperatures. This seems to be a deliberate power-saving measure. When the cores from the second Performance cluster are not needed, they are turned off to conserve energy, leading to invalid temperature readings. TG Pro addresses this by employing an alternate method for all CPU cores in this state, resulting in similar temperature reports across these cores. As the utilization escalates, these cores reactivate, allowing for even more accurate temperature measurements.
To see the results of our efforts firsthand, we invite you to explore TG Pro. Compatible with macOS 10.13 and later, download now and enjoy a 14-day free trial.
Here are a few of the challenges that were encountered while working on adding support for the Apple Silicon M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max models.
Challenge 1: Sensor Mapping Complexity
One of the most significant hurdles we faced was deciphering the sensor data for the M3 series, especially for the M3 Max with its robust architecture. Mapping out which sensors correspond to specific CPU and GPU cores was an intricate task, given the sheer number of sensors involved. For the M3 Max, there is a total of 2709 values exposed, some of which are temperatures, some are related to fan speeds, some are related to power usage, although the majority are a mystery (since they are not documented by Apple). Here’s a small sample of the list of potential temperature sensors to try and map:
Tp04 [flt ] 87 (bytes e7 a3 ad 42)
Tp05 [flt ] 93 (bytes b4 70 b9 42)
Tp06 [flt ] 98 (bytes 00 18 c3 42)
Tp0C [flt ] 90 (bytes e3 35 b3 42)
Tp0D [flt ] 96 (bytes b0 02 bf 42)
Tp0E [flt ] 99 (bytes 00 c8 c6 42)
Tp0K [flt ] 84 (bytes c3 5c a7 42)
Tp0L [flt ] 90 (bytes 90 29 b3 42)
Tp0M [flt ] 94 (bytes 00 68 bb 42)
Tp0R [flt ] 89 (bytes 9f 01 b2 42)
Tp0S [flt ] 94 (bytes a3 8a bb 42)
Tp0T [flt ] 99 (bytes 00 b0 c6 42)
Tp0U [flt ] 93 (bytes 63 95 ba 42)
Tp0V [flt ] 100 (bytes 63 95 c8 42)
Tp0W [flt ] 106 (bytes 00 f8 d4 42)
From this small list, how do we know if any are temperatures, and if so, what component do they belong to? It was incredibly difficult, although we believe we have determined the best way to map the values to the CPU & GPU cores, and will continue to refine as we discover more details.
Challenge 2: Diverse Model Support
The diversity of models and configurations within the M3 series added another layer of complexity. Ensuring TG Pro's compatibility across all these variations was no small feat, however we were committed to providing comprehensive support for every M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max model. Not only were there multiple new models to support (ex: iMac and MacBook Pros), some of the same models could have different versions of the same chip.
For instance, one configuration of the MacBook Pro (16-inch, Nov 2023) might feature an M3 Max with a 14-core CPU and 30-core GPU, while another variant boasts a 16-core CPU with a 40-core GPU.
Challenge 3: Fan Control Limitations
A unique aspect of the M3 series is the hardware-controlled fan activation. Currently, TG Pro can control fans only when the hardware activates them. We're actively exploring workarounds to enhance fan control functionality while adhering to the system's hardware limitations.
Interesting Features of the M3 Max
In the course of the research that was necessary to support these new chips, a few interesting features of the M3 Max were discovered.
CPU Clusters
The M3 Max chip contains three distinct CPU clusters:
Efficiency: Low-power cores that are highly efficient but less powerful. Performance: The first set of powerful cores with higher clock speeds and increased power consumption. Performance: The second set of powerful cores.CPU Core Temperatures:
We observed that under light loads, only the first Performance cluster reports back valid temperatures. This seems to be a deliberate power-saving measure. When the cores from the second Performance cluster are not needed, they are turned off to conserve energy, leading to invalid temperature readings. TG Pro addresses this by employing an alternate method for all CPU cores in this state, resulting in similar temperature reports across these cores. As the utilization escalates, these cores reactivate, allowing for even more accurate temperature measurements.
Showing the CPU Performance cores at low and high usage for the M3 Max
GPU Core Temperatures:
Similar to the behavior observed in the CPU cores, the GPU cores in the M3 Max chip exhibit a unique temperature reporting pattern. At times of low usage, the temperature sensors for the GPU cores are not actively reporting, which is also a likely measure to conserve power and resources.
In response to this, TG Pro adopts an alternative method for temperature measurement. When the GPU cores increase in activity and the sensors resume operation, TG Pro then provides access to the most accurate temperature readings.
Showing the GPU cores at low and high usage for the M3 Max
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