What's new?
Hardware Monitor Remote Version History
Release 4.51 (Build 080623)
This is a maintenance update which reacts to recent developments in Mac OS X Leopard and fixes minor problems.
- The readings of non-working GPU-load sensors provided by some of Apple's graphics drivers for Leopard are now correctly suppressed by the application. Instead of displaying a constant zero value, the sensor will be removed entirely.
- Support for monitoring the frequency of Intel processors based on 45 nm technology ("Penryn") has been withdrawn. The sensor might not reflect the true performance mode under all operating conditions.
Release 4.5 (Build 080312)
- Added support for new portable Mac systems with Intel T8000 processors.
- Added temperature sensor support for the standard PATA hard drive of the MacBook Air.
- Support for on-core temperature sensors of Intel processors based on 45 nm technology ("Penryn") has been modified: As confirmed by Intel, the core sensors behave no longer linear enough for the display of absolute readings in low temperature ranges. For this reason, support for core temperature sensors in 45 nm technology has been removed in Temperature Monitor. Hardware Monitor will display them as logical sensors showing "Core Hot" status information.
- Enhanced support for CPU clock frequency monitoring, especially on systems with Xeon 5400 processors and MacBooks running Leopard or running without a battery unit.
- Added a workaround for a security problem in Mac OS X which affects systems containing a GPU of the ATI Radeon X1000 series. In those systems, the GPU driver can crash, causing the screen content to freeze. Hardware Monitor now tries to avoid situations that could increase the likelihood for this defect to become noticable. NOTE: It is our policy not to discuss security holes in third-party products before giving the vendor (Apple) six months time to fix this problem.
- Corrected a problem with the display of Intel processor model codes when the model code was greater than 15.
Release 4.4 (Build 080212)
- Added support for new Macintosh systems equipped with Intel Xeon 5400 processors.
- Added support for the MacBook Air.
- Added full support for load sensors of Intel GMA X 3100 and ATI Radeon X 2000 graphics chips.
- Added support for new features available in Hardware Monitor 4.4 clients.
- Corrected a problem where the control tool could unexpectantly terminate when the remote monitoring service was started manually on Mac OS X Leopard.
Release 4.3 (Build 071024)
- Added official support for the iMac models published in August 2007.
- Removed support for Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar and other operating systems releases prior to version 10.3.8.
- Added support for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.
Release 4.2 (Build 070619)
- Added support for the new MacBook Pro series introduced in June 2007.
- Added support for a variety of internal temperature sensors of new hard drive models. This affects old Macintosh computers not supporting the AHCI standard.
- Added support for the new artificial sensor types available in Hardware Monitor 4.2.
- The handling of repaired or refurbished Macintosh systems which don't have a valid serial number has been enhanced.
- The application now correctly suppresses the monitoring of electrical sensors for NVIDIA 7600 GT MXM cards in the 24-inch iMac. In that special configuration, the power supply of the GPU cannot be monitored.
- Documentation and error messages displayed by the program now contain detailed security information why the program cannot be started on a volume which is not supporting permissions.
Release 4.1 (Build 070104)
- Added support for a large number of voltage, current (amperage), power, and light sensors for Intel-based Macintosh systems.
- Added full support for the new Apple Xserve Quad Xeon.
- Added support for S.M.A.R.T. temperature sensors in SATA drives connected via an SAS bus.
- Removed support for the internal Intel CPU sensor monitoring the target value of the core voltage. This is now superseded by the voltage sensors monitoring the actual core voltage supply.
- Corrected a problem where a memory sensor in portable Core 2 Duo systems was misidentified as being a memory riser-card sensor.
- Corrected a problem where the internal temperature sensor of Hitachi Deskstar 7K500 drives was no longer seen as functioning sensor.
Release 4.0 (Build 061108)
- Added support for a large number of new temperature sensors of Intel-based Macintosh systems. This includes thermal diodes monitoring the processors externally, GPU sensors, drive bay sensors and FB-DIMM sensors of the Mac Pro, etc.
- Added new feature to combine multiple history windows, making it possible to put sensors with different quantities into direct relation with each other. The user can define overlays for any selection of graphs.
- Readings of sensors which have raised an alarm are now displayed with warning markers in the sensor window, the screen display, and the menu-bar.
- The display of sensor readings in some output channels has been optimized further. No additional space is added in front of the readings which consumes less screen real-estate and enhances the appearance in windows where left-aligned layouts were selected.
- Corrected a problem where the curves of history graphs could show a flicker effect under very special circumstances.
- Corrected a problem where the speeds of switched-off fans were displayed as "---" instead of "0 RPM" on some specific PowerBook models.
- Corrected a problem where S.M.A.R.T. status probes could not be created for drives if the support status of the drives' internal temperature sensors could not be determined.
NOTE: Some specific sensor location labels for Intel-based systems are subject to change and may not be final. Compatibility Reports for the new Core 2-based Mac series created via the Help menu of Hardware Monitor are welcome. Intel Xserve models are not fully supported yet. Support will be added when these systems become available.
Release 3.95 (Build 061010)
- Due to recent efforts in reverse-engineering Apple's System Management Controller, it is now possible to support all fan sensors of all Intel-based Macintosh systems. The sensors and their parameters for permissible limits are found automatically. Additional temperature sensors are expected to be supported in the near future.
- The application can now control additional types of external LCD displays. The USB modules of the series CFA-632 and CFA-634 from Crystalfontz America, Inc. are supported. Additional free device drivers from Future Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI) are needed to make the modules accessible by Mac OS X.
Release 3.9 (Build 060918)
- Added support for the 4 new iMac series introduced in September 2006.
- Added support for temperature sensors in some old hard drives which are not fully compliant with today's implementation of the S.M.A.R.T. industry standard.
- By user request, the application now additionally supports monitoring of the case security lock for all Xserve systems. The lock position is monitored by a logical status sensor, where 1 denotes the normal, locked position, and 0 the unlocked setting.
- Artificial sensors to monitor storage space on volumes can now also be created for network volumes, not only for local disk partitions.
Release 3.8 (Build 060825)
- Added support for the Apple Mac Pro.
Note: Users of Intel-based Macintosh systems should run Hardware Monitor 3.8 before using Hardware Monitor Remote 3.8. This makes sure an up-to-date version of the driver necessary to access internals of Intel processors is installed.
Release 3.7 (Build 060618)
- Due to quality problems and intellectual property issues, support for the third-party software "SpeedIt" has been removed. Hardware Monitor now comes with its dedicated own driver to access internal information of x86 processors. The driver can easily be installed or uninstalled from within the main application. The program will automatically notify the user if installation of the driver is recommended.
- The following additional sensors will be accessible on current x86-based Macintosh systems when the driver is active: the internal digital thermal sensors for each CPU core of Intel processors, current core voltage value of Intel processors, current true clock frequency of Intel processors.
- In addition, the System Information windows of remote clients will be capable of displaying family, model and stepping numbers, as well as the internal identification of x86 processors after the aforementioned driver has been installed.
- The policy for detecting temperature sensors that are built into hard drives has changed: If the application detects a SATA drive under control of an Intel-based Macintosh system using AHCI, it will automatically assume that this drive contains a working temperature sensor compliant with the latest version of the ATA and S.M.A.R.T. standards. Up-to-date hard drives will no longer need explicit support by the application but will be accepted automatically.
Release 3.6 (Build 060504)
By request of many interested customers, this update is published earlier than initially intended. You only need to update from 3.5 if you like to use one of the following modifications:
- Due to very high demand, this version adds support for the third-party software "SpeedIt" by InCrew Software, Spain. SpeedIt is a kernel extension for Mac OS X which grants user applications permission to access the on-chip CPU temperature sensor of Intel-based Macintosh systems. The monitoring application will automatically detect if SpeedIt is running on the system. If yes, the features of SpeedIt will be used to acquire readings from the CPU. For additional information, please see the FAQ chapter of the reference manual.
- Enhanced support for the first generation iBook G4, where temperature sensors of the type Analog Devices ADT7460 did not deliver their readouts fast enough with specific Mac OS X versions, causing intermittent display of zero values.
- Corrected a problem where temperature sensors controlled by the G4 version of the Apple System Management Unit were displayed as being disconnected.
Release 3.5 (Build 060426)
- Added new feature to support artificial sensors which can be defined by Hardware Monitor 3.5 or later.
- Added new feature to support external text LCD units which can be configured by Hardware Monitor 3.5 or later.
- Added support for several new S.M.A.R.T. hard drive sensors.
- Corrected a permission problem which could cause preference settings for the monitoring service to be ignored when the service was automatically started at boot time.
Release 3.4 (Build 060302)
Added support for new Macintosh systems which use the "smart battery" industry standard. Production dates and serial numbers of "smart" battery units can be monitored remotely.
Release 3.3 (Build 060216)
- Added support for new Macintosh systems which use the AHCI standard to communicate with SATA devices.
- Added support to access system management information on Intel-based computers.
- Added support for several new S.M.A.R.T. hard disk sensors.
Release 3.2 (Build 051125)
- Added support for the third-generation iMac G5 (iSight). If you used a release prior to 3.2 on the new iMac G5, it is recommended to revise your preferences settings for sensor locations on remote clients to get updated sensor labels.
- Added support for several new S.M.A.R.T. hard disk sensors.
Release 3.1 (Build 051109)
- Added support for the new PowerMac G5 Dual Core systems.
- Added support for the new PowerBook G4 (Super Drive Dual Layer) systems.
- Added support for ambient light sensors found in the latest PowerBook models.
- Added support for several new S.M.A.R.T. hard disk sensors.
- Fixed a problem with certain versions of Mac OS X where the user interface lost track whether the monitoring service was running or not when the service was running for an extended period of time.
Release 3.01 (Build 050908)
3.01 is a maintenance update which only affects a small minority of users. If you are using release 3.0 with a Mac OS X system not among the problematic cases outlined below, it is neither necessary nor beneficial to download version 3.01.
- Added support for Mac OS X installations with incomplete or unusual configurations. In particular, this affects the following situations: Mac OS X systems where the computer name has been deleted, Macintosh computers with repaired or replaced mainboards where the hardware personalization fields in Open Firmware were empty.
Release 3.0 (Build 050822)
First official version of Hardware Monitor Remote. Note that the first release has version number 3.0 to correspond with the matching version of Hardware Monitor.

