|
Usage Information |
After CPU Speed Menu has been launched, it will display one of the following icons in the menu bar:
 |
 |
Automatic performance selection: Mac OS X will automatically
change the speed of the processor, selecting minimum performance when there
isn't much to do, and selecting maximum performance when the operating
system detects an application which needs a lot of processing power. Not all Macintosh systems are capable of supporting this mode. CPU Speed Menu only displays this icon if your computer can support automatic performance selection. |
 |
 |
Highest performance: The processor is switched to full speed. This means the processor runs with the speed advertized in the technical specifications of your computer. |
 |
 |
Reduced performance: The processor is switched to low speed. This is typically two third of the speed advertized in the technical specifications of your computer. |
 |
 |
Locked performance selection: A third-party application has currently
locked the performance settings because it needs full processing power
to perform a realtime job, or Mac OS X is currently in a limited mode of
operation where it cannot select the CPU speed. You will have to wait until the system returns to normal, or you must restart the computer before it is possible to switch the performance mode. |
To change the processor performance, just click the icon in the menu bar. The application switches to the next possible performance mode and the new mode will be visualized by a changed icon after approximately one second.
The icon will also reflect the current speed setting if you are using a different application to change the performance mode. It can take a maximum of 30 seconds before CPU Speed Menu will register a speed change.
Note: CPU Speed Menu always displays the true, “live” performance setting. Other applications, e.g. the Energy Saver pane in System Preferences, are not always capable of displaying the current actual status. They only show the preferred setting.
Many users want to switch between particular performance settings only. If your computer is supporting all three modes —automatic, highest, and reduced—, you can restrict the program to only switch between the pairs automatic and highest, or highest and reduced. This option can be set as personal preference. It is also possible to select if you like to use the compact icons from the left column, or the wider icons from the second column of the table.
There are some “emergency” situations where Mac OS X will ignore all performance settings, no matter how they are set: When the computer is in danger of overheating, or it is running on low battery, Mac OS X will automatically switch to reduced performance regardless of the current user selection. This speed change won't become visible in CPU Speed Menu, nor in any other application which can select the performance mode.
CPU Speed Menu offers additional menu items to search for updates, setting preferences, to quit the application, and several other features. To open the menu, hold down either the ctrl or the ⌥ (alt) key while clicking on the menu bar icon. If you have a multi-button mouse, you could also click on the menu bar icon with the right button.
It is alternatively possible to use the additional menu to select the speed of the processor. Select the respective item Performance: which shows the desired speed.
To set preferences, hold down the ctrl or ⌥ (alt) key, click on the menu bar icon, and select the menu item Preferences….
If your computer supports all three performance modes mentioned earlier, the pop-up button Switch between can be used to select one of the following options:
Clicking on the menu bar icon will then toggle between the two or three settings selected.
The buttons Icon Style allow you to select between compact and wide icons for display in the menu bar.
If you set a checkmark at Launch automatically during login, the application will automatically add itself as one of your personal login items. In this case you no longer need to launch the program yourself, Mac OS X automatically starts it when you log in.
To remove the tool from your login items, remove the checkmark or use the respective feature in the Accounts pane of System Preferences.