Category:	Utilities
Price:	Free
Popularity:	Low
Version String:	1.4.0 (301)
Release Date:	2023-10-09
Architecture:	Intel & AppleSilicon(ARM)
Minimum OS:	macOS 10.13
Vendor Name:	Bryan Christianson
Homepage:	whatroute.net

Description:

Phantasmic is system menubar application that monitors the temperature sensors of your Macintosh computer and optionally allows you to control the system fan(s).

There is no icon in the Dock, but instead a menu is added to the system menubar displaying a temperature and fan speed.

If you click on this menu you will see a number of commands allowing you to view more detailed information.

On first run you will be prompted for your system administrator credentials. Phantasmic requires a small privileged helper program to make adjustments to the hardware settings.


Default Operation

By default, Phantasmic operates in a monitor mode and makes no adjustments to your system fans, simply reporting the readings from the various sensors built into your Macintosh hardware.


RPM/Temperature Tracking

Fan adjustment is enabled by checking the 'Modify Fan' checkbox.

When controlling the fans you can choose either set the fan to constant speed, or alternatively allow variable speed, tracking a selected temperature sensor between an upper and lower value.

If you choose to use variable speed then you must also use one of the other three methods to track the temperature. Each method will realise the same fan speeds at the temperature endpoints but will have slightly different tracking characteristics between the two settings. In all cases the fan will not go faster than the maximum value or slower than the minimum value (except for some minor overshoot in either direction).


Restoring System Defaults

When you Quit Phantasmic, all modified settings are returned to their system defaults.
When you switch off Fan Adjustment mode, all modified settings are returned to their system defaults.
The menu item Reset to System Defaults deletes all your preferences and restarts Phantasmic as though it were running for the first time.


How is Phantasmic better than the standard system firmware?

• For many people there is no advantage. However, even if you don't want to control the fans, Phantasmic is a useful monitor of your system hardware.

• If you find your system fans are excessively noisy, Phantasmic enables you to investigate the cause by viewing the temperatures of the hardware components that generate heat within the machine. This may point to faulty hardware or to unexpectedly high workload.

• In some models of Macintosh, replacement of the hardware with non-Apple components (e.g. disk drives) can result in the fans running continually at full speed. Phantasmic enables you to regain control of the fans

• Some models of Macintosh seem to get really warm before the fans kick in. You can use Phantasmic to have the fans start at a lower temperature