System Management Controller: Difference between revisions

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The '''System Management Controller''' ('''SMC''') is a subsystem of [[Intel]] [[Macintosh]] computers. It is similar in function to the older [[System Management Unit|SMU]] or [[Power Management Unit|PMU]] of PowerPC based Macintosh computers.<ref>{{cite web |title=HT2368: About the SMC Firmware Updates |url=http://support.apple.com:80/kb/HT2368?viewlocale=en_US |website=Official Apple Support |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223202919/http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2368?viewlocale=en_US |archivedate=2008-12-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=HT202040: About the SMC Firmware Updates |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202040 |website=Official Apple Support |publisher= |accessdate=2018-04-28 |archive-date=2021-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519004618/https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202040 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The '''SMC''' is an internal sub system introduced by [[Apple]] with the introduction of their new [[Intel]] processor based machines in 2006. It takes over the functions of the [[SMC]]. Apple has released updates for this system in order to address power or sleep issues in several resent models[http://search.info.apple.com/index.html?search=Go&lr=lang_en&kword=&khot%20OR%20kcap&news&q=SMC%20update&&type=kbdload|].

==Overview==

The SMC has roles in controlling thermal and power management, battery charging, video mode switching, [[sleep mode|sleep and wake]], [[hibernation (computing)|hibernation]], and [[light-emitting diode|LED]] indicators. It also enables enforcement of the [[macOS]] [[End-user license agreement|End User License]], allowing macOS to identify when it is running on non-Apple hardware.<ref>{{cite podcast |host=[[Randal L. Schwartz|Randal Schwartz]] |date=2010-08-11 |df=mdy |title=VirtualBox |url=https://twit.tv/shows/floss-weekly/episodes/130 |website=[[FLOSS Weekly]] |series=130 |publisher=[[TWiT.tv]] |accessdate=2018-04-28 |archive-date=2018-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428181223/https://twit.tv/shows/floss-weekly/episodes/130 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The SMC like the SMU before it controls power flow and fan speed. Reseting the SMC can resolve issues where the machine does not power on or shuts down unexpectedly. It also can fix issue where the internal [[Airport Extreme]] card is not recognized by the system. The [[operating system]] works in tandem with the SMC to control sleep and wake functions.

==See also==

== Current SMC Updates ==

* [[Embedded controller]] (EC)

{| class="wikitable"

* [[Power management integrated circuit]] (PMIC)

|-

* [[Power Management Unit]] (PMU)

!

* [[System Management Unit]] (SMU)

! Shipping Version

* [[Apple T2]]

! Updated Version

|-

| [[iMac]] Early 2006

| ?

| 1.1f5

|-

| [[Mac Mini]] Early 2006

| ?

| 1.3f4

|-

| [[MacBook]] Any

| ?

| 1.4f12

|-

| [[MacBookPro|MacBook Pro]] 15-inch

| ?

| 1.2f10

|-

| [[MacBookPro|MacBook Pro]] 17-inch

| ?

| 1.5f10

|}

==Extrenal LinksReferences==

{{reflist}}

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/imacearly2006smcfirmwareupdate.html

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macminiearly2006smcfirmwareupdate.html

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macbooksmcfirmwareupdate11.html

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macbookpro15inchsmcfirmwareupdate.html

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macbookpro17inchsmcfirmwareupdate.html

==External links==

{{Mac-stub}}

*[https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201518 EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Macs]

[[Category:Products introduced in 2006]]

{{step|[[System_management_unit|SMU]]|}}

[[Category:Lists of three-character combinations]]

[[Category:Macintosh computers]]

[[Category:Apple ComputerInc. hardware]]