Linux Mint ... Overheating and fan going nuts on laptop

[risami]

Hi guys,

I've installed Linux Mint 12, then installed the Cinnamon theme and finally opted to install KDE 4.8 instead. I've noticed that my fan's going nuts and CPU temp is really high (±70 degrees). After doing some reading, it seems that a kernel bug is the bastard at play here. There's been various work arounds but nothing that really drops the temp sufficiently. Does anyone know if the Ubuntu 12's alpha does the same thing? Really important that I get this laptop prepped. It seems other linux flavours on the same kernel version is having the same issue!

Source 1
Source 2

Appreciated.
R

 

[Ockie]

I have Linux Mint 12 but I cant say I have noticed my fan going ape poo. How do you measure your cpu temp on Linux Mint BTW?

 

[risami]

There's an app called Sensors ....
Have a look for more info

 

[volstruis]

Why do you need ubuntu or mint specifically?

 

[risami]

>>

Preference over MS products & also work related!

 

[volstruis]

Why those flavors of linux? Have you had a look at Fedora 16?

 

[risami]

I have, there's been similar issues with the kernel on some laptops

 

[MickZA]

I was under the impression this bug was fixed in kernel 3.2 and up, Ubuntu 12.04 and 11.10 certainly meet this criterion.

 

[volstruis]

Try looking at a older version of ubuntu maybe? Running FC16 on my laptop and its fine

 

[risami]

11.10, nope ... (work around apparently found), however there's claim that the kernel ver in 12.04 has a solution hence the thread ...if anyone has had experience re: Ubuntu 12.04.

 

[risami]

Try looking at a older version of ubuntu maybe? Running FC16 on my laptop and its fine

cool thanks, have you installed KDE 4.8 on it? if so any issues?

 

[volstruis]

I downloaded both images but so far I have only installed gnome and no complaints.

 

[risami]

I downloaded both images but so far I have only installed gnome and no complaints.

awesome, will try myself and see then

thx =)

 

[Smiley_lauf]

I have had a similar experience--even in 12.04 alpha 1; I tried this solution is seem to have cooled the laptop down considerably, and fan does not blow all the time. So test out 12.04 LTS alpha 2+ (daily cdimage) as vanilla, then test with the above kernel parameters.

 

[risami]

Awesomeness....

@Smiley_lauf baie dankie ...
I'll this this evening, hopefully it will avoid me having to redo everything - wouldn't want that
<<< Great find >>>

 

[Tinuva]

Kernel 3.2 doesn't have the fix, only kernel 3.2.5 has the fix included. They do however mentioned many distributions that make use of kernel 3.2 backported this fix into their 3.2 kernel. So it might be in Ubuntu 12.04 which uses kernel 3.2.

Source: http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTA1MzY
Subject is kernel 3.2 includes the fix, but if you read the article you will see they mention its included in 3.2.5

Kernel 3.2.5 changelog: https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.0/ChangeLog-3.2.5

 

[risami]

Okay, so I did ....

this and my fan's spinning quieter (thank you Smiley_lauf). This brought down the temp somewhat. What I've also noticed was that Nepomuk (file indexer, pls Google) is chews up loads of CPU time and memory resources adding to the temp issues. By suspending it, the resource usage dips. Think I'll let that run over night (hopefully there won't be a puddle of metal in the morning). That said, I'm glad I didn't have to reinstall everything again specially everything's running nicely now <<happy days>>. Thx for the info Tinuva, appreciated (think I did read that somewhere too) & everyone else who gave some input.

 

[BigAl-sa]

this and my fan's spinning quieter (thank you Smiley_lauf). This brought down the temp somewhat. What I've also noticed was that Nepomuk (file indexer, pls Google) is chews up loads of CPU time and memory resources adding to the temp issues. By suspending it, the resource usage dips. Think I'll let that run over night (hopefully there won't be a puddle of metal in the morning). That said, I'm glad I didn't have to reinstall everything again specially everything's running nicely now <<happy days>>. Thx for the info Tinuva, appreciated (think I did read that somewhere too) & everyone else who gave some input.

nepomuk was one of the reasons why I dumped KDE a couple of years back. A real resource hog, which managed to switch itself on every time some part of KDE got upgraded. As far as I remember, you couldn't uninstall it either...

 

[ponder]

What I've also noticed was that Nepomuk (file indexer, pls Google) is chews up loads of CPU time and memory resources adding to the temp issues.

You can use cpulimit to limit a process to a set % of cpu usage. Look at ulimit & setrlimit for memory usage limitation.

 

[Smiley_lauf]

this and my fan's spinning quieter (thank you Smiley_lauf). This brought down the temp somewhat. What I've also noticed was that Nepomuk (file indexer, pls Google) is chews up loads of CPU time and memory resources adding to the temp issues. By suspending it, the resource usage dips. Think I'll let that run over night (hopefully there won't be a puddle of metal in the morning). That said, I'm glad I didn't have to reinstall everything again specially everything's running nicely now <<happy days>>. Thx for the info Tinuva, appreciated (think I did read that somewhere too) & everyone else who gave some input.

You are welcome;

try another addition--install jupiter (it is an app designed by Fedora users, but works in Ubuntu (Gnome)), and toggle your CPU setting to performance/on demand/power saver--but it should detect automatically anyway.

My opinion: Also, please reconsider your choice of using KDE; it is great, and comes intuitively built for Windows users (like me); I would suggest install Ubuntu 11.10 (Gnome) then install Gnome Shell from the USC. You will not regret this.

BTW, what laptop are using: make. model, specs, etc? Have heard Intel Sandy Bridge ones are a b*tch to work with lately as the kernel has problems scaling them down. But that work around I suggested takes care of it it seems.