Fan speed program [Solved]

[ironbark]

Linux Mint 20.2 Cinnamon
Intel Core i7 cpu
Nvidia Geforce GTX1050
Gigabyte p55 UD5 motherboard

Hi,

I need help with my cpu cooling fan on my desktop computer which is lately going nuts. It revs really loud and fast when only doing simple things like opening mail or my web browser. At first I thought the fan might be faulty so I replaced it with a spare fan I had but it does the same. I've tried googling for answers but they all seem to be about running "lm-sensors" which I find too complicated to understand. My cpu cores range in temperature 30C to 55C so they are not overheating enough to warrant the fan speeds I'm getting. I don't play computer games and my Nvidia graphics card fans are not the issue. The noise is definitely coming from my cpu fan.

Is there a linux program with gui that will allow me to set the cpu fan speed? I just can't get my head around the lm-sensors command line thing so I need a simpler tool to achieve what I want.

Thanks.

[acerimusdux]

Often there is configuration for this kind of thing in your motherboard's firmware; try entering setup at boot, and see what options they have there for power management and fan control.

[Agentl074]

I use Xsensors in the software manager. Open the app, click on each function to see the monitoring.

[ironbark]

Often there is configuration for this kind of thing in your motherboard's firmware; try entering setup at boot, and see what options they have there for power management and fan control.

I just had a look in BIOS and all I can do in enable or disable "Smart Fan Control". There no way to set fan speed manually.

Thanks anyway.

[ironbark]

I use Xsensors in the software manager. Open the app, click on each function to see the monitoring.

Thanks, I installed xsensors to my Linux Mint 20.2 but it's pretty useless. I can only get version 7 which only gives me cpu temps, nothing else. How do I get it to display fan speed information?

[Agentl074]

On mine, I have to click on the middle function (should say your computer brand)... that displays fan speed. I am also running Linux Mint Cinnamon 20.2... and I am learning new things every day!

[ironbark]

On mine, I have to click on the middle function (should say your computer brand)... that displays fan speed. I am also running Linux Mint Cinnamon 20.2... and I am learning new things every day!

Thanks for the reply. I notice on your desktop you have a folder titled "system tools" which you've open to access your xsensor program. Did you install "system tools" or create the folder yourself? I don't have such folder in my Linux Mint 20.2 Cinnamon. All I have is 'System Settings' and 'System Monitor', both accessed from the Menu.

I feel there is something lacking in my Linux Mint install because I don't have that "system tools" folder and my xsensor 7.0 window seems very different to yours.

[RIH]

I don't think that you are missing anything ironbark.
I installed xsensor on my Mint Cinnamon 20.2 & it acts just the same way as yours does.

Agentl074 has a Folder called System Tools on his desktop, which is a good indicator that it is a manually created user Folder.
"System Tool" is not a Folder in a standard Mint Cinnamon 20.2 install.

[AndyMH]

You can use fancontrol:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/fan_speed_control
but first, does your fan speed show up in sensors?

Code: Select all

andy@T432 ~ $ sensors
thinkpad-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
fan1:        3631 RPM  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
temp1:        +50.0°C  
temp2:         +0.0°C  
temp3:         +0.0°C  
temp4:         +0.0°C  
temp5:         +0.0°C  
temp6:         +0.0°C  
temp7:         +0.0°C  
temp8:         +0.0°C  

BAT0-acpi-0
Adapter: ACPI interface
in0:          12.23 V  

coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Package id 0:  +52.0°C  (high = +87.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 0:        +47.0°C  (high = +87.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 1:        +52.0°C  (high = +87.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 2:        +44.0°C  (high = +87.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 3:        +47.0°C  (high = +87.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)

acpitz-acpi-0
Adapter: ACPI interface
temp1:        +50.0°C  (crit = +200.0°C)

[spamegg]

Unfortunately there is pretty much nothing on Linux for GUI fan control. Your best option long term is to buckle down and learn lm-sensors.

There is this, but I can't really recommend it or guarantee that it will work (you'll still probably find it severely lacking compared to Windows), so you can try at your own risk: https://github.com/Maldela/fancontrol-gui

First it requires installing fancontrol package: apt install fancontrol

After that I was able to follow the build instructions https://github.com/Maldela/fancontrol-g ... quirements and build it. It even got added to Mint Menu.

But it can't find any pwm fans in my system. Maybe my motherboard's fan headers don't support it? Although I can control fan speed from the BIOS.

At least the build instructions have a convenient uninstall option too, so you can remove it safely.

[ironbark]

I don't think that you are missing anything ironbark.
I installed xsensor on my Mint Cinnamon 20.2 & it acts just the same way as yours does.
temp.png

Agentl074 has a Folder called System Tools on his desktop, which is a good indicator that it is a manually created user Folder.
"System Tool" is not a Folder in a standard Mint Cinnamon 20.2 install.

Thanks for the information, it's good to know.

[ironbark]

You can use fancontrol:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/fan_speed_control
but first, does your fan speed show up in sensors?

lm-sensors is installed on my machine but it doesn't show fan speed. I read up on your link about configuring it to show rpm but it's too complicated for my tiny brain.



Likewise with spamegg's reply about installing Maldela/fancontrol-gui. While I appreciate the advice, building such things and getting them to work is way beyond my level of expertise.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

[Agentl074]

Yes, I created that folder for Xsensors -- as well as everything else I view as a system tool

[ironbark]

Just thought I'd update this thread because I've finally solved my noisy cpu fan problem.

My old Intel cpu cooler fan was real noisy and constantly ran at over 1120 rpm. I swapped for a Be Quiet Pure Rock Slim 2 CPU Cooler which only cost AU$39.00 and what a difference it has made. CPU temps remain below 25C with normal use and fan speed is below 800rpm. When playing Age of Empires fan speed increases to 1130 rpm but I can't hear the fan at all.

https://www.pccasegear.com/products/545 ... cpu-cooler

Cheers.

[Grayfox]

Just thought I'd update this thread because I've finally solved my noisy cpu fan problem.

My old Intel cpu cooler fan was real noisy and constantly ran at over 1120 rpm. I swapped for a Be Quiet Pure Rock Slim 2 CPU Cooler which only cost AU$39.00 and what a difference it has made. CPU temps remain below 25C with normal use and fan speed is below 800rpm. When playing Age of Empires fan speed increases to 1130 rpm but I can't hear the fan at all.

https://www.pccasegear.com/products/545 ... cpu-cooler

Cheers.

Intel Coolers are the worst, They are to the point of "That will do".
No extra for dust that may build up and its built down to a price.

The BeQuiet Range is good, Dark rock would be highest end but that is more for K SKU CPUs or overclocked mildly.