Overheating due to kernel usage [SOLVED]

[lucienreyes]

Kernel update made the CPU idle at and above 80 degrees Centigrade. Reverted to older kernel, but the issue persists.

[rene]

If you reverted to an older kernel that used to be fine there's seemingly no way that the problem can in fact be the kernel --- unless maybe you have not yet e.g. tried fully shutting down the system, preferably including fully removing power for a bit.

[lucienreyes]

If you reverted to an older kernel that used to be fine there's seemingly no way that the problem can in fact be the kernel --- unless maybe you have not yet e.g. tried fully shutting down the system, preferably including fully removing power for a bit.

This is what I and a bunch of people over at the Mint Discord server couldn't diagnose. Top doesn't show any process taking up cpu or memory. But the temperature keeps rising.

[rene]

Clearly could be a hardware issue; broken or clogged fan, or if software after all, a matter of fan control. There seems no opportunity for latter though if you already reverted kernel and, as said, have since running the newer kernel fully powered off.

[lucienreyes]

Clearly could be a hardware issue; broken or clogged fan, or if software after all, a matter of fan control. There seems no opportunity for latter though if you already reverted kernel and, as said, have since running the newer kernel fully powered off.

Very good points, but all of them discussed extensively before. I should explain.

It happened very suddenly after I rebooted after a kernel update. A hardware issue wouldn't happen that fast. I reverted to an older kernel, and the issue persisted. After I had rolled back another time, it solved itself. But it started occuring again after a reboot.

The matter of fan control, I checked my BIOS settings and (since it's HP and they don't provide a lot of options usually present in other's) saw the only fan option, "Fan always on" turned on. Also, the fan seems to work as expected (when the temperature rises, it runs at maximum speed)

The kernel being never fully turned off, I checked off the list by forcing a shutdown (holding the power button for 12 secs in my case).

[rene]

A hardware issue wouldn't happen that fast

Generally that could be mistakenly put (things break at some point and e.g. an intensive update cycle is about as good as any) but given that it is from the rest of your post clear that you're sure the fan is in fact running let us forget about that then. You also already said that you haven't been able to identify a CPU hog in top. Is this including it showing e.g. 90% or more idle when you are in fact idling? (the "id" statistic in the %Cpu(s) header line).

Given that it went away at some point I'll not furthermore bug you about the "removing power fully" thing (i.e., including removing the chord and battery for a bit, as this is supposedly a laptop) since that'll mean it'll also not be a matter of an in hardware stuck setting.... but that does mean I've few ideas left already.

Rather explicitly nonparanoid securitywise here but one does wonder if Bitcoin miners for Linux that manage to hide themselves from top exist out there in the wild. See how that stuff works? "Secuwity" as an excuse for not having a clue... ;-(

[lucienreyes]

A hardware issue wouldn't happen that fast

Is this including it showing e.g. 90% or more idle when you are in fact idling? (the "id" statistic in the %Cpu(s) header line).

I don't quite understand this. There seems to be no "id" stat. Sorry if I'm being a noob XD. There doesn't seem to be any irregularities in the overall stats though.

[/quote]
Rather explicitly nonparanoid securitywise here but one does wonder if Bitcoin miners for Linux that manage to hide themselves from top exist out there in the wild. See how that stuff works? "Secuwity" as an excuse for not having a clue... ;-(
[/quote]

This is the first valid answer I have gotten since the 2 days I've been trying to troubleshoot this.

There is something else. I managed to restore a snapshot to an even older kernel and the issue seems to be solved. It remains solved even after I reinstaled all the software I wanted.
It must be noted that the issue persisted with two subsequent kernel versions. I even loaded 3 versions of xanmod kernels, and the issue persisted.

So I guess your crypto mining hypothesis is correct and I should wait for a new kernel update and try it after backing up the system?

[rene]

I don't quite understand this. There seems to be no "id" stat.

See the below screenshot of top running in a terminal under Xfce; the 92,2 id on the %Cpu(s): line, third line from the top.

Well, no, I would say that my crypto-mining hypothesis was rather premature and I'd be very surprised if it was in fact correct. Now that you have identified a snapshot on which all is fine, what I'd do is update all on it in one fell swoop to current and see if the issue returns. If not shrug it off. If yes re-restore the good snapshot and start updating selectively to find a culprit.

[lucienreyes]

[/quote]
See the below screenshot of top running in a terminal under Xfce; the 92,2 id on the %Cpu(s): line, third line from the top.
[/quote]

Ah yes. I didn't get a chance to notice the value while it was still a problem..

And yes, I think I'll have to shrug it off, haha. The Timeshift snapshot worked perfectly, and even after updating everything, the system is completely fine, idling at around 50 degrees (I live in a tropical country).

Thanks for all your help. This was my first time posting here, and I'm more than happy with the response

[rene]

Sure. Yes, it's unlikely that you/we will ever find out what it was. <shrug>

[lucienreyes]

Sure. Yes, it's unlikely that you/we will ever find out what it was. <shrug>

It's gonna eat me up . But the whole reason I chose Mint was because of it's stability. Don't really have the time to troubleshoot each and every problem, even though I love doing it.
So in conclusion, I'm going to keep it as is.
Is there a close issue button somewhere?

[rene]

Not really no. There's this: viewtopic.php?f=90&t=267264 but not everyone cares.

[lucienreyes]

Not really no. There's this: viewtopic.php?f=90&t=267264 but not everyone cares.

Ah perfect

[lucienreyes]

Sure. Yes, it's unlikely that you/we will ever find out what it was. <shrug>

Alright so I kinda went after it.
It happens after the subsequent updates after the kernel including intel-microcode, game-mode, and linux firmware. Haven't pinpointed it yet though.

[rene]

OK. Would've assumed it to not be stably reproduceable at all. And in which sense... do make very sure it's not in fact or more or less random issue rather then conclude that it's going to be fully related to a given (kernel-, presumedly) update if it happens following that.

[lucienreyes]

OK. Would've assumed it to not be stably reproduceable at all. And in which sense... do make very sure it's not in fact or more or less random issue rather then conclude that it's going to be fully related to a given (kernel-, presumedly) update if it happens following that.

I understand. I had achieved it thrice, and did again a few hours ago to check if it wasn't just a fluke.

Also, I believe it to be the problem of the subsequent updates and not of the kernel. My fan does run at max after I boot in the new kernel, but the temperature gets out of hand after I update the packages I mentioned before.
And I did check the idle stat in top. It varied between 91-98.9%.

Now, I should leave you in peace and not poke you about a closed issue. Also have no intention of deliberately breaking the system for further testing for quite sometime (need it for exams haha).

[rene]

Fair enough. If it wasn't just a fluke this forum will supposedly see the question return though so all information is good. Good luck with the exams

[lucienreyes]

Fair enough. If it wasn't just a fluke this forum will supposedly see the question return though so all information is good. Good luck with the exams

r/antiassholedesign XD

Thanks

[rene]

You only now had me google for "game-mode" by the way. I'm still on Mint 19 (based on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS) and "game-mode" seems Ubuntu 20.04 hence Mint 20.x specific. It's undoubtedly that; getting e.g. more voltage to your CPU. Shall elect to for now furthermore declare myself uninterested; not running 20 and most definitely not running games on Linux. Seems the newer version enables itself by default rather than on request --- or some such. I'll leave it up to responders to the undoubtedly tend to hundreds reports of same that will be following shortly on this forum to figure that out.

[motoryzen]

@lucienreyes

I realized you've marked this as solved, but perhaps one option is applicable here. I don't recall you listing the model/specs of your PC. I ask because I'm curious as to it's age, no insult meant.

If it's many years old, I question if it's time for cleaning the physical cpu itself and applying new thermal paste to see if temps can improve. Depending on if your PC Is a laptop, this can still be done if you're tech savvy enough and comfortable enough opening it up to access removing the cpu cooling system to do so.

Some laptops, however, I've seen use thermal pads and there is not much that can really be done there. Have a great day either way.