My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

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marlar
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My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by marlar »

Hi,

I installed LMDE 64 bit a week ago or so and I has been very satisfied with it. It feels very smooth and good looking compared to my former OS, Mint 7. And the updated repositories are just great and actually my main reason for upgrading as Mint 7 worked very well for me.

One thing is bothering me, though. My Lenovo T500 laptop is getting very hot and the batteri life is poor. This was not a big issue before. With Mint 7 it got warm, but not really hot. Now I have to sit with a pillow on my lap to avoid getting fried :-)

What could be the cause of this and how can I resolve it?

Thanks,
Martin
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TBABill
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Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by TBABill »

Have you installed the driver for your video card, if it takes a proprietary driver? Have you run the command TOP in a terminal to see if something is pushing your CPU to 100% or close to it? Other things to check is that your CPU Frequency is properly governed. I think the default setting is ondemand, which drops you to about 50% CPU speed until demand is higher, then it automatically jumps as needed. You can check what it's set to by

Code: Select all

cpufreq-info
in a terminal. If it says within quotes anything but ondemand, it's possible your system doesn't support frequency scaling or the setting is incorrect.
willie42
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Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by willie42 »

are you using 32 bit or 64 bit? LMDE
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marlar
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Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by marlar »

TBABill wrote:Have you installed the driver for your video card, if it takes a proprietary driver? Have you run the command TOP in a terminal to see if something is pushing your CPU to 100% or close to it? Other things to check is that your CPU Frequency is properly governed. I think the default setting is ondemand, which drops you to about 50% CPU speed until demand is higher, then it automatically jumps as needed. You can check what it's set to by

Code: Select all

cpufreq-info
in a terminal. If it says within quotes anything but ondemand, it's possible your system doesn't support frequency scaling or the setting is incorrect.
I use htop and that reports nothing unusual.

The video driver could be an issue. I think I remember I installed a proprietary driver on Mint 7 but the system was so kind to suggest the installation using the program "hardware drivers". I do not see a similar program in LMDE, so how do I install the driver?

Is this setting correct?

Code: Select all

sudo cpufreq-info | grep ondemand

  available cpufreq governors: conservative, powersave, userspace, ondemand, performance
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
  available cpufreq governors: conservative, powersave, userspace, ondemand, performance
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
willie42: It is 64 bit (which I actually wrote in my first post ;-)
willie42
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Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by willie42 »

sorry I missed that part. :oops: I heard that running Liquorix Kernel helps control the heat factor if you are interested

http://liquorix.net/

I am running this Kernel and My system runs really smoothe
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sumski

Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by sumski »

marlar wrote:
The video driver could be an issue. I think I remember I installed a proprietary driver on Mint 7 but the system was so kind to suggest the installation using the program "hardware drivers". I do not see a similar program in LMDE, so how do I install the driver?
i have an ATI card and without proprietary drivers temerature is ~10 degrees higher

if you too have ATI then try this:
http://wiki.debian.org/ATIProprietary
tinca
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Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by tinca »

marlar,

running a laptop with a pillow underneath it is guaranteed to make it run hot, as the pillow will severely restrict restrict its air flow.

I know that you said that it was already running hot, but still loose the pillow.

Best regards Keith
marlar
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Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by marlar »

tinca wrote: running a laptop with a pillow underneath it is guaranteed to make it run hot, as the pillow will severely restrict restrict its air flow.
Yes, I know. I only grab the pillow when I can't stand the heat any longer, and if I have to sit for a prolonged period, I actually have a "laptop tray" with a soft cushion and a hard top. I bought that for my old laptop which as it aged got hotter and hotter and eventually was a great subsitute for a coffee warmer if I turned it upside down :-)

I will see if I can find a driver for my video card. Maybe that helps.
wayne128

Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by wayne128 »

Sometimes, it get hotter because of dust collected over time and prevent proper ventilation.
Perhaps check and clean those dust also.
marlar
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Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by marlar »

wayne128 wrote:Sometimes, it get hotter because of dust collected over time and prevent proper ventilation.
Perhaps check and clean those dust also.
It is only 2 month old so that is hardly the cause ;-)
xircon

Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by xircon »

This is going to be a long post!

I suffer from this problem, my toaster :) (Dell Inspiron N5010 Core i5, ATI mobility HD5000) is relatively new and runs very hot. Along with the usual advice about keeping the vents clear:

Check cpufreq is loaded (mine wasn't) I have sudo set up:

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 sudo lsmod | grep cpuf
cpufreq_stats           2659  0 
cpufreq_userspace       1992  0 
cpufreq_conservative     5162  0 
acpi_cpufreq            5571  1 
cpufreq_powersave        902  0 
processor              29935  5 acpi_cpufreq
If you don't get something similar:

Code: Select all

nano /etc/default/cpufreqd
Mine looks like:

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 cat nano /etc/default/cpufreqd
cat: nano: No such file or directory
# Cpufreqd startup configuration

# CPU kernel module.
# Leave empty if you wish to load the modules another way,
# or if CPUFreq support for your cpu is built in.
CPUFREQ_CPU_MODULE="acpi-cpufreq"

# Governor modules.
# A list separated by spaces. They are needed by cpufreqd 
# to load your policies. The init script can automatically
# try to load them. Leave empty to disable loading governor
# modules at all, use "auto" to let the script do the job.
CPUFREQ_GOV_MODULES="auto"
I had to add the line CPUFREQ_CPU_MODULE="acpi-cpufreq" but yours may be different, I had to Google.

Reboot and then run

Code: Select all

sudo cpufreq-set -g powersave
There is a gnome panel / avant-window-navigator applet that can control this.

Finally:

Code: Select all

sudo gedit /etc/cpufreqd.conf 
and play with the values, mine currently looks like:

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# this is a comment
# see CPUFREQD.CONF(5) manpage for a complete reference
#
# Note: ondemand/conservative Profiles are disabled because
#       they are not available on many platforms.

[General]
pidfile=/var/run/cpufreqd.pid
poll_interval=2
verbosity=4
#enable_remote=1
#remote_group=root
[/General]

#[acpi]
#acpid_socket=/var/run/acpid.socket
#[/acpi]

#[nforce2_atxp1]
#vcore_path=/some/path
#vcore_default=1500
#[/nforce2_atxp1]

#[sensors_plugin]
#sensors_conf=/some/file
#[/sensors_plugin]

#[Profile]
#name=On Demand High
#minfreq=40%
#maxfreq=100%
#policy=ondemand
#[/Profile]
#
#[Profile]
#name=On Demand Low
#minfreq=20%
#maxfreq=80%
#policy=ondemand
#[/Profile]

[Profile]
name=Performance High
minfreq=60%
maxfreq=60%
policy=performance
#exec_post=echo 8 > /proc/acpi/sony/brightness
[/Profile]

[Profile]
name=Performance Low
minfreq=50%
maxfreq=50%
policy=performance
[/Profile]

[Profile]
name=Powersave High
minfreq=50%
maxfreq=50%
policy=powersave
[/Profile]

[Profile]
name=Powersave Low
minfreq=40%
maxfreq=40%
policy=powersave
[/Profile]

#[Profile]
#name=Conservative High
#minfreq=33%
#maxfreq=70%
#policy=conservative
#[/Profile]
#
#[Profile]
#name=Conservative Low
#minfreq=0%
#maxfreq=66%
#policy=conservative
#[/Profile]

##
# Basic states
##
# when AC use performance mode
[Rule]
name=AC Rule
ac=on                    # (on/off)
#profile=Performance High #Powersave Low
profile=Powersave Low
[/Rule]
 
# stay in performance mode for the first minutes
[Rule]
name=AC Off - High Power
ac=off                   # (on/off)
battery_interval=70-100
#exec_post=echo 5 > /proc/acpi/sony/brightness
profile=Performance Low
[/Rule]

# conservative mode when not AC
[Rule]
name=AC Off - Medium Battery
ac=off                   # (on/off)
battery_interval=30-70
#exec_post=echo 3 > /proc/acpi/sony/brightness
profile=Powersave High
[/Rule]

# conservative mode when not AC
[Rule]
name=AC Off - Low Battery
ac=off                   # (on/off)
battery_interval=0-30
#exec_post=echo 3 > /proc/acpi/sony/brightness
profile=Powersave Low
[/Rule]

##
# Special Rules
##
# CPU Too hot!
[Rule]
name=CPU Too Hot
acpi_temperature=55-100
cpu_interval=50-100
profile=Performance Low
[/Rule]

# use performance mode if I'm watching a movie
# I don't care for batteries! 
# But don't heat too much.
[Rule]
name=Movie Watcher
programs=xine,mplayer,gmplayer
battery_interval=0-100
acpi_temperature=0-60
cpu_interval=0-100
profile=Performance High
[/Rule]
This is the sum of my knowledge!!!!

Steve
TBABill
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Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by TBABill »

marlar wrote:
TBABill wrote:Have you installed the driver for your video card, if it takes a proprietary driver? Have you run the command TOP in a terminal to see if something is pushing your CPU to 100% or close to it? Other things to check is that your CPU Frequency is properly governed. I think the default setting is ondemand, which drops you to about 50% CPU speed until demand is higher, then it automatically jumps as needed. You can check what it's set to by

Code: Select all

cpufreq-info
in a terminal. If it says within quotes anything but ondemand, it's possible your system doesn't support frequency scaling or the setting is incorrect.
I use htop and that reports nothing unusual.

The video driver could be an issue. I think I remember I installed a proprietary driver on Mint 7 but the system was so kind to suggest the installation using the program "hardware drivers". I do not see a similar program in LMDE, so how do I install the driver?

Is this setting correct?

Code: Select all

sudo cpufreq-info | grep ondemand

  available cpufreq governors: conservative, powersave, userspace, ondemand, performance
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
  available cpufreq governors: conservative, powersave, userspace, ondemand, performance
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
willie42: It is 64 bit (which I actually wrote in my first post ;-)
Yes, that's the correct output. Ondemand is set by default and appears to still be set on your configuration. I would lean toward the video driver as a best guess. Using the open source drivers (I believe) still throttles GPU's to 100% regardless of the use/non-use of the machine. I have not had to get an nVidia or ATi driver going on LMDE, but you can look up the Debian Wiki and Debian forum for how to do so if there is nothing on the Mint forum to guide you. Configuring the video driver should be identical to Debian AFAIK.
marlar
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Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by marlar »

I have downloaded the latest ATI driver for my card.

If the installations fails and screws up my system, how do I recover the existing driver? Should I do anything in advance to facilitate that?
jimmm33

Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by jimmm33 »

I had a problem with my T61 getting hot. It turned out to be the fingerprint reader.

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_en ... ng_too_hot

I also open up the machine and disconnected to fingerprint reader cable.
Beardedragon

Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by Beardedragon »

Liquorix runs 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than 2.6.32, the current Kernel in both LMDE and Saline OS.
marlar
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Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by marlar »

jimmm33 wrote:I had a problem with my T61 getting hot. It turned out to be the fingerprint reader.

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_en ... ng_too_hot

I also open up the machine and disconnected to fingerprint reader cable.
The article you link to mentions the fingerprint reader itself getting very hot. Here it is the left side of the laptop. So I guess it is not that.
Beardedragon

Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by Beardedragon »

marlar wrote:
jimmm33 wrote:I had a problem with my T61 getting hot. It turned out to be the fingerprint reader.

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_en ... ng_too_hot

I also open up the machine and disconnected to fingerprint reader cable.
The article you link to mentions the fingerprint reader itself getting very hot. Here it is the left side of the laptop. So I guess it is not that.
"If you Look under your computer you will see the air vent there, that is where your CPU fan is, keep it clean of lint and dust. That is also where the temperature sensor is.
marlar
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Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by marlar »

While this is often the cause, it is not in my case. The laptop is only 2 months old and the problem has been there since installing LMDE:
Beardedragon

Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by Beardedragon »

marlar wrote:While this is often the cause, it is not in my case. The laptop is only 2 months old and the problem has been there since installing LMDE:
There have been several suggestions here, try Google for more. I know the Liquorix Kernel works.
marlar
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Re: My laptop is getting hot with LMDE

Post by marlar »

Thanks, but I am just a bit scared of playing with the kernel. Can I undo a kernel upgrade if it goes wrong?
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