Hi!
Per my parents, I have to let my sister use my older laptop. I have Arch and Windows 7 installed in a dual-boot, but I've convinced her to use Arch. Mostly, she just wants to play Minecraft. That's fine, until she overheats it. I've got a temperature monitor installed in the menu bar, and I set it to light up bright #FF0000 red when it gets too hot. (70C, the critical temp is 85C) However, even with this, I've still looked at her screen and seen that bright red in the corner (and shut it down on her), so she obviously isn't watching it like I tell her to. So I was wondering if there was a way to constantly monitor the temp, and if it reaches a temperature, run a short script as root. (he script would probably just be a few lines: kill X, broadcast a message that it's overheating, and power off)

Thanks!

If you are using Arch, check out 'cpufreq' utils, and set the maximum frequency to 'powersave', or if you are feeling kindly towards your sister, maybe something a little faster...

This will scale the cpu down and not allow the laptop to overheat.

Thanks for the reply!

I did what you suggested; however, on my other laptop the default governor was powersave as well, so I might not have changed anything...

Any idea on if it is possible to trigger a command or script when a certain temperature is reached, or something similar?

Thanks!

Pretty sure that it is possible, but I have no ready knowledge of how.

If your laptop is overheating on 'power-save', there probably is something else not quite right. If it is an older one, the battery could eventually overheat; try removing it while leaving the laptop plugged in. Also, you may want to get a can of compressed air ( Super Duster in my local stores ) and clean out your fans. It is amazing the lint, etc that can get collected in there. Also, make sure the vents are not blocked when in use, ie on a bed with a comforter that will block the underside...etc etc.

Give those a shot !

It's about 2 years old, and the battery still holds a good charge, so I'm inclined to think that the battery is OK (though the heat probably isn't good for it).

I've tried to be really good about keeping my fan clean...I don't think I've ever blown it out, but I very rarely (if ever) put it directly on something like a carpet. Actually, it's almost always on a cooling pad. However, I might see if we have a can of compressed air around somewhere... I've seen some pretty nasty desktops at my school...

Another thing: my definition of "overheating" is probably different than what the system had in mind...it's critical temp is 85 C, and I have the temperature monitor set to turn red at 70 C...that's a full 15 degree difference. I want to keep a safe distance from that critical temperature, but maybe the governor waits to get closer?

Thanks for the tips!

Interesting statement - are you depending on the GUI to tell you that ? It is probably for a generic processor, and can be changed. Look your specific processor up - my laptop for example, is critical at 105 C

Check it out !

Don't discount the possibility of lint and dust build-up within the machine. I opened up the cover of the CPU on my desktop once and the heatsink looked as if were covered in a layer felt.

I try to blow out the vents of my of my computers regularly.

Actually, it came from the output of It doesn't seem to be a generic temperature, the laptop I'm using now has a different value:
IDK where it got the "high" value, though, I've never ran it that hot.

The laptop my sister is using has an i3 processor, and I looked up the specs a while ago, and I think that 85 is correct. It couldn't hurt to double-check, though...

Hi,

You say that a Laptop cooler is in place. Do you use the system while based on a clear flat surface? My XPS sits on a cooler which sits on a LapDesk on my lap when in use. I have the cooler blowing up so that the air flow is around the base of the Laptop;I do have optimus via bumblebeed configured, no real heat issues.

Hope this helps.
Have fun & enjoy!

Dousing with water, and dangling out a second-story window in a breeze could help cure the problem. (Just keep your laptop safe and dry while you're doing those things to your sister!)

Greetz
Rather than have software react when it overheats why not stop it from overheating?

Most laptops will run several degrees cooler just by removing the battery. Obviously you can only do this when you're running off AC, but I assume if at home and gaming, you and your sister are. Often 5 degrees C or better improvement can be made just by removing the battery, for various reasons, not the least of which is charging circuitry becomes disconnected and unused.

Additionally, if the unit is out of warranty and if you have some mechanical skills you can improve cooling on most laptops with just a little work since cooling is low on the list for manufacturers who are more concerned about initial impact on the sales floor which is appearance, size, weight, etc. Not only do they not supply what they consider to be ugly air intake vents but in the interest of quick assembly lines, almost always there is extremely poor contact between heatsinks and hot spots.... sometimes even the stupid double-sided tape heat transfer material (far inferior to real silicone grease) doesn't make physical contact with both surfaces.

Tech Manuals are usually available and laptops are especially modular in that they only go back together one way and that way is keyed in some manner. If you're careful and have any skill at all (or take photos) you're really hard-pressed to go wrong. A simple nibbler or razor knife can carve away air vents from the case it you just think it through. You can use loose, open weave thin foam for aesthetics if you're so inclined to cover those spots but still allow airflow.

While on the subject of airflow it is not at all uncommon for fans to cease working as designed after constant exposure to high temps.

If you're more skilled and/or brave you can use a copper shim(s) with real silicone heat transfer grease, properly applied which is almost always better than those wafers that often approach 1/8th inch thickness. Transfer grease is nowhere near as good as copper, it's just better than air and vastly better than foam wafers with adhesive on both sides.

I commonly see 10-20C reductions in operating temps at full load by using such techniques.

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

onebuck: Do you mean just sitting flat on a hard surface, no cooling pad? The cooling pad we have blows air across the bottom of the laptop, like yours.

Sumguy: I've been really tempted, trust me...

enorbet: I'll definitely have her try it without the battery (read: steal the battery and hide it ) It's about 2 years old, so I think the warranty's gone. I don't feel confident about taking it apart (yet)...otherwise I'd definitely try. Of course, there's a first time for everything... and if the fan goes out, then I'll have an excuse both for not letting her touch it AND for taking it apart.

Someone above (edit: Frankbell) mentioned blowing out the vents, I plan on doing that soon.

Thanks!

I take the back off my i7 XPS at least 3 times a year. Often the fan isn't the problem, but the backing plate itself.
From the outside it looks well ventilated, but most of the "holes" in the fancy design aren't drilled out, and those that are have a layer on the inside - presumably to filter fine particles. Works just fine, but clogs badly - I usually have to wash it.

Hi,

I mean to have the cooling pad on a even hard surface with the Laptop on top. I use a LapDesk with my cooler on top then the Laptop. Cooling blows from the bottom up over the Laptop. Helps to keep outside transfer even. When I enable Optimus, I can feel the temperature difference from the air flow.

Hope this helps.
Have fun & enjoy!

I blew it out today, and not much came out. Looking into the vents, I didn't see any obvious signs of blockage. There's always been a good volume of air moving through the vents when the fan is running.

onebuck: I see what you mean now. I always have the laptop on the cooling pad, and the cooling pad is almost always on a desk or other hard surface. I don't know if my laptop has a separate graphics chip, is there an easy way to tell?

Thanks for all of the help!