[SOLVED] Fan doesn't slow down after temp is low enough

nIMBVS · 05-12-2013, 12:12 PM

Hello. I'm using Linux Mint 14 (kernel: 3.5.0-28-generic) on an Asus u36s (Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2450M CPU @ 2.50GHz) laptop with all up-to date updates. I noticed that when the fan starts spinning, it doesn't slow down anymore after the temperature on the CPU drops to acceptable values (currently. the sensors command shows +45.0°C on the CPU and the fan is spinning like the CPU is at 80+°C). What can I do to make the fan slow down? Any advice? I don't want to wear out the fan and the noise is also unpleasant.

I don't know where the thresholds for the fan are set or how (and if) I can modify them. Searching for '*fan*' in /sys reveals the following.:

Code:

find /sys -iname '*fan*'
/sys/bus/acpi/drivers/fan
/sys/kernel/slab/fanotify_response_event
/sys/kernel/debug/tracing/events/syscalls/sys_enter_fanotify_init
/sys/kernel/debug/tracing/events/syscalls/sys_exit_fanotify_init

gdizzle · 05-13-2013, 09:11 PM

Find the process that is making the CPU go crazy and limit it's use: http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/cpu-usa...ter-for-linux/

This should calm your fan down.

---------- Post added 05-14-13 at 03:12 AM ----------

The program is called cpulimit.

nIMBVS · 05-15-2013, 04:45 PM

Thanks for answering, but this wasn't the case. There wasn't any process that has gone haywire and used up the CPU. I actually had bumblebee installed as well (this machine being an Optimus one), but the bumblebeed daemon doesn't start automatically at boot on Linux Mint 14 Nadia, so the nvidia GPU was active and the cooling system had to work extra to cool it. I had to add runlevel [2345] to start on in /etc/init/bumblebeed.conf and now bumblebeed is running and the fan stops spinning and the laptop is much quieter.

gdizzle · 05-15-2013, 05:43 PM

Thanks for replying with the answer, it's good to learn something new.