Arch Linux

ewigkeit

Member

Registered: 2009-01-06

Posts: 53

[SOLVED] Notebook temperature problem

Hi everyone,

I use Arch Linux (i686) since 2008 on different machines. But my Acer 8935G Notebook is giving me headaches for some time now.

I bought it one year ago and Arch Linux ran nearly out of the box (ALSA drivers took some time, but that's done). In spring I noticed, that the computer is getting hotter than it did before (Idle: 70° Celsius / 158° Fahrenheit). In Windows Vista, I get idle temperatures around 40° C (104° F). And before spring, I got temps booting Linux around 50° C (122° F), which was absolutley okay and worked for me.

I didn't change system settings or configurations, and I tried some possible solutions, because I thought, maybe it's a kernel problem, but that's just a wild guess.

What I did so far:

- trying alternate kernels (BFS, CK, ZEN)
- tried different cpufreq settings (dynamic cpu scaling is working -> cpufreq-info)
- undervolting via intel-phc (no changes in temperature at all)
- tried powertop

none of that worked.

I have to say, that's not just a Arch Linux-related problem, other distributions give me the same problems (PCLinuxOS 2010, Linux Mint KDE 4.4).

My question so far is - has anybody experienced similar problems and found a solution for it?

Thanks in advance for the help - I'll really appreciate it.

PowerTOP 1.13   (C) 2007 - 2010 Intel Corporation 

Sammle Daten für 30 Sekunden 


Ihre CPU unterstützt folgende C-Status:C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 
Ihr BIOS meldet folgende C-Status:C1 C2 C6 
Cn                 Verweildauer
C0 (Prozessor läuft)    ( 5,0%)
zyklisches AbfraC1 mwait          3,0ms ( 0,0%)
C1 mwait          0,5ms ( 0,0%)
C2 mwait          2,6ms (20,9%)
C6 mwait          4,4ms (74,0%)
P-States (Frequenzen)
Turbo-Modus     3,2%
  2,67 GHz     0,2%
  2,14 GHz     0,3%
  1,60 GHz     1,2%
   800 MHz    95,1%
Aufwachen pro Sekunde : 248,2   Intervall: 30,0s
Keine ACPI Stromverbrauch-Schätzung verfügbar
Häufigste Ursachen für das Aufwachen:
  31,8% ( 88,3)   [kernel scheduler] Load balancing tick
  28,4% ( 79,0)   PS/2 keyboard/mouse/touchpad interrupt
   8,7% ( 24,1)   [iwlagn] <interrupt>
   8,4% ( 23,4)   [extra timer interrupt]
   3,9% ( 10,9)   [Rescheduling interrupts] <kernel IPI>
   3,3% (  9,0)   plasma-desktop
   2,6% (  7,2)   [kernel core] hrtimer_start (tick_sched_timer)
   2,3% (  6,5)   chromium
   1,4% (  4,0)   [kernel core] usb_hcd_poll_rh_status (rh_timer_func)
   1,4% (  3,8)   X
   1,3% (  3,7)   [TLB shootdowns] <kernel IPI>
   1,2% (  3,2)   knotify4
   0,9% (  2,5)   [acpi] <interrupt>
   0,8% (  2,2)   mysqld
   0,5% (  1,5)   [i915] <interrupt>
   0,4% (  1,2)   [ahci] <interrupt>
   0,4% (  1,1)   kwin
   0,4% (  1,0)   knemo
   0,3% (  1,0)   [kernel core] iwl_bg_monitor_recover (iwl_bg_monitor_recover)
   0,2% (  0,5)   virtuoso-t
   0,2% (  0,5)   hald-addon-stor
   0,2% (  0,5)   [kernel core] __enqueue_rt_entity (sched_rt_period_timer)
   0,1% (  0,3)   gpg-agent
   0,1% (  0,3)   [Function call interrupts] <kernel IPI>
   0,1% (  0,2)   kslowd000
   0,1% (  0,2)   kded4
   0,1% (  0,2)   init
   0,1% (  0,2)   akonadiserver
   0,1% (  0,2)   flush-8:16
   0,1% (  0,2)   flush-8:0
   0,1% (  0,2)   bdi-default
   0,0% (  0,1)   konsole
   0,0% (  0,1)   nepomukservices
   0,0% (  0,1)   [kernel core] bdi_arm_supers_timer (sync_supers_timer_fn)
   0,0% (  0,1)   akonadi_control
   0,0% (  0,1)   kslowd001
   0,0% (  0,1)   crond
   0,0% (  0,1)   sensors
   0,0% (  0,0)   [kernel core] cfq_completed_request (cfq_idle_slice_timer)
   0,0% (  0,0)   hald
   0,0% (  0,0)   [kernel core] neigh_timer_handler (neigh_timer_handler)
   0,0% (  0,0)   [kernel core] neigh_add_timer (neigh_timer_handler)
   0,0% (  0,0)   [kernel core] sk_reset_timer (tcp_delack_timer)
   0,0% (  0,0)   rpcbind

An audio device is active 100,0% of the time:
hwC0D0 Realtek ALC889 

Ein USB Gerät ist 100,0% der Zeit aktiv:
USB Gerät  1-2 : FingerPrinter Reader (Generic)

Suggestion: Enable Device Power Management by pressing the P key


Vorschlag: Aktivieren Sie USB-Autosuspend für Nicht-Eingabegeräte inden Sie die U-Taste betätigen


Vorschlag: Erhöhen Sie die "VM dirty writeback time" von 5,00 auf
15 Sekunden durch:   echo 1500 > /proc/sys/vm/dirty_writeback_centisecs
Dadurch belasten die VM Hintergrundaktivitäten die Festplatte weniger.

Deaktivieren Sie mit folgendem Befehl die "Wake-On-Lan" Funktion:
  ethtool -s eth0 wol d
"Wake-On-Lan" hält die Physikalische Netzwerkverbindung aufrecht.

Vorschlag: Aktivieren Sie das SATA ALPM link power Management mit:   echo min_power > /sys/class/scsi_host/host0/link_power_management_policy
oder durch betätigen der S-Taste.

Vorschlag: Aktivieren Sie mit folgendem Befehl die WLAN Stromsparfunktionen:
  iwconfig wlan0 power timeout 500ms
Dadurch verringert sich die WLAN-Geschwindigkeit etwas, spart aber Strom.

Vorschlag: Aktivieren Sie mit folgendem Befehl die HD-Audio Stromsparfunktionen:
   echo 1 > /sys/module/snd_hda_intel/parameters/power_save 
oder übergeben Sie dem Modul den Parameter power_save=1.

Suggestion: Enable the CONFIG_PCIEASPM kernel configuration option.
PCI Link Powermanagement (ASPM) allows the hardware to go to low power mode
automatically when a PCI-E device is idle.

aktuelle "USB suspend" Statistiken
Name des aktiven Gerätes
100,0%  USB Gerät  3-1 : BCM2046 Bluetooth Device (Broadcom Corp)
100,0%  USB Gerät  2-7 : HD Video WebCam (SuYin)
100,0%  USB Gerät  2-6 : A309 (AVerMedia)
100,0%  USB Gerät  1-2 : FingerPrinter Reader (Generic)
  0,0%  USB Gerät usb8 : UHCI Host Controller (Linux 2.6.35-ARCH uhci_hcd)
  0,0%  USB Gerät usb7 : UHCI Host Controller (Linux 2.6.35-ARCH uhci_hcd)
  0,0%  USB Gerät usb6 : UHCI Host Controller (Linux 2.6.35-ARCH uhci_hcd)
  0,0%  USB Gerät usb5 : UHCI Host Controller (Linux 2.6.35-ARCH uhci_hcd)
  0,0%  USB Gerät usb4 : UHCI Host Controller (Linux 2.6.35-ARCH uhci_hcd)
100,0%  USB Gerät usb3 : UHCI Host Controller (Linux 2.6.35-ARCH uhci_hcd)
100,0%  USB Gerät usb2 : EHCI Host Controller (Linux 2.6.35-ARCH ehci_hcd)
100,0%  USB Gerät usb1 : EHCI Host Controller (Linux 2.6.35-ARCH ehci_hcd)

Runtime Device Power Management statistics
Name des aktiven Gerätes

Devices without runtime PM









09:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Wireless WiFi Link 5100
06:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetLink BCM5784M Gigabit Ethernet PCIe 
02:00.2 Mass storage controller: O2 Micro, Inc. Device 8130 
02:00.1 SD Host controller: O2 Micro, Inc. Device 8120 
02:00.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): O2 Micro, Inc. Device 10f7 
01:00.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc RV710/730
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Device 9488
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) SMBus Controller 
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation ICH9M/M-E SATA AHCI Controller 
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation ICH9M LPC Interface Controller 
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge 
16 more devices without runtime PM ommitted

Recent audio activity statistics
Name des aktiven Gerätes
100,0%  hwC0D0 Realtek ALC889 

Recent SATA AHCI link activity statistics
Active  Partial Slumber Device name

Last edited by ewigkeit (2010-09-27 16:31:13)

litemotiv

Forum Fellow

Registered: 2008-08-01

Posts: 5,026

Re: [SOLVED] Notebook temperature problem

It could be that other devices in your laptop are heating it up, like the video or wifi chip. Which drivers are you using for those, and have you checked their powersaving capabilities?

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ᶘ ᵒᴥᵒᶅ

TigTex

Member

From: Portugal

Registered: 2008-06-19

Posts: 301

Re: [SOLVED] Notebook temperature problem

The solution is reading the correct cpu sensor. Please read the acpitz sensor. That's the correct cpu temperature.
Use "sensors" to do that. Show us the output please.

And remember, laptops MUST be opened and cleaned-up at least once a year or else it may start overheating.

On windows, use "coretemp" to read the cpu temperature.

There IS a kernel problem that reports the wrong temperature in some cpu's. But the acpi sensor is always correct.

Last edited by TigTex (2010-09-08 17:33:31)

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.::. TigTex @ Portugal .::.

ewigkeit

Member

Registered: 2009-01-06

Posts: 53

Re: [SOLVED] Notebook temperature problem

Thanks TigTex,

but I can safely say, the temperature problem is real. It's not just a false sensor, because of the heat, the metal-case of the laptop is generating. It really gets uncomfortable when working on that hot case (hands on the hot machine and typing - after a while you can order your hands "well done" *sigh*). Because of that, I switched to an external keyboard, but that's not really a solution. The weird thing is, that the temperature problem didn't exist at the beginning - and it doesn't exist on Windows. And it's also not a cleaning problem - I clean my machine regularly (because I hate dust, generally ).

I can also say, that the fan is working - and it's working also dynamicaly (gets louder, when the machine gets hotter).

I checked the CPU sensors on Windows with Core Temp regularly (runs automatically in system tray at boot).

The machine ran 20 minutes (after 1h I get around 70° C / 73° C / 73° C):

$ sensors

acpitz-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1:       +67.0°C  (crit = +106.0°C)                  

coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Core 0:      +61.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)  

coretemp-isa-0001
Adapter: ISA adapter
Core 1:      +59.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)

@litemotiv

$ dmesg |grep iwlagn
iwlagn: Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link AGN driver for Linux, in-tree:
iwlagn: Copyright(c) 2003-2010 Intel Corporation
iwlagn 0000:09:00.0: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
iwlagn 0000:09:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
iwlagn 0000:09:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
iwlagn 0000:09:00.0: Detected Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN, REV=0x54
iwlagn 0000:09:00.0: Tunable channels: 13 802.11bg, 24 802.11a channels
iwlagn 0000:09:00.0: irq 47 for MSI/MSI-X
iwlagn 0000:09:00.0: loaded firmware version 8.24.2.12

Xorg.0.log (using x86-video-intel):

[    18.630] (II) intel(0): Integrated Graphics Chipset: Intel(R) GM45
[    18.630] (--) intel(0): Chipset: "GM45"

I will check for powersaving features, thanks for the hinch.

olvar

Member

Registered: 2009-11-13

Posts: 97

Re: [SOLVED] Notebook temperature problem

Is it possible it is time to change the thermal paste on your cpu?
Of course it could also be something else, but it's worth cheking that too.

(of course, disregard if in windows the temp is fine -_-' )

Last edited by olvar (2010-09-08 21:20:07)

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 19,784

Re: [SOLVED] Notebook temperature problem

Have you tried a tool like top or htop to see if anything is using CPU cycles?  You are spending most of your time at 800 MHz, so it cannot be too bad...

Any chance you are using KDE? If so, Is strgi busy indexing the world? Is the Indexing hanging up? 
Have you tried different configurations -- Different DE, no Xorg, different video driver?

Just fishing for ideas.

---

Nothing is too wonderful to be true, if it be consistent with the laws of nature -- Michael Faraday
Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine. -- Alan Turing
---
How to Ask Questions the Smart Way

ewigkeit

Member

Registered: 2009-01-06

Posts: 53

Re: [SOLVED] Notebook temperature problem

Yeah - I should have thought of that and mentioned it already - my bad. Yes, I run KDE 4.5. The system is idle (checked with plasma-toys (running always) and top confirms that), including strigi. I also started without starting X - the system is still generating the same amount of heat.

I will try playing around with the video drivers. Maybe it's a problem because of that damn hybrid gpu (Intel GM45 / ATI Radeon HD 4670), but it worked like a charm with xf86-video-intel one year ago till spring 2010. I also tried using radeon and radeonhd, but I get a black screen without any sign of an error message in Xorg.0.log.

Thanks olvar, I thought of that too, but, yes, there is still the windows idle temperature ;-)

ewigkeit

Member

Registered: 2009-01-06

Posts: 53

Re: [SOLVED] Notebook temperature problem

Things I tried in the meantime:

- Disabling KMS (with and without starting X)
- Running X in VESA-Mode

After playing around very much, without any conclusion, I bought a cooling pad for my machine. That's not what I call a solution, but it helps a little bit for the moment.

ewigkeit

Member

Registered: 2009-01-06

Posts: 53

Re: [SOLVED] Notebook temperature problem

The problem really was the hybrid GPU. After enabling vga_switcheroo (put radeon + intel drivers into kernel image -> https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php … 6#p804456), I was able to shut the ATI card down. Temps are now ~ 33° C - and battery life is between four and five hours, which is absolutly great :-)