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#1 2018-08-19 17:05:31

Le Void
Member
Registered: 2011-04-23
Posts: 20

[SOLVED] Fan not working at all (Lenovo T460p)

I noticed that my T460p would get pretty hot, and then realized that the fan had never (!) turned on since I have the laptop (archlinux only, have never booted windows).

I could not resolve the issue so far. I installed thinkfan from the aur according to this wiki page https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/fa … ad_laptops, but that didn't help.

It should be loaded correctly (with `fan_control=1`), according to `systool`:

[root@krow acpi]# systool -m thinkpad_acpi -v
Module = "thinkpad_acpi"

  Attributes:
    coresize            = "102400"
    initsize            = "0"
    initstate           = "live"
    refcnt              = "1"
    srcversion          = "771CA64B3B3AE25428ABBDD"
    taint               = ""
    uevent              = <store method only>
    version             = "0.25"

  Parameters:
    brightness_enable   = "2"
    brightness_mode     = "4"
    enable              = "Y"
    experimental        = "0"
    fan_control         = "Y"
    force_load          = "N"
    id                  = "ThinkPadEC"
    index               = "-536870912"
    software_mute       = "Y"
    volume_capabilities = "0"
    volume_control      = "N"
    volume_mode         = "3"

  Sections:
    .bss                = "0xffffffffc06fa680"
    .data               = "0xffffffffc06f9
    [...]

Installing thinkfan led to `/proc/acpi/ibm/fan` appearing, but when I try to manually start the fan it doesn't work, i.e., the fan doesn't start spinning:

root@krow ~]# modprobe thinkpad_acpi
[root@krow ~]# cd /proc/acpi/ibm/
[root@krow ibm]# ls
beep  bluetooth  cmos  driver  fan  hotkey  kbdlight  led  light  volume  wan
[root@krow ibm]# cat fan
status:        enabled
speed:        65535
level:        auto
commands:    level <level> (<level> is 0-7, auto, disengaged, full-speed)
commands:    enable, disable
commands:    watchdog <timeout> (<timeout> is 0 (off), 1-120 (seconds))
[root@krow ibm]# echo level 5 > fan
[root@krow ibm]# cat fan
status:        enabled
speed:        65535
level:        5
commands:    level <level> (<level> is 0-7, auto, disengaged, full-speed)
commands:    enable, disable
commands:    watchdog <timeout> (<timeout> is 0 (off), 1-120 (seconds))
[root@krow ibm]# echo level full-speed > fan
[root@krow ibm]# cat fan
status:        enabled
speed:        65535
level:        disengaged
commands:    level <level> (<level> is 0-7, auto, disengaged, full-speed)
commands:    enable, disable
commands:    watchdog <timeout> (<timeout> is 0 (off), 1-120 (seconds))

None of these made the fan (audibly) spin, i.e., I hear no fan noise at all.

I was wondering whether this laptop even has a fan, but according to this article I found (https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-Th … 923.0.html) it should definitely have a fan, which should also work.

I also tried setting different performance settings in the BIOS, e.g., optimized for battery, optimized for performance etc., but none of that made a difference.

`sensors` output for good measure:

$ sensors                                                                                             
iwlwifi-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1:        +43.0°C 

thinkpad-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
fan1:        65535 RPM

pch_skylake-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1:        +42.5°C 

nouveau-pci-0200
Adapter: PCI adapter
GPU core:     +0.60 V  (min =  +0.60 V, max =  +1.20 V)

coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Package id 0:  +47.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 0:        +44.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 1:        +46.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 2:        +44.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 3:        +46.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)

acpitz-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1:        +46.0°C  (crit = +128.0°C)

All help is appreciated!

Last edited by Le Void (2018-10-15 12:13:58)

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#2 2018-08-20 15:16:13

ceratophyllum
Member
From: Red Dwarf
Registered: 2018-08-14
Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Fan not working at all (Lenovo T460p)

I have a thinkpad T440s (Haswell i5) and  the fan is rather quiet. The fan seems to just work: idle temperatures are around 40-50C and under load temperatures reach 60-70C with the fan running at around 3300 RPM. I only have thinkpad_acpi loaded, no manual fancontrol stuff. It is probably better to  leave fan control to the embedded controller.

What's "pretty hot" mean? Temps in the 40s is ok for idle. What are the temps  when you do something CPU-intensive for a long time, like compile something or transcode video? As long as you are under 80C, I really wouldn't worry that much. Can you feel any airflow if you put your hand near the side of the laptop when it is working hard?


Here's what I get. You can see fancontrol="N" below, but no worries: it comes on but is still very quiet when the cores are working hard.

systool -m thinkpad_acpi -v
Module = "thinkpad_acpi"

  Attributes:
    coresize            = "102400"
    initsize            = "0"
    initstate           = "live"
    refcnt              = "1"
    srcversion          = "771CA64B3B3AE25428ABBDD"
    taint               = ""
    uevent              = <store method only>
    version             = "0.25"

  Parameters:
    brightness_enable   = "2"
    brightness_mode     = "4"
    enable              = "Y"
    experimental        = "0"
    fan_control         = "N"
    force_load          = "N"
    id                  = "ThinkPadEC"
    index               = "-536870912"
    software_mute       = "Y"
    volume_capabilities = "0"
    volume_control      = "N"
    volume_mode         = "3"

  Sections:
    .bss                = "0xffffffffc0841680"
    .data               = "0xffffffffc0840020"
    .gnu.linkonce.this_module= "0xffffffffc0841340"
    .init.data          = "0xffffffffc084d000"
    .init.rodata        = "0xffffffffc084c000"
    .init.text          = "0xffffffffc0849000"
    .note.gnu.build-id  = "0xffffffffc0837000"
    .orc_unwind         = "0xffffffffc083cdf3"
    .orc_unwind_ip      = "0xffffffffc083b9b7"
    .rodata             = "0xffffffffc083aae0"
    .rodata.str1.1      = "0xffffffffc0839daf"
    .rodata.str1.8      = "0xffffffffc0837048"
    .smp_locks          = "0xffffffffc083aad8"
    .strtab             = "0xffffffffc0852548"
    .symtab             = "0xffffffffc084e000"
    .text               = "0xffffffffc082f000"
    .text.unlikely      = "0xffffffffc08366f2"
    __bug_table         = "0xffffffffc0841260"
    __jump_table        = "0xffffffffc0840000"
    __kcrctab_gpl       = "0xffffffffc0837040"
    __ksymtab_gpl       = "0xffffffffc0837030"
    __ksymtab_strings   = "0xffffffffc083b9a8"
    __mcount_loc        = "0xffffffffc083ec50"
    __param             = "0xffffffffc083b610"
    __verbose           = "0xffffffffc0841308"

Last edited by ceratophyllum (2018-08-20 15:43:44)

After qoud, nisi, num, and ne
All the alis drop away....

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#3 2018-08-20 15:45:46

Le Void
Member
Registered: 2011-04-23
Posts: 20

Re: [SOLVED] Fan not working at all (Lenovo T460p)

ceratophyllum wrote:

I have a thinkpad T440s (Haswell i5) and  the fan is rather quiet. The fan seems to just work: idle temperatures are around 40-50C and under load temperatures reach 60-70C with the fan running at around 3300 RPM. I only have thinkpad_acpi loaded, no special fancontrol stuff from AUR.

What's "pretty hot" mean? Temps in the 40s is ok for idle. What are the temps  when you do something CPU-intensive for a long time, like compile something or transcode video? As long as you are under 80C, I really wouldn't worry that much.

Here's what I get. You can see fancontrol="N" below, but no worries the BIOS is in charge of the fan. 

systool -m thinkpad_acpi -v
Module = "thinkpad_acpi"

  Attributes:
    coresize            = "102400"
    initsize            = "0"
    initstate           = "live"
    refcnt              = "1"
    srcversion          = "771CA64B3B3AE25428ABBDD"
    taint               = ""
    uevent              = <store method only>
    version             = "0.25"

  Parameters:
    brightness_enable   = "2"
    brightness_mode     = "4"
    enable              = "Y"
    experimental        = "0"
    fan_control         = "N"
    force_load          = "N"
    id                  = "ThinkPadEC"
    index               = "-536870912"
    software_mute       = "Y"
    volume_capabilities = "0"
    volume_control      = "N"
    volume_mode         = "3"

  Sections:
    .bss                = "0xffffffffc0841680"
    .data               = "0xffffffffc0840020"
    .gnu.linkonce.this_module= "0xffffffffc0841340"
    .init.data          = "0xffffffffc084d000"
    .init.rodata        = "0xffffffffc084c000"
    .init.text          = "0xffffffffc0849000"
    .note.gnu.build-id  = "0xffffffffc0837000"
    .orc_unwind         = "0xffffffffc083cdf3"
    .orc_unwind_ip      = "0xffffffffc083b9b7"
    .rodata             = "0xffffffffc083aae0"
    .rodata.str1.1      = "0xffffffffc0839daf"
    .rodata.str1.8      = "0xffffffffc0837048"
    .smp_locks          = "0xffffffffc083aad8"
    .strtab             = "0xffffffffc0852548"
    .symtab             = "0xffffffffc084e000"
    .text               = "0xffffffffc082f000"
    .text.unlikely      = "0xffffffffc08366f2"
    __bug_table         = "0xffffffffc0841260"
    __jump_table        = "0xffffffffc0840000"
    __kcrctab_gpl       = "0xffffffffc0837040"
    __ksymtab_gpl       = "0xffffffffc0837030"
    __ksymtab_strings   = "0xffffffffc083b9a8"
    __mcount_loc        = "0xffffffffc083ec50"
    __param             = "0xffffffffc083b610"
    __verbose           = "0xffffffffc0841308"

Hi ceratophyllum, thanks for your reply! So, those ~40C were during idle. When I run under load, I've seen them much higher (without the fan turning on, not even a slight noise). For example, when I'm compiling llvm:

$ sensors                                                                                             
iwlwifi-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1:        +40.0°C  

thinkpad-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
fan1:        65535 RPM

acpitz-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1:        +96.0°C  (crit = +128.0°C)

nouveau-pci-0200
Adapter: PCI adapter
GPU core:     +0.60 V  (min =  +0.60 V, max =  +1.20 V)

coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Package id 0:  +97.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 0:        +97.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 1:        +95.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 2:        +90.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 3:        +95.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)

pch_skylake-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1:        +50.5°C

The temps stay that high and the laptop starts getting quite hot.

I noticed that my fan always reports speeds of 65535 RPM, which might be a -1, but I don't really know where to look further.

Thanks for your help!

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#4 2018-08-22 18:57:59

ceratophyllum
Member
From: Red Dwarf
Registered: 2018-08-14
Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Fan not working at all (Lenovo T460p)

One more thing you can try is updating the BIOS if it is not  already the latest.  Not sure about T460, but there were big changes in fan behavior with BIOS  upgrades on my T440.  The fan seems to run a lot more with the most recent BIOS. (I upgraded from bios v2.34 +  EC1.10  to  v2.50 +EC1.12)

Upgrading the BIOS could be a royal pain if you don't run Windows.  If you do attempt a BIOS update, don't be surprised if the bootable DOS iso image doesn't boot or the update utility just doesn't work for some inscrutible reason like "Unexpected error."  Burn a windows rescue iso like Medicat-DVD to a DVDR, boot from the DVDR,  and run the  Lenovo updater exe on a USB drive.

After qoud, nisi, num, and ne
All the alis drop away....

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#5 2018-08-22 20:13:21

progandy
Member
Registered: 2012-05-17
Posts: 5,199

Re: [SOLVED] Fan not working at all (Lenovo T460p)

There is also the possibility that your fan is damaged.

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#6 2018-08-22 21:01:26

linux-mate
Banned
Registered: 2018-06-28
Posts: 78

Re: [SOLVED] Fan not working at all (Lenovo T460p)

"Message" is a required field in this form.

Last edited by linux-mate (2020-01-05 21:53:28)

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#7 2018-08-22 23:07:43

ceratophyllum
Member
From: Red Dwarf
Registered: 2018-08-14
Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Fan not working at all (Lenovo T460p)

linux-mate wrote:

I also have t440s. Right now at 24 C room temperature my cpu is at 43-45 C. When i am gaming (Day of defeat, Race 07) it get's 70-80 but it's normal. When it's compiling it goes to 70-75 C. Fan is very quet. Even when i feel strong airflow coming from the side of my laptop it stays quet.

I get more or less the same temperatures and things are very quiet. Does thinkfan or thinkfan-git work on T440?  Just for fun, I thought I'd give it a try but it doesn't work for me. I get this:

> modprobe thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1 experimental=1 
> thinkfan -v  -n
Error: Module thinkpad_acpi doesn't seem to support fan_control

After qoud, nisi, num, and ne
All the alis drop away....

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#8 2018-10-15 12:13:39

Le Void
Member
Registered: 2011-04-23
Posts: 20

Re: [SOLVED] Fan not working at all (Lenovo T460p)

progandy wrote:

There is also the possibility that your fan is damaged.

It seems to have been that, or at least something was blocking it but is now unstuck! This morning, my fan made noises for the first time, but they were scratching noises. So after opening the laptop up, I noticed that the fan didn't turn well, not even by hand. A little bit of compressed air and some manual turning later, and it seems to work (for now). Maybe something was stuck in the fan somehow. At least, if it gets stuck again, it probably is something physical related to the fan.

Thanks @ everyone for your help!

Last edited by Le Void (2018-10-15 12:14:46)

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#9 2018-10-15 12:25:43

progandy
Member
Registered: 2012-05-17
Posts: 5,199

Re: [SOLVED] Fan not working at all (Lenovo T460p)

It seems you have solved it. If you still have warranty try to get it replaced. There is no reason to nurse it along only to have it break after the warranty period.

Last edited by progandy (2018-10-15 12:27:18)

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