Arch Linux

tomislavski

Member

Registered: 2010-02-09

Posts: 87

Loud fans: pwmconfig no-capable sensor modules installed

Hi everyone,

I am following instructions on Fan speed control, and it seems I can't use "lmsensors".

I ran "sensors-detect" and I get this output from "sensors":

sensors
iwlwifi-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1:        +45.0°C 

BAT0-acpi-0
Adapter: ACPI interface
in0:          12.22 V 
curr1:         3.42 A 

acpitz-acpi-0
Adapter: ACPI interface
temp1:        +47.0°C  (crit = +100.0°C)
temp2:        +47.0°C  (crit = +119.0°C)

coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Package id 0:  +47.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 0:        +46.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 1:        +46.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 2:        +46.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 3:        +47.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 4:        +46.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 5:        +46.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)

pch_cannonlake-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1:        +59.0°C 

nvme-pci-3b00
Adapter: PCI adapter
Composite:    +44.9°C  (low  =  -5.2°C, high = +79.8°C)
                       (crit = +84.8°C)

but when I run "pwmconfig", I get

pwmconfig
# pwmconfig version 3.6.0
This program will search your sensors for pulse width modulation (pwm)
controls, and test each one to see if it controls a fan on
your motherboard. Note that many motherboards do not have pwm
circuitry installed, even if your sensor chip supports pwm.

We will attempt to briefly stop each fan using the pwm controls.
The program will attempt to restore each fan to full speed
after testing. However, it is ** very important ** that you
physically verify that the fans have been to full speed
after the program has completed.

*/usr/bin/pwmconfig: There are no pwm-capable sensor modules installed*

My fans are constantly running and are quite loud and the power consumption is through the roof. I am running the latest Arch Linux on an XMG Fusion 15 laptop.

Last edited by tomislavski (2020-02-17 12:49:53)

tomislavski

Member

Registered: 2010-02-09

Posts: 87

Re: Loud fans: pwmconfig no-capable sensor modules installed

OK, trying to slow down the fans based on temperature, with thermald doesn't work:

systemctl status thermald.service
● thermald.service - Thermal Daemon Service
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/thermald.service; enabled; vendor >
     Active: active (running) since Mon 2020-02-17 18:43:51 CET; 8min ago
   Main PID: 1138 (thermald)
      Tasks: 2 (limit: 19006)
     Memory: 5.9M
     CGroup: /system.slice/thermald.service
             └─1138 /usr/bin/thermald --no-daemon --dbus-enable

Feb 17 18:43:51 argo thermald[1138]: [WARN]sensor id 6 : No temp sysfs for read>
Feb 17 18:43:51 argo thermald[1138]: [WARN]sensor id 6 : No temp sysfs for read>
Feb 17 18:43:51 argo systemd[1]: Started Thermal Daemon Service.
Feb 17 18:43:51 argo thermald[1138]: I/O warning : failed to load external enti>
Feb 17 18:43:51 argo thermald[1138]: [WARN]error: could not parse file /etc/the>
Feb 17 18:43:51 argo thermald[1138]: [WARN]sysfs open failed
Feb 17 18:43:51 argo thermald[1138]: I/O warning : failed to load external enti>
Feb 17 18:43:51 argo thermald[1138]: [WARN]error: could not parse file /etc/the>
Feb 17 18:43:51 argo thermald[1138]: I/O warning : failed to load external enti>
Feb 17 18:43:51 argo thermald[1138]: [WARN]error: could not parse file /etc/the>
lines 1-19/19 (END)

The configuration file is missing, I can't find much info on it apart from the thermald manpage and I am not sure if I should use that. The service seems to be active and running.

with cpupower and intel_pstate

cpupower frequency info
analyzing CPU 0:
  driver: intel_pstate
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 0
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 0
  maximum transition latency:  Cannot determine or is not supported.
  hardware limits: 800 MHz - 4.50 GHz
  available cpufreq governors: performance powersave
  current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 4.50 GHz.
                  The governor "powersave" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency: Unable to call hardware
  current CPU frequency: 875 MHz (asserted by call to kernel)
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes

cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_driver
intel_pstate

cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor
powersave

And still the fans are blowing like hell.

pobrn

Member

Registered: 2020-07-24

Posts: 2

Re: Loud fans: pwmconfig no-capable sensor modules installed

Unfortunately, as far as I am aware, there is no way to manually set the fan speed on an Intel Whitebook LAPAQC71X notebook (which XMG Fusion 15 is) - I am still investigating the possibility, however. Nonetheless, the mode button should function, and you can also limit the maximum cpu frequency / power limits / try undervolting. On BIOS 0114 and above you can reduce the lowest duty cycle of the fans from 30% to 25% (~2600RPM to ~2300RPM), and set the fans to always work. This option combined with reduced duty cycle and limited cpu frequncy should keep the machine relatively cool with very little noise. I hope it is still relevant.

Also, you could take a look at the "Tuning" tab of powertop, and see if there are any "bad" devices, and change them.

EDIT: it turns out manually setting the fan speed is possible.

Last edited by pobrn (2021-03-09 11:41:55)