fan: always at same speed?

insane74 · 2008-05-14 19:37:53

i've installed arch on my dell xps1530 (config in sign) after have tested opensuse 10.3, mandriva 2008.1, debian unstable, arch, ubuntu 8.04 and arch again.
i'm trying to get everything "up&running", but i've some question about the laptop fan.
i think i've installed and configured all the daemons/modules needed but... the fan is "always on" even with cpu at 0%. under vista/other distro at 0% cpu the fan is barely udible, then after some minutes the temp rise and the fan speeds up a little.
well... with arch the fan is always udible and even if the cpu temp rises to high seems that the fan speed doesn't change.
so... what can i do?
here my rc.conf, if helps:

#
# /etc/rc.conf - Main Configuration for Arch Linux
#

# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# LOCALIZATION
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# LOCALE: available languages can be listed with the 'locale -a' command
# HARDWARECLOCK: set to "UTC" or "localtime"
# USEDIRECTISA: use direct I/O requests instead of /dev/rtc for hwclock
# TIMEZONE: timezones are found in /usr/share/zoneinfo
# KEYMAP: keymaps are found in /usr/share/kbd/keymaps
# CONSOLEFONT: found in /usr/share/kbd/consolefonts (only needed for non-US)
# CONSOLEMAP: found in /usr/share/kbd/consoletrans
# USECOLOR: use ANSI color sequences in startup messages
#
LOCALE="it_IT.utf8"
HARDWARECLOCK="localtime"
USEDIRECTISA="yes"
TIMEZONE="Europe/Rome"
KEYMAP="it"
CONSOLEFONT="default8x16"
CONSOLEMAP=
USECOLOR="yes"

# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# HARDWARE
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# MOD_AUTOLOAD: Allow autoloading of modules at boot and when needed
# MOD_BLACKLIST: Prevent udev from loading these modules
# MODULES: Modules to load at boot-up. Prefix with a ! to blacklist.
#
# NOTE: Use of 'MOD_BLACKLIST' is deprecated. Please use ! in the MODULES array.
#
MOD_AUTOLOAD="yes"
#MOD_BLACKLIST=() #deprecated
MODULES=(acpi-cpufreq cpufreq_ondemand sky2 !ndiswrapper iwl4965 snd-mixer-oss snd-pcm-oss snd-hwdep snd-page-alloc snd-pcm snd-timer snd snd-hda-intel soundcore uinput)

# Scan for LVM volume groups at startup, required if you use LVM
USELVM="no"

# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# NETWORKING
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# HOSTNAME: Hostname of machine. Should also be put in /etc/hosts
#
HOSTNAME="xps1530"

# Use 'ifconfig -a' or 'ls /sys/class/net/' to see all available interfaces.
#
# Interfaces to start at boot-up (in this order)
# Declare each interface then list in INTERFACES
#   - prefix an entry in INTERFACES with a ! to disable it
#   - no hyphens in your interface names - Bash doesn't like it
# 
# DHCP:     Set your interface to "dhcp" (eth0="dhcp")
# Wireless: See network profiles below
#
eth0="dhcp"
wlan0="dhcp"
INTERFACES=(lo !eth0 !wlan0)

# Routes to start at boot-up (in this order)
# Declare each route then list in ROUTES
#   - prefix an entry in ROUTES with a ! to disable it
#
gateway="default gw 192.168.1.1"
ROUTES=(!gateway)
 
# Enable these network profiles at boot-up.  These are only useful
# if you happen to need multiple network configurations (ie, laptop users)
#   - set to 'menu' to present a menu during boot-up (dialog package required)
#   - prefix an entry with a ! to disable it
#
# Network profiles are found in /etc/network.d
#
# This now requires the netcfg package
#
#NETWORKS=(main)

# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# DAEMONS
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# Daemons to start at boot-up (in this order)
#   - prefix a daemon with a ! to disable it
#   - prefix a daemon with a @ to start it up in the background
#
DAEMONS=(syslog-ng cpufreq !network dhcdbd networkmanager !netfs @crond @acpid laptop-mode @alsa @hal @fam @dbus @fuse @gdm @freepopsd @hddtemp)

hanlect · 2008-05-15 08:15:00

I have the same problem. I really think it's kernel-related, since I experienced it even under ubuntu...

insane74 · 2008-05-15 08:25:13

hanlect wrote:

I have the same problem. I really think it's kernel-related, since I experienced it even under ubuntu...

i'm not sure 'cause under mandriva 2008.1 (2.6.24) the fan has correct behavior.
and so under debian unstable, btw.

insane74 · 2008-05-16 06:23:09

no idea?
something to check?
something to try?
:(:(:(

Davigetto · 2008-05-19 12:38:06

I have the same problem. Maybe is the kernel. On kernel 2.6.23 fans were spinned down. I have put a post on hardware issues telling the same.

insane74 · 2008-05-19 14:38:03

Davigetto wrote:

I have the same problem. Maybe is the kernel. On kernel 2.6.23 fans were spinned down. I have put a post on hardware issues telling the same.

without i quick solution... i think i'll go for another distro.
on a laptop it's not a good thing having fan at top speed all the time...
:(:(

Last edited by insane74 (2008-05-19 14:38:23)

Davigetto · 2008-05-19 16:04:08

Well, It's harder to me to change to another distro different than arch, cause arch is the best distro I have touch (debian, ubuntu, gentoo... lacks in some things that arch doesn't... pacman and the aur repository overwhelm aptitude at all I think).

neurowasho · 2008-05-19 21:42:15

Hi.
Try installing i8kutils and i8kmon.

This package contains a kernel driver and user-space programs for accessing
the SMM BIOS of Dell Inspiron and Latitude laptops. The SMM BIOS is used on
many recent laptops to implement APM functionalities and to access custom
hardware, for example the cooling fans and volume buttons of the I8000.

http://people.debian.org/~dz/i8k/00-README

This work for my i1420.

Last edited by neurowasho (2008-05-20 00:51:46)

insane74 · 2008-05-20 06:33:41

neurowasho wrote:

Hi.
Try installing i8kutils and i8kmon.
This package contains a kernel driver and user-space programs for accessing
the SMM BIOS of Dell Inspiron and Latitude laptops. The SMM BIOS is used on
many recent laptops to implement APM functionalities and to access custom
hardware, for example the cooling fans and volume buttons of the I8000.
http://people.debian.org/~dz/i8k/00-README
This work for my i1420.

already tried.
no luck.

Allan · 2008-05-20 07:26:33

What about dellfand? There use to be a package for it around here but it seems to have disappeared.
http://dellfand.dinglisch.net/

sebcactus · 2008-05-20 07:48:44

What does i8kfan tell you?

insane74 · 2008-05-20 10:39:33

thanks for the support, but I give up (it's my second try with arch).
arch is really good, but it's not my kind of distro: too "time spending" for my taste.
anyway, thanks to everybody here!

Last edited by insane74 (2008-05-20 10:40:13)

Davigetto · 2008-05-21 08:32:07

Hey guy, I am trying another distro, Debian, and the fan problem persists (I do not know why).

I will try to find a solution.

metal · 2008-05-22 13:10:06

To find something like cat /sys/device/system/cpu/available_governor. There is available cpu governors. Most likely you use 'performance', because fan is always on.

Davigetto · 2008-05-22 16:38:54

I can sure you that always i'm having powersave and fan is always on...

Davigetto · 2008-05-22 17:09:44

More people have the same problem (look at google http://www.google.es/search?hl=en&pwst= … rt=0&sa=N)

Until this problem get solved, install Debian Etch (not Lenny). Arch is better than debian in terms of usability, but I can undestand that battery life is extremely important to survive around this unholy world xD.

Rasi · 2008-05-26 11:39:16

Is there a bugreport to this? i have the same issue.... once the CPU spins faster, its not getting slower again...

lemon · 2008-06-16 17:31:00

Same problem here. Would it help to downgrade the kernel?

Arch Linux

#1 2008-05-14 19:37:53

fan: always at same speed?

#2 2008-05-15 08:15:00

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#3 2008-05-15 08:25:13

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#4 2008-05-16 06:23:09

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#5 2008-05-19 12:38:06

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#6 2008-05-19 14:38:03

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#7 2008-05-19 16:04:08

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#8 2008-05-19 21:42:15

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#9 2008-05-20 06:33:41

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#10 2008-05-20 07:26:33

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#11 2008-05-20 07:48:44

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#12 2008-05-20 10:39:33

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#13 2008-05-21 08:32:07

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#14 2008-05-22 13:10:06

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#15 2008-05-22 16:38:54

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#16 2008-05-22 17:09:44

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#17 2008-05-26 11:39:16

Re: fan: always at same speed?

#18 2008-06-16 17:31:00

Re: fan: always at same speed?

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