[Lenovo ThinkPad R61i (7650)] Fan not speeding up on high temperatures

Bug #1325298 reported by Andre
18
This bug affects 3 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
linux (Ubuntu)
Confirmed
Low
Unassigned

Bug Description

I'm using a Lenovo R61i (type 7650D6G), with Ubuntu 14.04 and up-to-date BIOS. The fan speed is well controlled on low temperatures, i.e. around/below 50°C, staying between 0 and 3000RPM. The problem is that under a higher load my cores can reach higher temperatures, like 75-80°C, without the fan being speeded up over 3000RPM. Since lmsensors shows 85°C as critic temperature for my cores (Intel Core Duo T5450), I find this quite dangerous.
I have experienced this copying files between two hard disks, being both cores running at 50% for two hours.

WORKAROUND: Use cpu governor.

WORKAROUND: Use fancontrol.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: linux-image-3.13.0-27-generic 3.13.0-27.50
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-27.50-generic 3.13.11
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-27-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: andre 1847 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Sun Jun 1 01:28:30 2014
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=da6deeac-db6b-48e8-8ddc-59a8648748b2
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-04-18 (43 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
MachineType: LENOVO 7650D6G
PccardctlIdent:
 Socket 0:
   no product info available
PccardctlStatus:
 Socket 0:
   no card
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-27-generic root=UUID=febc6820-7932-4c2a-8c99-14c5a4795832 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-27-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-27-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.127.2
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 04/12/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 7PETC3WW (2.23 )
dmi.board.name: 7650D6G
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: Not Available
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr7PETC3WW(2.23):bd04/12/2010:svnLENOVO:pn7650D6G:pvrThinkPadR61e:rvnLENOVO:rn7650D6G:rvrNotAvailable:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.name: 7650D6G
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad R61e
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

Revision history for this message
Andre (andrea-m-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount) wrote :
Revision history for this message
Andre (andrea-m-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount) wrote :

NOTE: this only happens on AC power, for the simple reason that, when on battery power, the cores don't even reach those temperatures even under a very high load (nice feature!).

Revision history for this message
Brad Figg (brad-figg) wrote : Status changed to Confirmed

This change was made by a bot.

Changed in linux (Ubuntu):
status: New → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
Mark (mark-wege) wrote : Re: Lenovo R61i: fan not speeding up on high temperatures

Also affected: X201

penalvch (penalvch)
tags: added: latest-bios-2.23
summary: - Lenovo R61i: fan not speeding up on high temperatures
+ [Lenovo ThinkPad R61i (7650)] Fan not speeding up on high temperatures
Revision history for this message
opera (opera2) wrote :

Same Problem on Lenovo Thinkpad X301.

Workaround: Using tpfanco (Thinkpad Fan Control) and setting fan speed to "full" at a certain temperature.
http://code.google.com/p/tpfanco/

Revision history for this message
opera (opera2) wrote :

What is the difference between this bug and Bug #751689?

Revision history for this message
Andre (andrea-m-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount) wrote :

The difference is essentially the machine model, although both bugs feature several different models in the comments. I reported this bug following the advice in comment #152 from Bug #751689.

Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Andre, thank you for reporting this and helping make Ubuntu better. Could you please test the latest upstream kernel available (3.15-rc7) following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds ? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested. If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tags:
kernel-fixed-upstream
kernel-fixed-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

where VERSION-NUMBER is the version number of the kernel you tested. For example:
kernel-fixed-upstream-3.15-rc7

This can be done by clicking on the yellow circle with a black pencil icon next to the word Tags located at the bottom of the bug description. As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the following tags:
kernel-bug-exists-upstream
kernel-bug-exists-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug's Status as Confirmed. Please let us know your results. Thank you for your understanding.

Mark / opera, thank you for your comment. So your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you please file a new report with Ubuntu by executing the following in a terminal while booted into a Ubuntu repository kernel (not a mainline one) via:
ubuntu-bug linux

For more on this, please read the official Ubuntu documentation:
Ubuntu Bug Control and Ubuntu Bug Squad: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue
Ubuntu Kernel Team: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/KernelTeamBugPolicies#Filing_Kernel_Bug_reports
Ubuntu Community: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

Thank you for your understanding.

Helpful bug reporting tips:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs

Changed in linux (Ubuntu):
importance: Undecided → Low
status: Confirmed → Incomplete
Revision history for this message
Andre (andrea-m-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount) wrote :

I am really sad, I tried to boot with the following kernel:
linux-image-3.15.0-031500rc7-generic_3.15.0-031500rc7.201405251935_amd64.deb
and the result was losing the screen functioning. I tried to boot twice, but both times, after a really ugly green stripes screen and Ubuntu loading for some seconds, the screen went blank, without the pointer. I tried to switch to tty1 but with no result. After that I even had difficultes reaching the GRUB, but anyhow I was able to boot into the repository kernel. I'm going to uninstall that kernel, so if you could suggest me a safer one I would follow your advice, but I really wouldn't like to encounter this problem again!

Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Andre, did this problem not occur in a release prior to Trusty?

tags: added: unable-to-test-kernel-3.15-rc7
Revision history for this message
Andre (andrea-m-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount) wrote :

Before Trusty i was using Precise, but actually I really couldn't say, since my use of the laptop was much less intense than now, but I never had temperatures problem. By the way I could test the live version if it helps.

information type: Public → Public Security
information type: Public Security → Public
Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Andre, could you please confirm this issue exists with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ . If the issue remains, please just make a comment to this.

tags: added: regression-potential
Revision history for this message
Andre (andrea-m-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount) wrote :

Yes, same problem with the latest (today) development release.

Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Andre, for regression testing purposes, could you please test 12.04.0 via http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/12.04.0/ and advise if this is reproducible?

tags: added: utopic
Revision history for this message
Andre (andrea-m-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount) wrote :

Yes, it is the same on 12.04.0. Don't know why I wasn't worrying before!

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sensors
acpitz-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1: +76.0°C (crit = +127.0°C)
temp2: +80.0°C (crit = +100.0°C)

thinkpad-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
fan1: 3085 RPM
temp1: +76.0°C
temp2: +40.0°C
temp3: N/A
temp4: N/A
temp5: +33.0°C
temp6: N/A
temp7: +33.0°C
temp8: N/A
temp9: +46.0°C
temp10: +54.0°C
temp11: +50.0°C
temp12: N/A
temp13: N/A
temp14: N/A
temp15: N/A
temp16: N/A

coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Core 0: +76.0°C (high = +85.0°C, crit = +85.0°C)
Core 1: +80.0°C (high = +85.0°C, crit = +85.0°C)

Revision history for this message
Anders Hall (a.hall) wrote :

Link this bug please to indicate general problems in this area with Lenovo computers/drivers: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/precise/+source/linux/+bug/751689

Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Andre, could you please comment to if utilizing the following provides a WORKAROUND via https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PowerManagement/ReducedPower ?

Anders Hall, that's not how bug reports work. Despite this, so your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you please file a new report with Ubuntu by executing the following in a terminal while booted into the default Ubuntu kernel (not a mainline one) via:
ubuntu-bug linux

For more on this, please read the official Ubuntu documentation:
Ubuntu Bug Control and Ubuntu Bug Squad: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue
Ubuntu Kernel Team: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/KernelTeamBugPolicies#Filing_Kernel_Bug_reports
Ubuntu Community: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

Thank you for your understanding.

Helpful bug reporting tips:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs

tags: added: precise
removed: regression-potential
Revision history for this message
Andre (andrea-m-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount) wrote :

Reducing power consumption does in effect lower the temperatures (like simply working on battery power does). I've tried thermald, which kept the cores about 5°C cooler, but didn't speed up the fan (it's not set to do so). I didn't try the tool to increase fan speed, since it's for Dell laptops.
I wonder if it is Ubuntu's policy not to spin the fan over 3000RPM (which I believe is possible), then this would not be a proper bug.

Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Andre, how about using fancontrol as per https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PowerManagement/ReducedPower#fancontrol (I just added it)?

Revision history for this message
Andre (andrea-m-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount) wrote :

Yes, that would be the best workaround in this case! Thank you for adding it!

penalvch (penalvch)
description: updated
Changed in linux (Ubuntu):
status: Incomplete → Confirmed
information type: Public → Public Security
information type: Public Security → Public
Revision history for this message
Andrew Myers (asm198) wrote :

Also affects me with fully up to date 14.10 on a Thinkpad W520.

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