Progressive Overload

Ever since installing Ubuntu 8.10, I have noticed my laptop operating temps are a little hotter than I like.  Not dangerous hot, but definitely in the "uncomfortable to my lap" range.  After a little research I found the package "i8kutils".

Definition: i8kutils: Dell Inspiron and Latitude laptop utilities This is a collection of utilities to control Dell Inspiron and Latitude laptops. It includes programs to turn the fan on and off, to read fan status, CPU temperature, BIOS version and to handle the volume buttons and Fn-keys. The package includes also a small Tk applet, designed to be swallowed in the gnome panel, which monitors the CPU temperature and comtrols automatically the fans accordingly to user defined thresholds. The programs require the kernel module i8k.o which can be compiled from the package sources or found in Linux kernel 2.4.14 and later versions. The kernel module has been tested only on Inspiron 8000 laptops but it should work on any Inspiron and Latitude laptops.  (from About.com)

WARNING.  Be careful with your settings, you might break your stuff!

Step 1:  Install i8kutils

sudo apt-get install i8kutils

Step 2: Modify /etc/modules 

sudo gedit /etc/modules

Add this i8k force=1 to the end of the file and save it.

Step 3:  Create i8kmon file (it will be a new file)

sudo gedit /etc/i8kmon

Here is the config I used for my laptop:

 # Run as daemon, override with --daemon option

set config(daemon)      0



# Automatic fan control, override with --auto option

set config(auto)        1



# Report status on stdout, override with --verbose option

set config(verbose)    1



# Status check timeout (seconds), override with --timeout option

set config(timeout)    1



# Temperature thresholds: {fan_speeds low_ac high_ac low_batt high_batt}

set config(0)   {{-1 0}  -1  45  -1  55}

set config(1)   {{-1 1}  45  60  55  70}

set config(3)   {{-1 2}  60  128  70  128}



# end of file 

Once you are ready, you can either restart the system or run the following command:

sudo modprobe i8k force=1

Optional Step 4:  Install/config gnome-swallow-applet

sudo apt-get install gnome-swallow-applet

Right-click on the toolbar to add the new swallow applet.  Then, in the application to watch enter i8kmon

The gnome-swallow-applet along with i8kmon is pretty neat.  It allows you to see the current temp as well as what fan speed is currently running.  But it also allows you to force the speed up or down when you want. 

Results: It wasn't uncommon for my laptop to work in the 120F+ range, now after running acpi -f -t  in terminal, you can see the results.

alynch@badonkadonk:~$ acpi -f -t

     Battery 0: Full, 100%

     Thermal 0: ok, 99.5 degrees F