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    Heat Issues...

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by pixelot, Mar 18, 2008.

  1. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

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    ...My fan seems to be on a lot more and be a good bit hotter in Ubuntu than Windows. :mad:

    Does anyone have any explanations/recommendations? Thanks. :)
     
    pixelot, Mar 18, 2008
    #1
  2. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    Are you running compiz fusion?
     
    nizzy1115, Mar 18, 2008
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  3. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

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    Yes, but it did seem that way before hand....maybe not as bad. You think that's it? It takes up virtually no CPU. :confused:
     
    pixelot, Mar 18, 2008
    #3
  4. jeffsmythe

    jeffsmythe Notebook Geek

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    linux is often more power hungry on laptops because a lot of things are left on by default (USB bus, bluetooth, WiFi, HDD, LCD backlight, CPU sleep modes). Once you get everything turned off/down etc., power consumption can be as good as, or better than windows. One difficulty you might encounter is the nVidia GPU. I'm not sure if it supports power saving modes in the linux driver.

    The best tool I've ever seen to help here is powertop. It's available for ubuntu and will help you save lots of watts!

    http://www.lesswatts.org/
     
    jeffsmythe, Mar 18, 2008
    #4
  5. timberwolf

    timberwolf Notebook Consultant

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    For the nVidia chip, if you are using the nVidia binary driver then the nvclock program may allow the graphics chip to be underclocked and therefore reduce some heat.
     
    timberwolf, Mar 19, 2008
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  6. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

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    Will that effect the card in Windows too?
     
    pixelot, Mar 19, 2008
    #6
  7. Bog

    Bog Losing it...

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    Is Ubuntu throttling your CPU? To check, insert the CPU frequency applet onto your menu bar. Throttling has a major effect on heat.
     
    Bog, Mar 19, 2008
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  8. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

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    How do you do that? Insert the CPU applet, I mean. :eek:
     
    pixelot, Mar 19, 2008
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  9. timberwolf

    timberwolf Notebook Consultant

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    Nope, when you reboot the settings are lost. You can find similar utilities available for Windows, search for overclocking utilities, they often underclock as well.
     
    timberwolf, Mar 20, 2008
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  10. hypdotspec

    hypdotspec Notebook Evangelist

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    The latest nvidia linux drivers do support Powermizer, but as a whole, Linux does not manage power very well.

    Sure i can disable settings and lower screen brightness to have similar battery life, but under windows I'd get AT LEAST 4.5hrs of battery with the screen on bright just doing simple web browsing. On Ubuntu i'd get maybe... 3?
     
    hypdotspec, Mar 20, 2008
    #10
  11. Bog

    Bog Losing it...

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    Right click on the top tool-bar and there should be some dialog like "insert applet" or something similar. I don't remember the Ubuntu GUI exactly, but it will open up a window that displays all the possible applets. Select the "CPU frequency applet."
     
    Bog, Mar 22, 2008
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  12. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

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    Ok, I got it, and each core shows 800Mhz, which they should be double that. :confused:

    So is Ubuntu under-clocking? What do I do?
     
    pixelot, Mar 24, 2008
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  13. Ayle

    Ayle Trailblazer

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    They are supposed to run at that speed since nothing is happening(frequency scaling). Try opening a youtube video for example and you'll see the frequency go back to 1.6Ghz.
     
    Ayle, Mar 24, 2008
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  14. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

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    Ah.

    (filler)
     
    pixelot, Mar 24, 2008
    #14