[ltp] Thinkpad T61 overheating issues

anonymous sheep linux-thinkpad@linux-thinkpad.org
Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:02:46 -0400


--001636e1fb24a14b7204727153fc
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hi.  Going straight into the problem, I've had heating issues when using
linux distros.  I've switched back to windows for now but I still want to go
back to linux when I have a solution to the problem.  The laptop would
overheat on the following distros: ubuntu 9.04, opensuse 11, and fedora 11.
I suspect other distros like debian and puppylinux have the same problem
from google searches.  I have more insight with ubuntu 9.04 since I
attempted to troubleshoot. The main problem is high cpu usage on idle,
around 15-20%, and 40-50% usage on normal use (from firefox and
openoffice).  Just scrolling with the wheel button causes a cpu spike.
Leaving the computer at idle, average temperatures is around 70 C.  At first
I thought it was the video driver since I had similar issues with windows
xp.  Temperatures remained the same after grabbing the latest nvidia video
driver.  I had set cpu frequency scaling in gnome to ondemand without any
results.  When tweaking the acpi thinkpad fan control to disabled, the
higher rpms brought the cpu's idle temperature down to 60 C.  However I
couldn't keep the settings on disabled with every restart.  Plus, keeping
the fan running at a high rate is unsettling.  Note: I don't have
overheating problems on windows 7 or xp.  This leads me to conclude it isn't
a clogged heatsink issue.  I've given up on ubuntu.  Right now I just want
to find a distro that won't fry my cpu.  Anyone using a thinkpad T61 nvidia
NVS 140M with suggestions?

--001636e1fb24a14b7204727153fc
Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi.=A0 Going straight into the problem, I've had heating issues when us=
ing linux distros.=A0 I've switched back to windows for now but I still=
 want to go back to linux when I have a solution to the problem.=A0 The lap=
top would overheat on the following distros: ubuntu 9.04, opensuse 11, and =
fedora 11.=A0 I suspect other distros like debian and puppylinux have the s=
ame problem from google searches.=A0 I have more insight with ubuntu 9.04 s=
ince I attempted to troubleshoot. The main problem is high cpu usage on idl=
e, around 15-20%, and 40-50% usage on normal use (from firefox and openoffi=
ce).=A0 Just scrolling with the wheel button causes a cpu spike.=A0 Leaving=
 the computer at idle, average temperatures is around 70 C.=A0 At first I t=
hought it was the video driver since I had similar issues with windows xp.=
=A0 Temperatures remained the same after grabbing the latest nvidia video d=
river.=A0 I had set cpu frequency scaling in gnome to ondemand without any =
results.=A0 When tweaking the acpi thinkpad fan control to disabled, the hi=
gher rpms brought the cpu's idle temperature down to 60 C.=A0 However I=
 couldn't keep the settings on disabled with every restart.=A0 Plus, ke=
eping the fan running at a high rate is unsettling.=A0 Note: I don't ha=
ve overheating problems on windows 7 or xp.=A0 This leads me to conclude it=
 isn't a clogged heatsink issue.=A0 I've given up on ubuntu.=A0 Rig=
ht now I just want to find a distro that won't fry my cpu.=A0 Anyone us=
ing a thinkpad T61 nvidia NVS 140M with suggestions?<br>

--001636e1fb24a14b7204727153fc--