Ubuntu

Overheating Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT

Asked by Davidov 009

Computer type: Dell XPS M1530 laptop
Bios Version: A12, Dell's newest bios for XPS M1530
GPU type: Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT; running factory settings (not overclocked)
CPU type: Intel Core 2 duo @ 2.4Ghz; running factory settings (not overclocked)
HD: Western Digital Caviar Blue; 500GB
Ubuntu vers: 9.04 (Jaunty), installed on and booted off of a Sandisk Cruzer 8gb flash drive

My Nvidia graphics card is severely overheating. The absolute lowest temperature that I have seen it in Ubuntu is 60 Celsius, even when only viewing the thermal monitor and the desktop with a solid blue background.
This only occurs in Ubuntu.
In windows Vista and windows 7, the card never exceeds 60 Celsius, unless under extreme conditions. (heavy gaming, watching HD videos, etc.)
I just had a MAJOR temperature spike 20 minutes ago in Ubuntu. I was watching the temperature of my GPU in the Nvidia Server X app, under the thermal monitor, and the temperature went from 60 C to 110 C in a matter of about 10-15 seconds. The fan on my laptop did not kick on until it got to approx. 80 C. It should be running pretty fast when the graphics card is at 60 C.
I do not have a fan on my GPU, since it is a laptop. Instead, there are heat sinks going from the CPU and GPU to the fan.
The only applications I had open at the time were:
1. Firefox (I was looking up instructions on how to install a new driver)
2. nvidia-installer (I was about to install a new driver for my video card, but hadn't started the install process)
3. Open Office (I was reading some information on how to install the driver.

The graphics card should NEVER exceed 40 degrees when the system is idle, yet it is always over 60 degrees Celsius in Ubuntu.
I have never had any problems running with windows. The card stays cool. That is what should also happen in Ubuntu.
I am a brand-new Linux user. Just installed Ubuntu 2 days ago, and installed all updates for the 9.04 Jaunty version.
I am considering updating to the Ubuntu 10.04 version, to see if that resolves the issue.
Please help if you have suggestions on what to do!
For now, I have abandoned using Ubuntu, due to fear of physical damage to my system. I am currently booted in Win. 7.

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Davidov 009
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Davidov 009 (david-halbakken) said : 		#1

I'm pretty sure that the fan speed was controled by the temperature at the fan itself, not by the temp of the components. If that is the case, then I suggest someone update the ubuntu system to adjust fan speed according to individual component temp.
If a component temp exceeds, say, 40 or 45 C, kick up the fan. Overall, my temp at the fan was 40 C, while the GPU was cookin' at 60 or more.
Another thing, I didn't even notice my fan running until the system temp at the fan went over 50 C. That needs to be changed. While the temp at the fan is 50 C, the GPU, processor, or other component can be baking.
In Windows 7, I can hear the fan running even when the system has just been started, and is still cool.

Revision history for this message
Davidov 009 (david-halbakken) said : 		#2

Sorry all who have visited this page....
I had recieved false information from an older version of Speedfan in windows.
The GPU typically runs in windows at 60 C.
I had also been tinkering with a few settings in Ubuntu in an attempt to bring the temp down.
That may have caused a glitch, resulting in the temperature spike.
Sorry if I had caused anyone any grief.
I am listing this problem as "Solved" because it was not a problem in Ubuntu.
A newer version of speedfan has shown me that my system does typically run a little warm.