Despite all attempts fan is still running very loudly and fast

Question

I am running DELL Vostro 3750, operating system Linux Mint and despite all my attempts the fan is still running very fast and loud. So far I have tried first edit Grub according to this article. Than I tried to install nvidia drivers according to this manual but all got was a screen telling me that the X screen can't be started because no X devices were found. So I had to delete /etc/X11/xorg.conf file. Before I had ubuntu 12.04 and the problems were the same. There I also tried Jupiter and the bumlebee project. But no results.

This is my computer's information:

System:    Host ntb Kernel 3.2.0-4-amd64 x86_64 (64 bit) Distro Linux Mint Debian Edition

CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i7-2670QM (-HT-MCP-) cache 6144 KB flags (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips 17543.7
           Clock Speeds: (1) 800.00 MHz (2) 800.00 MHz (3) 800.00 MHz (4) 800.00 MHz (5) 800.00 MHz (6) 800.00 MHz (7) 800.00 MHz (8) 800.00 MHz

Graphics:  Card-1 Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller Card-2 NVIDIA GF108 [GeForce GT 540M] X.Org 1.12.4 Res: [email protected]
           GLX Renderer N/A GLX Version N/A Direct Rendering N/A

Audio:     Card Intel 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family High Definition     Audio Controller driver snd_hda_intel BusID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Version 1.0.24

Network:   Card-1 Realtek RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller driver r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI at port 3000 BusID: 04:00.0
           Card-2 Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1030 driver iwlwifi v: in-tree: BusID: 02:00.0

Disks:     HDD Total Size: 750.2GB (-) 1: /dev/sda ST9750420AS 750.2GB

Partition: ID:/ size: 49G used: 7.6G (17%) fs: rootfs ID:/ size: 49G used: 7.6G (17%) fs: ext4

Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 65.0C mobo: 65.0C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 

EDIT: Ever since I asked this question I, time to time, tried to look for some complex solution to this problem. Eventually I hit on THIS absolutely perfect answer that helped me solve all my troubles with overheating and fan noise. Just follow the instructions and you will be fine. Especially I recommend using indicator-cpufreq.

Solution

The nvidia drivers will not affect the fan. You might want to not use the NVidia card though. The integrated graphics card will give out less heat. In fact, I would disable the dedicated card in the BIOS, you almost certainly do not need it.

In any case, what you will need is to install i8kutils. This package will install certain modules and programs that are specific for Dell fans.

sudo apt-get install i8kutils 
modprobe i8k
i8kfan 0 1 

You can play with i8kfan to see that the settings are correctly read and applied. If it does, add i8k to /etc/modules.

You should also choose the ondemandCPU scaling governor. The governor controls CPU frequency scaling. Your choices are:

• Performance keeps the CPU at the highest possible frequency
• Powersave keeps the CPU at the lowest possible frequency
• Userspace exports the available frequency information to the user level (through the /sys file system) and permits user-space control of the CPU frequency
• Ondemand scales the CPU frequencies according to the CPU usage (like does the userspace frequency scaling daemons, but in kernel)
• Conservative acts like the ondemand but increases frequency step by step

With ondemand, your CPU will only run at its highest speed when necessary. Ideally, this will be completely transparent for you, you machine will simply work as fast as necessary for the current tasks. To activate it do

sudo echo ondemand > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor

Comments

[vonbrand]

"Loud fan" is typically obstructed airflow, possibly caused by shovelfulls of dust in the machine; or bearings giving out.

[Jendas]

Machine is 2 months old and it is doing ever since I have bought it. I do not think, that there is a problem.

[Jendas]

I really appreciate your answer and the ondemand setting really helped significantly but I had some difficulties with the i8kutils. I did some "experiments" with it but eventually the computer got always totally stack after tries to reset fan values. SO I want to ask you, is that fan package any use for me besides the fact I can manually regulate the fan speed?

[terdon]

@Jendas, what happens if you load the i8k module and don't use i8kfan? The fan should be correctly regulated.

[terdon]

@Jendas I just noticed I had a mistake in my original answer, the module you should add to /etc/modules is i8k not i8kfan.