Fan making noise while running ubuntu

acpi fan

5,439

If the fan is working at full speed, then something is wrong with the power saving features of the computer. This problem is hardware-specific, therefore you would need to provide details of the hardware components.

Indeed, one issue would be the graphics card, especially if it is either AMD/ATI or NVidia. The other issue would be the BIOS of the computer. More often than not, the BIOS does not have correct power saving information that is usable in Linux (while it is usable in Windows). You can google for 'DSDT ubuntu' for more on this.

Therefore, write down the full model number of your computer, and mention which graphics card you have.

Updated: You mention the model number in another reply. I performed the google search and I got several relevant results, such as http://kizwan.blogspot.com/2010/07/acer-aspire-3680-resources-for-mac-os-x.html The easiest thing to do is update the BIOS to the latest version and try again. If that does not fix the issue, come back again.

5,439

Oli

Hi, I'm Oli and I'm a "full-stack" web-dev-op. Eurgh. I'm also allergic to jargon BS. I spend most of my professional time writing Django websites and webapps for SMEs. I write a lot of Python outside of Django sites too. I administer various Linux servers for various tasks. I contribute to the open source projects that I use when I can. I'm a full-time Linux user and that has lead to helping other people live the dream. I am an official Ubuntu Member and I earnt my ♦ on SE's own Ask Ubuntu in 2011's moderator election. That's probably where I spend most of my unpaid time. I also run thepcspy.com which has been my place to write for the last decade or so. If you need to contact me for extended help, you can do so via my website, just remember that I have bills so if I feel your request is above and beyond normal duty, I might ask for remuneration for one-on-one support. For more social contact, you can usually find me (or just my computer) lurking in the Ask Ubuntu General Chat Room and on Freenode in #ubuntu and #ubuntu-uk under the handle Oli or Oli``.

Updated on September 17, 2022

Comments

Oli over 1 year

Hi i have a newly installed version of ubuntu 10.10 on my laptop. When i run windows, the fan is working properly and is not making sound. but when i run ubuntu, its making sound and is runnning more faster. what could be the problem. Is there any way of rectifying it.
Admin over 13 years

@lope: Acer aspire 3680
Admin over 13 years

@Dkuntz2: Yes, please check and tell me.
HelloCoral over 13 years

@Chandru1, check what? I don't know what computer you have, so I can't check it for you. I would be able to give a clearer answer with that information. To check for restricted drivers go to administration -> restricted drivers.
Admin over 13 years

@Dkuntz2: I have an acer aspire 3680.
Admin over 13 years

@Dkuntz2: There is no restricted drivers in administration. there is only additional drivers.
HelloCoral over 13 years

@Chandru1, is it connected to the internet, I've found lots of issues about the wifi not working with Linux, if it's not connected, it might not be getting to the restricted drivers list.
Admin over 13 years

@Dkuntz2: hey without connecting to the net how can i answer you.
Admin over 13 years

@Dkuuntz2: As i said there is no restricted drivers list. there is only additional driver list
Admin over 13 years

@Dkuntz2: And the additional driver is active.
Admin over 13 years

This package replaces (along with hardware access drivers) the olddriver generation (2.7.x) which consisted of kernel modules only. It needs a kernel driver to access the hardware. This can be eitherrecent ALSA (shipped with a newer kernel (>=2.6.4) with ALSA supportand snd-intel8x0m module) which is sufficient for basic operation anddata/Internet connection, or the SmartLink kernel driver which isprovided by separate packages which you can build using the source fromthe sl-modem-source package. This driver
HelloCoral over 13 years

@Chandru1, you could be using Windows, or another computer. I've seen only one other issue in my polling of the internet, and the suggestion received was either that the computer wasn't in the right power mode (but for the five laptops I've installed ubuntu on that seems unlikely because it does that automatically) or that the computer is broken and needs to go back to acer. That doesn't seem right because you said Windows worked fine. If it's a new computer it might just be that you need to run the battery down all the way and charge it back up to see if the fan stops.
Admin over 13 years

@Dkuntz2: This is in the additonal drivers option, and i have that driver active.
Admin over 13 years

@Dkunttz2: It doesn't happen always. During the boot the fan runs abnormally fast and then it starts making sound. Next, if during the boot the fan runs normally, then it doesn't make sound at all. For instance, now its working fine. Its only 2/10 times, the fan makes bad sound.
HelloCoral over 13 years

When my CR48's fan goes into over drive and the thing is fine, I can just put it to sleep (close the lid) and wake it back up and the fan will no longer be going abnormally fast (though it doesn't go abnormally fast frequently)
lepe over 13 years

@Chandru1: please read the Update section of this answer.
Admin over 13 years

@user2124: could u a bit more precise
Admin over 13 years

@user2124: how to check which graphics card i am using
Admin over 13 years

Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03) 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GM L Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03) 00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML E xpress Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03) 00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family High Definition Audio C
user4124 over 13 years

Check my update. You should check if there is any BIOS update available from Acer, which could fix these issues in the most painless way.