How to change CPU fan speed on ThinkPad?

Question

I checked this post on AskUbuntu, but like the OP my BIOS does not have a setting for 'smart fan'. My BIOS though has something similar called 'Thermal Performance' wherein it's already set to maximum performance.

But using Hardware Sensors Indicator my fan speed barely reaches 3000 RPM (it's usually stuck around 2600 to 2700 RPM) compared to the indicated RPM of my laptop which is 5400 RPM.

There is a fan control setup for 10.04 specifically for Thinkpad here but I don't want to risk it since it's meant for a rather outdated distro already.

Is there a way change the fan speed if I can't access it through BIOS?

I'm using ThinkPad R61i 12.04 64-bit, 160 GB HDD, Intel T5870, 4 GB RAM.

Solution

If you want direct control via the ThinkPad driver then the following wiki page is very helpful:

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_control_fan_speed

Comments

[Mitch]

Where did you get the info about the 5400 RPM?

[Sreejith Pm]

I googled the laptop's specs laptopspec.net/2009/08/…

[Sreejith Pm]

Ah, I'm sorry for that. I read that as the fan speed. But based on the link provided below (thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_control_fan_speed), the ThinkPad R61 speed can be increased ie., (ThinkPad R61i (fan levels RPM: 0 = off, 1 = 2689, 2 = 2729, 3 = 3059, 4 = 3047, 5 = 3051, 6 = 3515, 7 = 3468, full-speed/disengaged = 4119~4200)mod.#7650-D7G@+/-2yr.used) although I'm hopeless on how to do the adjustment.

[Mitch]

You can download the ThinkPad-Fan-Control

[Sreejith Pm]

Would it be all right to ask for a step by step on how to install this, or would it be better to open another question for it?

[Sreejith Pm]

Thank you for this, but unfortunately I'm clueless on how to do the steps since they will be terminal-based. Is there somewhere I can get a step by step for this? Also, are the steps offered still applicable to 12.04?

[Steve Roome]

The vital link is broken

[user178173]

-1 You shouldn't be answering a question with just a link.

[Admin]

Link is broken. (HTTP 404) -1

[HenrikB]

The thinkfan tools seems to be hosted at thinkfan.sourceforge.net. thinkfan v0.9.1 is available on Ubuntu 18.04 via apt-get install thinkpad (2020-05-08).