Thinkpads Forum

I am using Linux and after installing catalyst drivers, I cannot get any read of the GPU temperature. I thought it might be problem with drivers, but perhaps W500 doesn't have the temp sensor at all, which would be strange, because even old Quadro 140M in R61 had one.

Can someone confirm it in either way?

Driver problem

Do you have any ideas on how to resolve it? Everything else seems to work with this driver.

I have never used Linux, so you need someone else to answer

Yes, it does have a sensor. Under Windows 7, I use http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html
It displays readings for CPU, GPU, and the motherboard bridge. I can't remember without running it, but I think it also provides SODIMM temperatures.

It doesn't know enough to identify the GPU as such, but the identification is made by toggling switchable graphics.

I found the GPU temp value (either that, or the best next thing - I tested it and it behaves as GPU): it is temp4 given by 'sensors' command.
aticonfig is unable to provide temperatures on w500. At least under linux.

With Catalyst drivers, temperatures are 10-15 C lower than with xf86-video-ati drivers. That kills the point of open source for me, just like with Nouveau.

One of the points of open source is to be able to use the hardware in situations where the manufacturer's proprietary drivers do not work. Achieving better performance than the manufacturer's drivers is not usually a major reason people write open source drivers.