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Fan Control Linux

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 7:15 am
by nachetb
Hello guys, Im looking for some way to control fan (X61) on Manjaro. I found this https://github.com/hspak/simpfand#readme but ive literally got no clue on how to follow the instructions.

Re: Fan Control Linux

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 7:48 pm
by Neil
The info here is kind of old, but does any of it help at all? https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_control_fan_speed

Re: Fan Control Linux

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 11:57 pm
by skx
The right way to do is via thinkfan - available in all major distros. The configuration is specific for each machine but its easy to find many configurations for each machine by using Google. I can share my thinkfan config for x220 if needed... My machines are silent and cooler compared to running w10 which feels like an overheating jumbo jet :|

PS: thinkfan does not refer to thinkpads ;)

Re: Fan Control Linux

Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 3:47 am
by nachetb
skx wrote:
Mon Feb 15, 2021 11:57 pm
The right way to do is via thinkfan - available in all major distros. The configuration is specific for each machine but its easy to find many configurations for each machine by using Google. I can share my thinkfan config for x220 if needed... My machines are silent and cooler compared to running w10 which feels like an overheating jumbo jet :|

PS: thinkfan does not refer to thinkpads ;)
still no clue how to install that.

my issue is that when the fan stops spinning at certain temp (which I guess speaks good of the temps on my unit) it makes an annoying sound and id rather have it on the whole time

Re: Fan Control Linux

Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:52 am
by axur-delmeria
Search for thinfan using Manjaro's package manager. If it's there, install it.

Create a text file named /etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf with the following content:

Code: Select all

options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1
Note that you need root privileges to create that file.

Then reboot.

Open a terminal window, get root privilege, then open thinkfan's config file. On Debian, it's on /etc/thinkfan.conf. Open it and change the temperature thresholds. As an example, here' s the one I use in my X61:

Code: Select all

(0,     0,      50)
(1,     47,     58)
(3,     55,     65)
(5,     62,     67)
(7,     63,     70)
(128    65,     80)
First value is fan speed, 2nd is low-temp threshold, and last is high-temp threshold.
In other words:

Fan speed 0 (stop), (the zero here is for consistency), ramp up to next speed above 50c

Fan speed 1, downshift to lower speed (in this case just STOP) below 47c, ramp up above 58c

Fan speed 3, downshift below 55c, ramp up above 65c

And so forth.

Fan speed 128 is means "run at full tilt". In my case, it's needed due to being in a warmer climate where it's well over 30c in the summer and almost never dips below 20c in January when it's the coldest.