Fan allways working when using xserver-xorg-ati

[Jacek Bzdak]

Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-ati

When I use Ubuntu with `xserver-xorg-video-ati` driver fan is allways working. I also have *-radeon driver. When I switch to fglrx driver fan works at normal speed. Fan speed does not seem to be connected to desktop effects (after switching them off there is no improvement).

I use Dell studio 15 with Radeon Mobility card installed.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.10
Package: xorg 1:7.5+6ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.35-22.35-server 2.6.35.4
Uname: Linux 2.6.35-22-server x86_64
Architecture: amd64
DRM.card0.HDMI_Type_A.1:
 status: connected
 enabled: enabled
 dpms: On
 modes: 1920x1080 1280x720 1280x720 720x480 640x480
 edid-base64: AP///////wBMLbwDAAAAAC8RAQOAEAl4Cu6Ro1RMmSYPUFQgAAABAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBAjqAGHE4LUBYLEUAoFoAAAAeAR0AclHQHiBuKFUAoFoAAAAeAAAA/QAXPRpEFwAKICAgICAgAAAA/ABTQU1TVU5HCiAgICAgAfkCAydxS5AfBBMFFAMSICEiIwkHB4MBAADiAA/jBQMBZwMMADAAuC0BHQC8UtAeILgoVUCgWgAAAB4BHYAYcRwWIFgsJQCgWgAAAJ4BHYDQchwWIBAsJYCgWgAAAJ6MCtCKIOAtEBA+lgCgWgAAABgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATA==
DRM.card0.LVDS.1:
 status: connected
 enabled: enabled
 dpms: On
 modes: 1920x1080 1680x1050 1400x1050 1280x1024 1440x900 1280x960 1280x854 1280x800 1280x720 1152x768 1024x768 800x600 848x480 720x480 640x480
 edid-base64: AP///////wAw5AsCAAAAAAATAQOQIxN4ChXVnllQmCYOUFQAAAABAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBGjaAoHA4H0AwIDUAWcIQAAAbGjaAoHA4H0AwIDUAWcIQAAAbAAAA/gBIMTYyS4AxNTZXRjEKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIBCiAgAOY=
DRM.card0.VGA.1:
 status: disconnected
 enabled: disabled
 dpms: On
 modes:
 edid-base64:
Date: Sun Nov 14 13:04:57 2010
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release amd64 (20091027)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Studio 1555
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-server root=UUID=a5b1f21d-9056-4c98-bf16-336d72f2caca ro quiet splash noapic
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: xorg
Symptom: display
dmi.bios.date: 11/07/2009
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A08
dmi.board.name: 0C234M
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A08
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: A08
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA08:bd11/07/2009:svnDellInc.:pnStudio1555:pvrA08:rvnDellInc.:rn0C234M:rvrA08:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvrA08:
dmi.product.name: Studio 1555
dmi.product.version: A08
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
system:
 distro: Ubuntu
 codename: maverick
 architecture: x86_64
 kernel: 2.6.35-22-server

[Dan Allen (dan.j.allen)]

In my case, the fan is revving in a regular pattern. About every five seconds it sounds like it's speeding up, then slows back down a second later. It's really quite annoying, not to mention what it is doing to the battery life. I would actually rather that it just run at a constant speed.

This seems to be related to compiz. When an effect is used the cycling starts up. If I rest on a screen for a while it seems to stay more idle.

[Dan Allen (dan.j.allen)]

Actually, my problem is likely different than yours. Your issue is that the radeon card is still active, even if you are not using the driver.

I switch off the graphics card I'm not using with a startup script:

# disable radeon card
echo DIGD > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
echo OFF > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

# disable intel card
echo DDIS > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
echo OFF > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

[bugbot (bugbot)]

Hey Jacek,

Hi, have you had a chance to test if this bug is still present in natty?

If it does (and if you're the original reporter), please boot into natty
and run the command:

  apport-collect <bug-number>

which will update the bug with fresh logs and tag the bug as affecting
natty. (It is best to run this right after reproducing the problem.)

[bugbot (bugbot)]

We're closing this bug since it is has been some time with no response from the original reporter. However, if the issue still exists please feel free to reopen with the requested information. Also, if you could, please test against the latest development version of Ubuntu, since this confirms the bug is one we may be able to pass upstream for help.