How to: Enable power management features

[SteveRiley]

I was wondering how did you come by that grub code long years of research?

As with most things in Linux (or any kind of endeavor, really), the more time you spend, the more you learn. One of my objectives is to minimize the use of power. These parameters will reduce the amount of power used by the PCIE bus and the Intel graphics components.

[GreyGeek]

Ah, you had me confused as well. Those are parameters given to the Linux kernel, not code.

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="acpi_osi=Linux pcie_aspm=force i915.i915_enable_rc6=1 i915.i915_enable_fbc=1 i915.lvds_downclock=1"

Grub code is what I called it.

[SteveRiley]

I was wondering how did you come by that grub code long years of research?

What GRUB code?

I was wondering how did you come by that grub code long years of research?

[SteveRiley]

One of the things you need to do with ThinkFan is set your temperature limits to whatever your preferences are. The limits are those number groupings in parentheses, and are explained in the comments in the /etc/thinfan.conf file. There are eight fan levels, and you can control when the system should switch from level to level.

I don't like loud fans, so I want the fan to run as quietly as possible. One tradeoff is a slightly warmer system. But I also don't like sweaty palms -- at least not sweaty from my computer, LOL. So I keep the fan at its lowest level possible until the temperature reaches 67 deg C, after which I allow it to rise (and then fall back) relatively quickly. By never letting the fan shut completely down, my laptop remains comfortably cool unless I'm doing something very intensive, like rendering complex graphics or doing a huge source code compile.

These are the temperature control levels I'm using:

(0,	 0,	 1)
(1,	 1,	67)
(2,	65,	71)
(3,	69,	75)
(4,	73,	79)
(5,	77,	83)
(6,	81,	87)
(7,	85,	32767)

After testing this for a few days I figured out my system seems to get 10% hot with the about grub modification. So i took it out seems not all thinkpads like this modification. As you said work in progress.

I have not performed the shell script as yet. that just automats everything from the post.

main@thinkpad:~$ cat /proc/acpi/ibm/fan
status: enabled
speed: 1903
level: auto
commands: level <level> (<level> is 0-7, auto, disengaged, full-speed)
commands: enable, disable
commands: watchdog <timeout> (<timeout> is 0 (off), 1-120 (seconds))

right now

main@thinkpad:~$ sudo sensors -f This is for me I do not know temps unless they are -f
acpitz-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1: +98.6°F (crit = +260.6°F)
temp2: +95.0°F (crit = +212.0°F)

coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Core 0: +95.0°F (high = +221.0°F, crit = +221.0°F)
Core 1: +96.8°F (high = +221.0°F, crit = +221.0°F)

thinkpad-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
fan1: 1929 RPM
temp1: +98.6°F
temp2: +100.4°F
temp3: +95.0°F
temp4: N/A
temp5: +78.8°F
temp6: N/A
temp7: +78.8°F
temp8: N/A
temp9: +100.4°F
temp10: +105.8°F
temp11: +100.4°F
temp12: N/A
temp13: N/A
temp14: N/A
temp15: N/A
temp16: N/A

same without the -f

cpitz-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1: +37.0°C (crit = +127.0°C)
temp2: +35.0°C (crit = +100.0°C)

coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Core 0: +35.0°C (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 1: +35.0°C (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)

thinkpad-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
fan1: 1938 RPM
temp1: +37.0°C
temp2: +38.0°C
temp3: +35.0°C
temp4: N/A
temp5: +26.0°C
temp6: N/A
temp7: +26.0°C
temp8: N/A
temp9: +38.0°C
temp10: +41.0°C
temp11: +37.0°C



I am to worried about the temps or is this a sign that something needs adjusted? My frist linux laptop.

Think I got it now but how do I know i have it running correctly? My HDD seems hoter than before. Last item on the list is the shell script how do I create that file?

what should this line be set at below? seesm like this is needed.

#sensor /proc/acpi/ibm/thermal (0, 10, 15, 2, 10, 5, 0, 3, 0, 3)



main@thinkpad:~$ sudo sensors
acpitz-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1: +43.0°C (crit = +127.0°C)
temp2: +42.0°C (crit = +100.0°C)

coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Core 0: +42.0°C (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 1: +41.0°C (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)

thinkpad-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
fan1: 0 RPM
temp1: +43.0°C
temp2: +43.0°C
temp3: +38.0°C
temp4: N/A
temp5: +30.0°C
temp6: N/A
temp7: +30.0°C
temp8: N/A
temp9: +42.0°C
temp10: +45.0°C
temp11: +43.0°C
temp12: N/A
temp13: N/A
temp14: N/A
temp15: N/A
temp16: N/A

[SteveRiley]

I Could not find the "(nn nn nn)" in the /etc/default/thinkfan I added the sensor at the start of each line I ran it and got this output back.

You're looking at the wrong file. The only thing you change in /etc/default/thinkfan is the START line.

Please follow my original instructions exactly. You'll note that the next sequence of steps indicates to open the file /etc/thinkfan.conf. That's where you'll find the group of lines that look like "(nn nn nn)" -- but all the "nn" are actual numbers. Also, when you put sensor at the start of each inserted line, you need to type a space after the word.

[SteveRiley]

Thanks got it now I was not pressing enter I was press ^X to save and exit twice because I really did not know that I needed to press enter.

Hm, how did you come to the conclusion that pressing Ctrl+X two times was the way to do that? After one press, nano displays the "Save modified buffer?" prompt and indicates the possible choices: y, n, or Ctrl+C.

I read this and it really did not say to add this to grub but i think it would be needed right? I ask because you say these items are in grub hmm.
Or do you mean to add the below correct?
Are all 500 IBM thinkpads the i915 chips or is this just the intel graphics chip? I did try to search it but did not find a good answer.

These items are in /etc/default/grub, between the quotes on the line that begins with GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT:

• acpi_osi=Linux ... allows the kernel to support some ACPI features that the BIOS would otherwise disable if the BIOS detects Windows isn't running
• pcie_aspm=force ... enable PCI Express power management forcibly
• i915.i915_enable_rc6=1 ... Intel graphics power saving render (remove if you experience random hangs)
• i915.i915_enable_fbc=1 ... Intel graphics frame buffer compression
• i915.lvds_downclock=1 ... panel downclocking

I see this I am just want things clear about this one If I understand you want me to add these lines at in my case start it after this
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

When I wrote "These items are in /etc/default/grub," I meant that they are in my GRUB after doing power saving research. You'll need to add them to yours.

i915 is the kernel module for Intel graphics. If you have Intel graphics, use these three settings. If you don't have Intel graphics, dont use them. I added a line to my original post to clarify that.

I Could not find the "(nn nn nn)" in the /etc/default/thinkfan I added the sensor at the start of each line I ran it and got this output back.


this is my /etc/default/thinkfan

# Additional startup parameters
DAEMON_ARGS="-q"
# Should thinkfan be started automatically on boot?
# Only say "yes" when you know what you are doing, have configured
# thinkfan correctly for *YOUR* machine and loaded thinkpad_acpi
# with fan_control=1 (if you have a ThinkPad).
START=yes

sensor/sys/devices/virtual/hwmon/hwmon0/temp1_input
sensor/sys/devices/virtual/hwmon/hwmon0/temp2_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp12_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp3_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp13_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp4_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp14_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp5_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp15_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp6_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp16_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp7_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp10_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp1_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp8_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp11_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp2_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp9_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/coretemp.0/temp3_input
sensor/sys/devices/platform/coretemp.0/temp2_input


sudo /etc/init.d/thinkfan start

/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 7: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/virtual/hwmon/hwmon0/temp1_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 8: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/virtual/hwmon/hwmon0/temp2_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 9: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp12_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 10: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp3_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 11: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp13_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 12: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp4_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 13: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp14_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 14: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp5_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 15: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp15_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 16: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp6_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 17: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp16_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 18: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp7_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 19: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp10_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 20: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp1_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 21: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp8_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 22: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp11_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 23: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp2_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 24: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/temp9_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 25: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/coretemp.0/temp3_input: not found
/etc/init.d/thinkfan: 26: /etc/default/thinkfan: sensor/sys/devices/platform/coretemp.0/temp2_input: not found



thinking I need to run the sensors-detect again right?

Thanks got it now I was not pressing enter I was press ^X to save and exit twice because I really did not know that I needed to press enter.

last question

I read this and it really did not say to add this to grub but i think it would be needed right? I ask because you say these items are in grub hmm.
Or do you mean to add the below correct?
Are all 500 IBM thinkpads the i915 chips or is this just the intel graphics chip? I did try to search it but did not find a good answer.

These items are in /etc/default/grub, between the quotes on the line that begins with GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT:

• acpi_osi=Linux ... allows the kernel to support some ACPI features that the BIOS would otherwise disable if the BIOS detects Windows isn't running
• pcie_aspm=force ... enable PCI Express power management forcibly
• i915.i915_enable_rc6=1 ... Intel graphics power saving render (remove if you experience random hangs)
• i915.i915_enable_fbc=1 ... Intel graphics frame buffer compression
• i915.lvds_downclock=1 ... panel downclocking

I see this I am just want things clear about this one If I understand you want me to add these lines at in my case start it after this
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

My GRUB
# If you change this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update
# /boot/grub/grub.cfg.
# For full documentation of the options in this file, see:
# info -f grub -n 'Simple configuration'

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true
GRUB_TIMEOUT=10
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""

# Uncomment to enable BadRAM filtering, modify to suit your needs
# This works with Linux (no patch required) and with any kernel that obtains
# the memory map information from GRUB (GNU Mach, kernel of FreeBSD ...)
#GRUB_BADRAM="0x01234567,0xfefefefe,0x89abcdef,0xe fefefef"

# Uncomment to disable graphical terminal (grub-pc only)
#GRUB_TERMINAL=console

# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
#GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480

# Uncomment if you don't want GRUB to pass "root=UUID=xxx" parameter to Linux
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true

# Uncomment to disable generation of recovery mode menu entries
#GRUB_DISABLE_RECOVERY="true"

# Uncomment to get a beep at grub start
#GRUB_INIT_TUNE="480 440 1"

[SteveRiley]

every time nano asks me if I what to save to another file. Does the the sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf create the conf file?
Than I edit the file and than save but I always get the thinkfan.conf.save 0_o. what am i missing?

Yes, nano will create a new file and save it if you specifiy a file that doesn't exist.

Here is a step-by-step illustration. I hope this is clear.

1. Start the editor:


2. Type the contents:


3. Press Ctrl+X to save and exit, and answer y when prompted:


4. Observe the correct file name in the prompt and simply press Enter:


5. The editor closes. Use the cat command to verify that the file now exists and has the correct contents:

I missed typed the modprobe.d in my post. I found out what I was missing

/etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf.save1

it should have been

/etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf.save.1


tried this by copy and paste

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf

I edit to add the line

options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1

every time nano asks me if I what to save to another file. Does the the sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf create the conf file?
Than I edit the file and than save but I always get the thinkfan.conf.save 0_o. what am i missing?