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Thread: Fan control on dell xps15 9560

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
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    Fan control on dell xps15 9560

    I have installed Ubuntu 16.04 in dual boot with windows 10 on my dell xps15 9560 (7th gen core-i7, 4K touch display). One of the issues that I find very annoying is the (almost) constant fan noise.
    I upgraded to 16.10 as suggested in this thread but that did not solve anything.

    I don't know what the expected fan noise / fan speed should be as a function of cpu temperature? I installed psensor for measuring the temperatures and even for cpu temperatures around 43°C the fan is constantly working.

    So I guess my questions are:
    • How can i see the fan speed in order to do better logging of the relation between fan noise and cpu temperatures?
    • How can I reduce the fan speed and still be safe?


    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
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    Re: Fan control on dell xps15 9560

    Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.
    (Mark Twain)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
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    Re: Fan control on dell xps15 9560

    This Dell, nowhere near as nice as yours was ok with fglrx but since 16.04 runs hot and noisy with the open source drivers. What worked for me was to install the i8kutils package and create a file at /etc/i8kmon.conf...

    Code:
    sudo apt install i8kutils
    Code:
    sudo nano /etc/i8kmon.conf
    and paste in the following contents...

    Code:
    # Run as daemon, override with --daemon option
    set config(daemon)      0
    
    # Automatic fan control, override with --auto option
    set config(auto)        1
    
    # Report status on stdout, override with --verbose option
    set config(verbose) 1
    
    # Status check timeout (seconds), override with --timeout option
    set config(timeout) 20
    
    # For computer with 2 fans, use a variant of this instead:
    # Temperature thresholds: {fan_speeds low_ac high_ac low_batt high_batt}
    #set config(0) {{-1 0}  -1  47  -1  60}
    #set config(1) {{-1 1}  36  61  50  70}
    #set config(2) {{-1 1}  50  75  60  80}
    #set config(3) {{-1 2}  65 128  70 128}
    
    set config(0) {{0 0}  -1  55  -1  55}
    set config(1) {{1 1}  36  60  36  60}
    set config(2) {{1 1}  52  70  52  70}
    set config(3) {{2 2}  65  78  65  78}
    set config(4) {{2 2}  75 128  75 128}
    
    
    # end of file
    Doesn't usually need a daemon restart but it doesn't hurt..

    Code:
    sudo /etc/init.d/i8kmon restart
    Runs pretty well now but I try not to tax it too hard.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
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    Re: Fan control on dell xps15 9560

    I installed lm-sensors and ran the sensors-check. But I don't think any fans are found, here's the final output:

    Code:
    Now follows a summary of the probes I have just done.
    Just press ENTER to continue: 
    
    Driver `coretemp':
      * Chip `Intel digital thermal sensor' (confidence: 9)
    
    To load everything that is needed, add this to /etc/modules:
    #----cut here----
    # Chip drivers
    coretemp
    #----cut here----
    If you have some drivers built into your kernel, the list above will
    contain too many modules. Skip the appropriate ones!
    
    Do you want to add these lines automatically to /etc/modules? (yes/NO)

    And for the installation of i8kutils, I have also a problem: I can't install the package. Here' s the output of the command:

    Code:
    Job for i8kmon.service failed because the control process exited with error code.
    See "systemctl status i8kmon.service" and "journalctl -xe" for details.
    invoke-rc.d: initscript i8kmon, action "start" failed.
    ● i8kmon.service - LSB: Dell fan/cpu-temperature monitor
       Loaded: loaded (/etc/init.d/i8kmon; generated; vendor preset: enabled)
       Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Son 2017-02-12 12:46:16 CET; 13ms ago
         Docs: man:systemd-sysv-generator(8)
      Process: 6573 ExecStart=/etc/init.d/i8kmon start (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
    
    Feb 12 12:46:16 roel-XPS-15-9560 systemd[1]: Starting LSB: Dell fan/cpu-temp....
    Feb 12 12:46:16 roel-XPS-15-9560 i8kmon[6573]:  * Starting Dell fan/cpu-temp...n
    Feb 12 12:46:16 roel-XPS-15-9560 i8kmon[6573]:    ...fail!
    Feb 12 12:46:16 roel-XPS-15-9560 systemd[1]: i8kmon.service: Control process...1
    Feb 12 12:46:16 roel-XPS-15-9560 systemd[1]: Failed to start LSB: Dell fan/c....
    Feb 12 12:46:16 roel-XPS-15-9560 systemd[1]: i8kmon.service: Unit entered fa....
    Feb 12 12:46:16 roel-XPS-15-9560 systemd[1]: i8kmon.service: Failed with res....
    Hint: Some lines were ellipsized, use -l to show in full.
    dpkg: error processing package i8kutils (--configure):
     subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
    Errors were encountered while processing:
     i8kutils
    E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
    Any ideas what I should do? Thanks a lot.

  5. #5
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    Re: Fan control on dell xps15 9560

    Quote Originally Posted by saroele View Post
    And for the installation of i8kutils, I have also a problem: I can't install the package. Here' s the output of the command:
    Hmm.. sorry to hear that, it works perfectly for me.

    There is this bug on launchpad with a verified solution that might help you : https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...s/+bug/1364503

  6. #6
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    Re: Fan control on dell xps15 9560

    I have found very few prebuilds that display all of the results when using hardware monitoring software and if not displayed in bios than I doubt it will be available by OS software although not always the case.
    Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.
    (Mark Twain)

  7. #7
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    Re: Fan control on dell xps15 9560

    ok, with the solution in that lunchpad bug report I can install i8kutils. Thanks @howefield.

    Is it possible that the installation only, without any configuration done, changes my fan control? Since I installed it, the fan works in 'cyclic burst' mode: it blows hard for a very short time (like half a second), than stops for about 2-3 seconds, and then the next thrust. It starts doing that when the cpu temperatures are around 50°C and then stops doing it when they are around 44°C.

  8. #8
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    Re: Fan control on dell xps15 9560

    There is no problem with not having a config file as it will use some defaults. The benefit of having one is that you can tweak the settings.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
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    5

    Re: Fan control on dell xps15 9560

    This is likely because the i8k module is competing with BIOS control.

    See https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/commen...ation_and_fan/
    Scroll to i8k utils how to. Proceed at your own risk.

    cheers

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2012
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    98

    Re: Fan control on dell xps15 9560

    Any other developments here?

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