How To Fix High Fan Speed on Ubuntu 18.04

In this article, we’ll explore several potential solutions to fix the issue of high fan speed on Ubuntu 18.04. This is a common problem faced by many users, which can result in excessive noise and potential damage to your system due to overheating.

1. Check BIOS Settings

The first step in troubleshooting high fan speed is to check your BIOS settings. To access your BIOS, restart your computer and press the key indicated on the startup screen (usually F2, F10, or DEL). Once inside the BIOS, look for fan settings. Some BIOS versions offer a “silent mode” which can reduce fan speed. Make sure these settings are appropriately configured.

2. Verify Sensor Cable Connection

If you have recently replaced your motherboard or made any hardware changes, double-check that the sensor cable is properly connected. This is a small 4-pin plug that should be connected to the motherboard. A loose or improperly connected sensor cable can cause the fan to run at high speed.

3. Install and Configure Fan Control Software

Ubuntu provides lm-sensors and fancontrol packages that can help manage your fan speed. You can install these packages using the following command:

sudo apt install lm-sensors fancontrol

After installation, run sensors-detect to ensure correct module detection. This command will prompt you to confirm several operations, and it’s generally safe to answer ‘yes’ to all prompts. This will update /etc/modules or /etc/sysconfig/lm_sensors accordingly.

Next, run pwmconfig to test and configure each fan. This command will guide you through a series of steps to test each fan in your system and set up basic fan control. This will create the /etc/fancontrol file.

In some cases, you may need to manually edit this file if your fan ID changes between boots. Replace the fan ID with [[:print:]]* to handle this.

4. Adjust GRUB Configuration

In some cases, adjusting your GRUB configuration can help resolve fan speed issues. To do this, open the /etc/default/grub file with a text editor:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Find the line that starts with GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT and add acpi_enforce_resources=lax to the end of the line inside the quotes. This command allows the kernel to use resources that the BIOS has reserved, potentially enabling better fan control.

After making these changes, rebuild your GRUB configuration with the following command:

sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Then, reboot your system to apply these changes.

5. Install tlp for Power Management

tlp is a powerful tool that provides advanced power management for Linux. It comes with a default configuration optimized for battery life, which can help resolve thermal issues and fan speed problems. Install it using the following command:

sudo apt install tlp

Once installed, tlp will start automatically and manage your system’s power usage.

6. Check for Nvidia Driver Issues

If your system uses an Nvidia GPU, ensure that the proper drivers are installed. You can check for available drivers with the following command:

ubuntu-drivers devices

This will list all available drivers for your system. To install the recommended drivers, use the following command:

sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

Reboot your system after the installation to apply the changes.

7. Disable Nouveau Driver

If you’re experiencing issues with the Nvidia Nouveau driver, you can disable it by creating a blacklist file. Run the following commands to do this:

sudo bash -c "echo blacklist nouveau > /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nvidia-nouveau.conf"
sudo bash -c "echo options nouveau modeset=0 >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nvidia-nouveau.conf"

These commands create a new file that instructs the system not to load the Nouveau driver at startup. After running these commands, install the appropriate Nvidia driver from the Nvidia website.

8. Use smbios-thermal-ctl

smbios-thermal-ctl is a tool that can change the thermal mode of your system. Install it using the following command:

sudo apt install smbios-utils

Then, run the following command to set the thermal mode to quiet:

sudo smbios-thermal-ctl -v --set-thermal-mode=quiet

This command may help reduce fan speed by setting the system to a quieter thermal mode.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of high fan speed on Ubuntu 18.04. Remember, it’s always important to monitor your system’s temperature and fan speed to prevent overheating and ensure your system is running efficiently.