Ubuntu Mate 16.04 Overheating on Core2 and ATI Mobility Radeon 3xxx – Causes and Solutions

16.04amd-graphicsamdgpuoverheatingubuntu-mate

Why is my Ubuntu Mate 16.04 runs hotter than my Windows 7 on my Core2 Penryn P8700 and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3670 laptop?

I ran lm-sensors and found that the GPU temp consistently hits 63 and 64 C, while on Windows 7 is only about 47-49 C with openhardwaremonitor.

I have tried it on both Ubuntu Mate 16.04.06 and newer Kali 2019.01, both OSes hit almost very similar temperature at 63 / 64 C on just running the terminal with lm-sensors. Even in Kali before I started X by running $ startx, the temp already hit 63 C just after login in Kali. Windows 7 is just about 46-47 C while started and still way cooler.

I ran both OS while nothing is opened– just terminal on Linux with lm-sensors and openhardwardmonitor on Windows.

I started using Linux in 2011 using Ubuntu 10.04 and 10.10 with Gnome 2.xx. It ran so light and cool. And stable indeed. Almost switched to it completely. Then Gnome 3 came out with Ubuntu 12.04 and later. Switched back to Windows 7, bcoz Ubuntu with Gnome 3 was lamer & ((uglier)) (imo) and crashes as often as Windows if not more (my Gnome 3 experience with 12.04). Ubuntu Mate 16.04 also still crashes more than even 10.10 (in Core2 still). Idk why and curious to find out as to why the degradation of quality with the open sourced Linux distros.

I have read somewhere, that the open sourced Linux graphic drivers is not as good as the proprietary AMD drivers: http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimera/graphics/updatelinux.html and that the Linux drivers can't adjust the clock (I read somewhere, but lost the site reference as of now).

Haven't tried other distros like Arch, I am mostly just familiar with just Debian distros.

Can anyone help explain? And what should I do, how can I improve the performance and thermal efficiency of my GPU on my system using Linux? (Preferably software/OS wise, not recommendation to clean and reapply thermal paste on my laptop– I vacuum my laptop quite regularly indeed, so it's pretty clean and dustless 😉

I have also tried to install the AMD proprietary drivers recently here: The program 'gcc' is not currently installed. Trying to install AMD Catalyst Driver on Ubuntu Mate 16.04? but still no success.

Best Answer

If your main concern is CPU/GPU heat control, you can install TLP:

sudo apt install tlp tlp-rdw

After installation run sudo tlp start and reboot.

TLP provides AMD Radeon GPU power management (KMS and DPM), this is probably what you need.

You will see reduced heating after installation and reboot. However, it may take a few days to get the full effect of TLP.

TLP provides power management and longer battery life as well.

Please read more about TLP here.

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