Where Linux Beats Vista : CPU Temperatures - ACPI Thermal Zones

[Robert wilkens]

Windows Vista has my CPU running as high as 84 degrees celsius during normal
operation (65 degrees is the 'alarm' temperature). I imagine it gets even
higher because when I do things like install MS Office 2007 it gets to the
point where the system just powers off instantly.

I decided to try comparing it to Linux, and boy was I surprised, I have a
feature in the Linux Kernel turned on call "ACPI Thermal Zones" which is
keeping my CPU at a constant opreating temperature of 40 degrees in Linux,
if I'm reading it right.

40 degrees versus 84 degrees.
operating normally versus overheating and dying.

That's the difference between Linux and Vista.

Incidentally, if I turn off thermal zones in the linux kernel, I have the
same instant 'power off' problems in Linux. I'm glad Linux offers thermal
zones support. I'm sorry to say it appears microsoft does not support this
(unless I'm "missing a driver" though for something this critical that would
seem hard to believe).

-Rob

 

[Bill Frisbee]

Thermal zoning is not part of the OS, its an add-on typically from your
motherboard manufacturer.

TYPICALLY your motherboard does its own, if limited thermal monitoring.

What CPU and motherboard are you running with?

The AVERAGE cpu should run 40C to MAYBE 60C on full load. Me thinks you may
have something wrong with your motherboard or CPU fan.


Bill F.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

My C2D box has been running at about 38C all day and I have been
multitasking like crazy with all the first-run spyware and virus scans,
copying, and so forth. My old P4 Prescott would have hit 65C pretty
quickly.

Speaking of Linux, what was fun was my MacBook Pro the first couple of
months until Apple did a fix. I left it on overnights and fixed breakfast
on it in the mornings. Makes a great waffle iron. Just pour the batter on
the keyboard and shut the lid. I never did figure out how to get those
little indendations on both sides, though. Apple kept pointing out that the
Intel chart for the Core Duo put the top operating temp at 100C. Mine got
into the 80's (I was using a cooler pad). Then they fixed it.

I got thrown off of one of the forums on Apple.com for posting a spoof of
the "I'm a Mac..." ads. I started the script with the frumpy PC guy sipping
iced tea and smiling as he says, "I'm a PC," and the Mac Dude sweating and
fanning himself furiously as he says, "I'm a MacBook Pro." The moderator
actually pulled all my replies on that thread. Other users protested and
then the whole thread when poof.

 

[robw]

It's a brand new Asus M2N32-SLI-Deluxe motherboard.

Odd, Linux has thermal zoning. And it works.

http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Thermal_Zone
Says "Supported Devices: AMD nforce2 based motherboards"

Which I presume is what I have.

-Rob

 

[robw]

In addition, I'll quote that the page I referred to on Linux thermal zoning
says:

http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Thermal_Zone

"This driver adds support for ACPI thermal zones. Most mobile and
some desktop systems support ACPI thermal zones. It is HIGHLY
recommended that this option be enabled, as your processor(s)
may be damaged without it."

Note: It seems in Vista i'm risking my processor(s) being damaged.

-Rob

 

[robw]

This is an AMD system, not Intel C2D.

The ACPI driver support is available, according to
http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Thermal_Zone on my particular system.

Without that support in the kernel on Linux (and I presume on Windows), my
processor overheats and dies.

I've been risking damaging my CPU the entire time I've been running Vista.
I wonder if my CPU died if I'd have a case against microsoft for them to
replace the hardware since the above linux page says running without that
support breaks the cpu.

-Rob

 

[robw]

By the way the switch to "robw" from "Robert wilkens" was because I switched
OFF my AMD64 system and switched on my Pentium 4 (both running Vista)
because when I read more I realized I didn't really want to be running Vista
on my AMD64 system right now.

-rob

 

[electragician]

It's highly likely that you've either got the heat sink installed
improperly, the heat sink fan isn't working properly, or you have some other
hardware problem.

My bet is on the heat sink, as it could be making minimal contact with the
processor surface through improper mounting. It was tough getting the heat
sink latched down all the way on my M2N-E.

With everything properly setup and working, hardware-wise, your system
should not be overheating, no matter what the OS does.

Regards,
Matt K

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I did all of my testing on my AMD64 x2 4400+ box and didn't have any thermal
issues the whole year and a half. Lucky, I guess.

 

[Robert Firth]

Well, you might have a case, but if you read the EULA which you agreed to it
states that Microsoft's liability is limited to $5... and you agreed to the
terms.

--
/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Robert Firth *
* Windows Vista x86 RTM *
* http://www.WinVistaInfo.org *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */

 

[robw]

That, or a different motherboard?

Seriously, if Linux can run 40 degrees why can't windows?

That's my only question. I don't want to disconnect the heat sink and put
on new heat sink paste if it's a software problem..

I'm not saying necessarily anything is wrong with Windows. It may be a heat
sink problem, but if Linux can do 40 degrees why the heck can't windows?

I've heard of other people here reporting overheating-like problems in vista
(instant power-offs or reboots), why not fault the OS.

Again: In Linux, the system is fine if i turn on that feature. It is not
fine if it's off. What driver am I missing and from whom? Do I need to go
back to XP to get my system to not damage my system?

-Rob

 

[robw]

The fan is working (i've got a transparent case, plus all my other sensors
for fan speed are reading properly (3 fans in the range of 1,000+ to 3,000+
rpm, and I don't meant redhat-package-manager.)

-Rob

 

[robw]

I might not have scrolled down. I have this nasty legal habit of only
reading the amount of the agreement that is presented to me on the screen,
that portion usually says "this is an agreement". Also most microsoft
agreements in the U.S. have a portion that has been written in French
Canadian and honestly, I don't know how they can legally expect me to agree
to something in a foreign language - - as far as I know it translates
to"just kidding".

Don't reply to argue this, you're not a lawyer, i'm not a lawyer, I don't
intend to violate the agreement anyway (I get the 'gist' of it).

-Rob

 

[robw]

Tell ya what.. I'll replace the heat sink paste tomorrow and relatch the
heat sink (I believe a local store carries the paste)..

Until I do that, you can all ignore me like the idiot you think I am (I
wouldn't necessarily say you're wrong at this point either).

However, I still say "If Linux can deal with my apparently poor hardware
building skills, why not Windows?"

-Rob

 

[electragician]

It is odd that Linux runs cool and Vista doesn't.

For the record, my M2N-E board is fairly similar to yours, and Vista works
fine with it. I am running the latest bios, but I haven't loaded any
additional drivers, other than video. Vista does work natively with the
board and the Athlon 64 X2 processor to throttle the CPU to half-speed when
not under a load. I do have the feature enabled in the bios (ASUS Cool and
Quiet), but again, I have loaded no additional drivers.

I installed the ASUS system monitor utility a few minutes ago, and I placed
the system under a load (as much as I could at the time) to see what the
temps would get to after a few minutes. The picture in the link below shows
that Divx video and a session of GuildWars isn't enough to stress a dual
core processor, but it's still not at idle.

Even with the CPU throttling feature disabled the machine is still stable
when under a heavy load in Vista, as I have turned the feature off in the
past to see if it garnered any improvement in games (it didn't).

http://www.knology.net/~mwkelley/test.jpg

Regards,
Matt K

 

[electragician]

Oh, I don't think you're an idiot at all.

I can't explain why Linux is able to keep the system from overheating when
Vista isn't, but what I am saying is that no matter what either OS is doing,
the system shouldn't overheat. Ever.

Regards,
Matt K

 

[Bill Frisbee]

Windows Vista =! Linux

I can easily play World Of Warcraft and run Outlook 2007 on my Vista box,
but I can't do the same under Linux... Doesn't mean Windows is better than
Linux, simply means that they are different OS's.

Because being Linux, anyone can toss an application into a distro.

When Microsoft does the same, they get sued.

As I said before, you need to find the manufacturer's supplied thermal
zoning software. If it's not Vista compatible, you need to wait till they
release one or find another version that works with the ACPI sensors on the
system board.

 

[Bill Frisbee]

Linux isn't Windows.

I've seen Windows run on RAM that Linux won't.

Maybe Linux isn't as sensitive to processor errors as Windows.

I don't consider that a good thing.



Bill F.

 

[Mike]

That's the difference between Linux and Vista.

You have just proven that Linux doesn't do anything.

Mike

 

[Bill Frisbee]

Um, you don't enable ACPI in Windows... its enabled in your system BIOS.


Bill F.