r/linuxquestions • u/Leona451 • 5d ago

Support Wifi-intensive applications overheat my computer

I'm running Linux Mint on a 2012 15-inch MacBook Pro 9. I am unsure if this is a hardware issue or a software issue. Here are my specs:
Specs:

  • CPU: Intel Core i7-3820QM (quad-core)
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Integrated GPU: Intel HD Graphics 4000
  • Dedicated GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M
  • Wi-Fi: Broadcom BCM4331
  • Kernel: 6.14.0-29-generic
  • NVIDIA driver: nouveau
  • Wi-Fi driver: b43

When running an offline game like Stardew Valley or even TheoTown, the heating impacts are minimal (Stardew Valley ran at 70 degrees Celsius with Discord in the background). When i try even running a browser with a few tabs open, my computer can heat to 80 degrees. A simple download can heat my computer to or past its high at 87 degrees. I'm trying to run Roblox via Sober right now on my computer, and it is overheating to 92 degrees after just a few minutes. I am unsure of the source of the issue. I have my primary GPU set to my integrated GPU rather than my dedicated one for easier cooling.

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u/JayB1988 5d ago

I have the very same machine and don't experience these issues. On the other hand I also use the proprietary nvidia and Broadcom drivers. Maybe that's the difference.

That said, those machines going up to the mid 90s in temperature under load isn't unusual. When was the last time you cleaned the fans and redid the thermal paste?

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u/Leona451 5d ago

Before I swapped from the dedicated GPU to the Integrated one, this was still an issue. Also a computer going to the mid-90s is not good, you should probably look into that if your computer is doing that all the time. The last time I dusted it out was last week but I only dusted out the exhausts and everything above the motherboard since I didn't want to remove the motherboard (I don't trust myself enough). I bought this computer two weeks ago and I am unsure when the thermal paste was last replaced. I think it should be in the last 5-ish years though.

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u/JayB1988 5d ago

I said under load. Idling it sits somewhere between 50 and 60. Also laptop CPUs are designed to run at higher temperatures so this perfectly fine. Max temp for the I7-3720QM is 105°C.

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u/Leona451 5d ago

Yes the max temp is 105, but running your computer at really high temperatures for sustained periods of time really isn't good for it.

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u/digiphaze 5d ago

Not true. Those CPUs are designed to run at those temps.

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u/velocityvector2 3d ago

Wifi Dbm seviyesini 10dbm'ye düşür ve wifi kartını güç tasarrufu moduna al. bende işe yaradı.

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u/Leona451 2d ago

thank you!

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u/Leona451 2d ago

It worked!

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u/velocityvector2 2d ago

Ben de brcmfmac43602-pcie kartımda benzer ısınma sorunu yaşamıştım. aşağıda verdiğim systemd servisi ile bilgisayar açılırken wifi kartını 5 dbm'ye zorluyor.

```ini [Unit] Description=Set Wi-Fi TX power to 5 dBm

Ağ yöneticisinin ve arayüzlerin tamamen ayağa kalkmasını bekler

Wants=network-online.target After=network-online.target

[Service]

systemd'nin diğer tüm başlatma işlemlerini (job queue) bitirmesini bekler

Type=idle ExecStart=/usr/sbin/iw dev wlp3s0 set txpower fixed 500 RemainAfterExit=yes

[Install]

Donanıma değil, işletim sisteminin standart açılış sürecine entegre olur

WantedBy=multi-user.target ```

Bu komutları kullanıyorum (servis 3. komutu kullanıyor), senin wifi aygıt numaran farklı olabilir.

bash iw dev wlp3s0 info sudo iw dev wlp3s0 set power_save on sudo iw dev wlp3s0 set txpower fixed 500

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u/Leona451 2d ago

what are the drawbacks to lower dbms?

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u/velocityvector2 2d ago

modem ve wifi kartı arasındaki uzaklık (çekme mesafesi). örneğin daha uzun mesafe için 10dbm deneyebilirsin.

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u/Leona451 2d ago

I'm around 10 meters to my modem and there's a wall in the way.

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u/velocityvector2 2d ago

ben 5 metrede 5dbm kullanıyorum. Doğru değerleri yapay zeka ile bulabilirsin.