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World Community Grid Forums
Category: Support
Forum: Suggestions / Feedback
Thread: Making laptops run cooler |
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Thread Status: Active Total posts in this thread: 9
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
I've always had some concern about crunching on notebooks - they don't have the luxury of a lot of airflow and cooling fans (never stopped me though..). Having said that the only failure I've ever had is a fan on my newest laptop that started getting noisy and eventually failed completely (machine wouldn't boot). Fortunately replacing the fan was all that was required (no collateral damage). Nonetheless they can produce quite a lot of heat (when sitting on your lap), and temperature monitoring software such as SpeedFan shows some pretty warm temps (>> 70 degrees C).
Anyway a month or two ago I came across The "Undervolting" Guide and thought I would give it a go. The results were fantastic for me (YMMV). I have 2 notebooks. Newer one is C2D T7200 2GHz (Lenovo ThinkPad T61) that ran at 65-75 degrees C depending on ambient. Older one is Pentium M 715 1.5GHz (IBM ThinkPad R51) ran in mid to high 80's. The T61 C2D now runs mid 50s to low 60s (> 10 degrees C cooler), R51 now runs mid 50's (around 30 degrees C cooler). Apart from running cooler, it will extend battery life (and presumably hardware life since it's running cooler) and will save power and CO2 emissions when crunching on mains power. I don't see why the same approach shouldn't apply to desktop/side PCs as well (at least those that aren't overclocked...) |
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Sekerob
Ace Cruncher Joined: Jul 24, 2005 Post Count: 20043 Status: Offline |
Hi,
----------------------------------------My choice for laptops OVER ThreadMaster GUI, many times better than the BOINC throttle, is TThrottle. Specially written for BOINC just set a target temp and the sciences will be slowed so that the laptop is right on the temp mark: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/forums/wcg/viewthread?thread=24557 Version 1.54 is the latest stable. 1.55 is for those doing CUDA/GPU, thus for desktops. OCing & Undervolting always carries a risk of introducing a (higher) number of result errors. Added: I've tested it on Desktop quad and this summer it will be running on there. No fans that make the curtains flap this time.
WCG
----------------------------------------Please help to make the Forums an enjoyable experience for All! [Edit 1 times, last edit by Sekerob at Mar 22, 2009 8:04:44 AM] |
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
Actually no reason not to use TThrottle on an undervolted system. I would not be surprised if undervolting reduces rather than increases the chance of result errors since the machine will be running cooler. The important thing (as with OCing) is to do a thorough test with a tool such as Prime95, and once the point is found where errors start to occur, back off a couple of notches.
----------------------------------------But of course neither overclocking or undervolting are for everyone - if you're comfortable with it, go for it. If not, TThrottle is a great way to protect your machine from frying. [Edit 1 times, last edit by Former Member at Mar 22, 2009 12:50:29 PM] |
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darth_vader
Veteran Cruncher A galaxy far, far away... Joined: Jul 13, 2005 Post Count: 514 Status: Offline Project Badges: 
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The only problem with TThrottle is that it does not work well (or at all) on some older hardware. One of my systems, an old Thinkpad R40, will not run TThrottle or most other programs that attempt to control the temperature through one means or another.
This particular machine has done well with the Thinkpad fan control program. Thinkpad fan control was designed to turn the system fan on at higher temperatures to reduce fan noise. However, I've taken it the other direction and used it to turn the fan on earlier and thereby keep the CPU temperature lower (50C range). Having the fan on all the time, usually on low, keeps the temperature stable and uses less electricity than having the fan cycle on and off every minute or two. - D |
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Mustang04
Cruncher FRANCE Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Post Count: 4 Status: Offline Project Badges: 
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I've got a Intel Core Duo (only 1.66GHz, I know, but 3 years old) , and I solved this problem by just using 1 core at 100% ^^.... It's perfect because I'm using my computer for anything else all the time...
But that the problem with laptop... cooling...  |
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Sekerob
Ace Cruncher Joined: Jul 24, 2005 Post Count: 20043 Status: Offline |
Ah, but with TThrottle, now running constantly on my duo laptop, you've got easy access to X% per core, which creates a better load and temperature balance on the CPU, my experience, plus you can set a target temperature which may at times automatically allow more % per core. Some sciences run hotter than others too, so it's automagically managed. You can try, and not have to buy anyhow... it's free and designed for BOINC :D
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WCG
Please help to make the Forums an enjoyable experience for All! |
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
I had gone completely low-tech on this issue with a 1.5 inch tall metal cylinder (originally held drink coasters) that I put the lappy on top of when I run it at 100% overnight. While I do not have the before and after temps I will say it the fan is about as loud and body temp (to the touch) is about the same as if I run it at 60%. Before I leave for work I set it at 60%, suspend when computer is active (it is my wife's laptop after all :-) and everything is fine. Does TThrottle have temp readouts in a GUI so I can run the lappy as usual over night and then figure out what temp I am comfortable with or should I get RealTemp for that part?
TIA - Steve |
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Sekerob
Ace Cruncher Joined: Jul 24, 2005 Post Count: 20043 Status: Offline |
There's a topic in chat room with link to manual. Yes Temp charting and all and mouse hover showing per core temps. Think it goes to 8 cores and 3 GPU's. Things is as said, you set a target temp and you can forget about it. Use Taskmanager or Process Explorer to chart the CPU utilization.
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WCG
Please help to make the Forums an enjoyable experience for All! |
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Mustang04
Cruncher FRANCE Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Post Count: 4 Status: Offline Project Badges:
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I will have a look at this TThrottle...
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