[1.9] new default PLATFORM_PROFILE_ON_AC="performance" leads to high fanspeed

[HolyBlackCat]

To everyone reporting here: please always include the output of (on AC power)

sudo tlp-stat -c -s -p

via https://gist.github.com/. Thanks.

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First of all, I'm not sure if this is the correct channel for this, sorry in advance if it's not.

I understand that this behavior is probably intended, and I can override it in config, but the defaults have caught me by surprise, so I'm reporting it just in case.

After running a system update on arch, my Lenovo LOQ laptop started enabling performance mode on boot, and it took me a while to realize that TLP 1.9 is the culprit.

This isn't something I personally want for two reasons:

• Mainly because it makes fans spin at what seems to be max RPM even with no load, and they are quite loud.
• Also there have been reports of LOQs frying their motherboards (look e.g. on r/LenovoLOQ). This isn't that widespread I assume, but still I personally wouldn't risk running them in the performance mode.

IMO a better default would be "balanced" on AC power and "low-power" on battery. The user can always enable the performance mode manually by cycling the modes with Fn+Q.

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Also interestingly, the LED indication of this performance (?) mode is a bit buggy. It's supposed to be: white=default, blue=powersave, red=performance, purple=custom. TLP set it to purple/custom by default, but the constant fan noise is similar to that on red/peformance.

When I cycle modes with Fn+Q, I can't even access purple/custom due to not having configured it in a Lenovo app.

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hostnamectl identifies this laptop as:

   Hardware Model: LOQ 15AHP9
     Hardware SKU: LENOVO_MT_83DX_BU_idea_FM_LOQ 15AHP9
 Firmware Version: NZCN15WW

[linrunner]

Hi. Without the output requested in the issue template, I cannot comment on your question. Please show the complete output of tlp-stat (on AC power is sufficient in your case).

[HolyBlackCat]

Here's on AC power: https://gist.github.com/HolyBlackCat/65a6cbc7b9bad028f964a96b2bee837f
And on battery just in case: https://gist.github.com/HolyBlackCat/514652501f947beccc648d515838444a

On battery TLP doesn't seem to change this mode at all, leaving it as white/default. (I wouldn't mind it being blue/powersave on battery.)

Sorry for not providing those from the beginning, I assumed this was intended and that you wouldn't act on this. :P

[linrunner]

What you call "performance mode" is the (ACPI) platform profile, which can assume the following values on your laptop:

+++ Platform Profile
/sys/firmware/acpi/platform_profile = performance
/sys/firmware/acpi/platform_profile_choices = low-power balanced balanced-performance performance custom

The ideapad_laptop kernel driver forwards them directly to the BIOS, which interprets them. The behavior you observe is therefore determined by Lenovo's BIOS, which also applies to the LEDs. Lenovo seems to have implemented “performance” very aggressively in your model. Based on the overheating and how you describe the LED behavior, it is possible that the BIOS or kernel driver implementation is faulty (which is out of scope here).

I would recommend trying balanced-performance or checking out how custom works. - I suspect you can define this in the BIOS setup.

As for your suggestion to adjust the defaults, I won't follow it at this point. In 1.9.0, defaults for PLATFORM_PROFILE_ON_AC/BAT/SAV are indeed defined for the first time, activating the feature for all installations. None of the beta testers have complained so far, and my ThinkPads are also behaving completely normally with them. However, if I receive a lot of feedback like yours, I will consider making a change.

Thanks for your report.

[rdash-fenix]

I can reproduce the same issue (fans going to max RPM) when TLP is running with all default configs. Only happens in 1.9.

Switching to the balanced-performance platform profile did indeed correct the issue. Ran a compile job to make sure this is the same behavior I was seeing in prior TLP releases - everything roughly checks out.

Alienware m16 r2 laptop running Gentoo if it helps. Fully updated system (including firmware) and no conflicting power daemons.

[linrunner]

@rdash-fenix a description of the system is not sufficient for classification. Please add the output of (on AC power)

sudo tlp-stat -c -s -p

via https://gist.github.com/. Thanks.

[HolyBlackCat]

Regarding the new issue title, I'm not sure if there's actual overheating involved. sensors doesn't show anything above 45°C.

I'm not sure why it wants to increase fan RPM.