I realize that this is several years old but it's the closest match to the symptoms I'm searching.
The last comment was "it works" but my AMD 6870 based desktop card rages with fans at full speed from start up to shut down. linux 3.18.6-1 xf86-video-ati 1:7.5.0-2 -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop Packages, which is subscribed to xserver-xorg-video-ati in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1080350 Title: 1002:9552 [Compaq Presario CQ61-320EG Notebook PC] CPU Overheating with ATI driver Radeon HD Mobility graphics Status in X.org XServer - ATI gfx chipset driver: Confirmed Status in xserver-xorg-video-ati package in Ubuntu: Triaged Bug description: Ever since upgrading from Maverick (with GNOME Classic) to Precise (using Unity 2D since using the default Unity makes the situation worse) my note book regularly overheats with normal usage: I've been regularly using: echo low | sudo tee /sys/class/drm/card0/device/power_profile I've am also using psensor to warn me if the temperature rises above 92°. When 'idle' the temperature is at about 80°. If the CPU is used (merely starting eclipse and letting all the the startup validation processes finish) it quickly rises to 88°. If the usages is sustained (rebuilding a java project) the temperature oscillates between 95° and 98°. If I do anything else that adds to the load (ie. if the temperature is >98° for short period of time), the system freezes, but the everything remains on, fans and CPU temperature stays up. I need to turn off the notebook by keeping the power button pressed. Note that this system overheats /with/ the low power profile. Here are some general stats about this system, please let me know, if I can provide further information: This started after the upgrading from Maverick. I'm currently running Precise with the 2D Unity desktop. WORKAROUND: sudo apt-get -y install gnome-applets && sudo cpufreq- selector --cpu=0 --governor=powersave && sudo cpufreq-selector --cpu=1 --governor=powersave ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04 Package: xserver-xorg-video-radeon 1:6.14.99~git20111219.aacbd629-0ubuntu2 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-33.52-generic 3.2.31 Uname: Linux 3.2.0-33-generic x86_64 .tmp.unity.support.test.0: ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu14 Architecture: amd64 CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,compiztoolbox,grid,resize,snap,vpswitch,move,mousepoll,wall,place,imgpng,gnomecompat,unitymtgrabhandles,regex,session,animation,fade,workarounds,scale,expo,ezoom,unityshell] CompositorRunning: None Date: Sun Nov 18 14:30:50 2012 DistUpgraded: 2012-04-29 09:57:42,118 DEBUG enabling apt cron job DistroCodename: precise DistroVariant: ubuntu ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, GraphicsCard: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI RV710 [Mobility Radeon HD 4300 Series] [1002:9552] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller]) Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device [103c:3652] InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" - Release amd64 (20101007) MachineType: Hewlett-Packard Presario CQ61 Notebook PC ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-3.2.0-33-generic root=/dev/mapper/vg--hostname-lv--ubuntu ro vga=795 quiet splash vt.handoff=7 SourcePackage: xserver-xorg-video-ati UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-04-29 (203 days ago) dmi.bios.date: 10/10/2009 dmi.bios.vendor: Hewlett-Packard dmi.bios.version: F.07 dmi.board.name: 3652 dmi.board.vendor: Quanta dmi.board.version: 42.14 dmi.chassis.type: 10 dmi.chassis.vendor: Quanta dmi.chassis.version: N/A dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnHewlett-Packard:bvrF.07:bd10/10/2009:svnHewlett-Packard:pnPresarioCQ61NotebookPC:pvr0392100000210D10000020000:rvnQuanta:rn3652:rvr42.14:cvnQuanta:ct10:cvrN/A: dmi.product.name: Presario CQ61 Notebook PC dmi.product.version: 0392100000210D10000020000 dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.7.8-0ubuntu1.4 version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.32-1ubuntu1 version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 8.0.4-0ubuntu0.2 version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 8.0.4-0ubuntu0.2 version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.11.4-0ubuntu10.8 version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.7.0-0ubuntu1.2 version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99~git20111219.aacbd629-0ubuntu2 version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.17.0-1ubuntu4.2 version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20111201+b5534a1-1build2 --- .tmp.unity.support.test.0: ApportVersion: 2.12.7-0ubuntu6 Architecture: amd64 CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins' CompositorRunning: compiz CompositorUnredirectDriverBlacklist: '(nouveau|Intel).*Mesa 8.0' CompositorUnredirectFSW: true CurrentDesktop: Unity DistUpgraded: Fresh install DistroCodename: trusty DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04 DistroVariant: ubuntu ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes GraphicsCard: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] RV710/M92 [Mobility Radeon HD 4330/4350/4550] [1002:9552] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller]) Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device [103c:3652] InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-01-09 (0 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Alpha amd64 (20140109) MachineType: Hewlett-Packard Presario CQ61 Notebook PC MarkForUpload: True Package: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.2.0-0ubuntu10 PackageArchitecture: amd64 ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-1-generic root=UUID=dcaf769c-8952-4172-96d9-da86251503c1 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-1.16-generic 3.13.0-rc7 Tags: trusty ubuntu reproducible compiz-0.9 Uname: Linux 3.13.0-1-generic x86_64 UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo dmi.bios.date: 05/17/2010 dmi.bios.vendor: Hewlett-Packard dmi.bios.version: F.15 dmi.board.name: 3652 dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard dmi.board.version: 42.15 dmi.chassis.type: 10 dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard dmi.chassis.version: N/A dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnHewlett-Packard:bvrF.15:bd05/17/2010:svnHewlett-Packard:pnPresarioCQ61NotebookPC:pvr0392100000210D10000020000:rvnHewlett-Packard:rn3652:rvr42.15:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct10:cvrN/A: dmi.product.name: Presario CQ61 Notebook PC dmi.product.version: 0392100000210D10000020000 dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.10+13.10.20131011-0ubuntu1 version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.50-1 version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 10.0.1-1ubuntu2 version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 10.0.1-1ubuntu2 version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.14.5-1ubuntu2 version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.8.2-1ubuntu1 version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.2.0-0ubuntu10 version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.907-0ubuntu1 version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.10-1ubuntu1 xserver.bootTime: Thu Jan 9 19:07:18 2014 xserver.configfile: default xserver.errors: xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log xserver.version: 2:1.14.5-1ubuntu2 xserver.video_driver: radeon To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/xserver-xorg-driver-ati/+bug/1080350/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages Post to : desktop-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
