CPU Temps rising up intermittently on Dell XPS

[tjphilly]

Just switched back to PCLOS after starting here about a year ago and experimenting with Gnome and others. For all the obvious reasons, I recently decided to try the KDE route and I definitely find PCLOS to be THE only KDE OS out there (tried the other big distro's- not impressed). I only have one problem thus far. Sorry for the ambiguity but my laptop seems to start running hot ( @ 80c) for no apparent reason (nothing running ie; disc burn, etc). It is happening a few times after periods of inactivity (have tried various power mgmt options)  as well as a few other random times. I have:
1. Instituted Tex's rec to govern my temps via CL
2. Cut off desktop effects
This is isolated to PCLOS (or I suspect KDE) and has not been an issue before.
Having a satellite connection, I have to schedule larger downloads in early AM which is a no go until I can hopefully resolve this issue.
PS..scoured gogle/forums to no avail on any obvious bugs or fixes.
Thanks for a great distro!!!
Troy P
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Processor: ‎Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     T7250  @ 2.00GHz
Memory: 3039 total    used/free 1356/1683
Motherboard: SMBIOS 2.4 present.
44 structures occupying 1958 bytes.
Table at 0x000F71D0. Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Graphic Card: nVidia Corporation G86 [GeForce 8400M GS] (rev a1)
Hard Drive: ATA 160gig
OS: PCLOS KDE 2011.09

     

[AS]

Hi tjphilly and welcome!

I own also own a DELL laptop, same SMBIOS, 8600M GS, CPU T8100 ... but can't replicate your issue.
(the GPU temp is still high, approx 60 C, but the CPU usually is around 40 C, effects are enabled in my case).

When you refer about 80 C temperature is this CPU temp or GPU temp (nVidia) ?

AS

[tjphilly]

That would be the GPU (it typically is low 60's)  - should have clarified that. I am going to leave it a few times this evening and see if it gets hot .  I only have one power mgmt setting currently and i I'll change it to suspend in ten minutes just to be cautious. Unfortunately, I am worried about waking up again to a hot laptop so I will abstain from any torrents or scheduled downloads. Is there a CL or script (I've only been on Linux for a year so 90% noob) where I can have an automatic shutdown based on xx temperature or similar?
TKS!

[AS]

That would be the GPU (it typically is low 60's)  - should have clarified that. I am going to leave it a few times this evening and see if it gets hot .  I only have one power mgmt setting currently and i I'll change it to suspend in ten minutes just to be cautious. Unfortunately, I am worried about waking up again to a hot laptop so I will abstain from any torrents or scheduled downloads. Is there a CL or script (I've only been on Linux for a year so 90% noob) where I can have an automatic shutdown based on xx temperature or similar?
TKS!

Try to install nvidia-settings and check if powermizer is set to adaptive or not.
screenshots here:
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,95967.msg811044.html#msg811044

About automatic shutdown based on temp ... "mon" should do, never used or tested, but I think you should be able
to find the cause because your card is widely used and apparently no one report issue about excessive heating.

[tjphilly]

Tks AS:
I have had that set for a while. I actually had a screensaver activated under "display" that I evidently forgot about as I had everything turned off under power mgmt.  I let the screensaver activate after discovering and the temp rose pretty quick. Not a big deal as I can do without that. If I see more (other) specific issues, I'll revisit. (Knew there was a reason that in a year of distro hopping, I had never asked a question - as when I did it would end up like this one!!)
Thanks again....

[AS]