Compile a Kernel with Laptop Fan Disabled?

[jakfish]

Looking at the nicely-written tutorial: [HowTo] Build your very first custom kernel

I would like to compile a kernel for a umpc similar to the GPD P3, a kernel that disables the fan completely.

This device has no fan control in BIOS and no ability to undervolt. The device idles at 33 Celsius, but the fan comes on-off at 34 Celsius, even with wifi disabled and mere word processing. It’s incredibly annoying.

My computing needs are very basic and in xfce, I can monitor the cpu temperature assiduously for spikes, so if a compiled, fan-less kernel ends up in a temperature danger zone, I’ll bail and go back to the stock 6.12

I understand the risks of this venture.

In the kernel config, what can I tick to disable fan completely?

Many thanks.

[ben75]

You can probably blacklist the module for your fan without recompiling the kernel. I don’t know which module that would be.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Kernel_module#Blacklisting

[jakfish]

Much obliged for your quick response. But I’ve explored that to no avail.

[ben75]

Another article that might be helpful:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Fan_speed_control

[jakfish]

Thanks. I had already gave that a whirl but lm-sensors/pwconfig can’t find fan control.

[jakfish]

Utilizing the low-powered nature of the N100, I simply opened the case and disconnected the fan.

Even yt-viewing doesn’t bump the cpu temperature past 43C.

[Nachlese]

@jakfish

I simply opened the case and disconnected the fan.

… the real hackers

that is what I’d have done as well if there was no software solution and the risk of frying the system was low.

[ben75]

The fan control might be hard-coded into the BIOS and not user-configurable.

[jakfish]

Considering that I found no fan control in BIOS, Linux, or Win11, it would appear that things were hard-coded–I don’t know why the manufacturer would build in such a low temperature threshold.

@ Nachlese Until somebody came up with a fan control program, I ran an Asus EEE 900 fanless.without complaint.

But I’m a user-lite–wp, email, browse. I wouldn’t compile on a fanless N100, but I don’t think I’d compile on a N100 in any circumstance.