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 Ubuntu-X, 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 To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/xserver-xorg-driver-ati/+bug/1080350/+subscriptions _______________________________________________ Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-x-swat Post to : ubuntu-x-swat@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-x-swat More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp