[RTX 2080 Super] Cannot control fan speed on Colorful iGame Vulcan (Error assigning GPUTargetFanSpeed)

Graphics / Linux Linux
1

[RTX 2080 Super] Cannot control fan speed on Colorful iGame Vulcan (Error assigning GPUTargetFanSpeed)

System version Ubuntu24.04.4LTS

Environment

  • OS: Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS
  • Kernel: 6.17.0-35-generic
  • GPU: Colorful iGame GeForce RTX 2080 Super Vulcan
  • Driver: nvidia-driver-550
  • nvidia-settings version: 510.47.03

What I’ve tried

  • Enabled CoolBits 28 (sudo nvidia-xconfig --cool-bits=28)
  • Ran with sudo: sudo nvidia-settings -a "[gpu:0]/GPUFanControlState=1" -a "[fan:0]/GPUTargetFanSpeed=80"
  • Also tried using CoolerControl and GreenWithEnvy (Flatpak)
  • Reinstalled driver (535, 550)
  • Freshly repasted GPU (thermal paste OK)
  • The card works perfectly under Windows with iGame Center.

Expected behavior

Fan speed should be adjustable manually, or at least ramp up automatically when GPU hits 83°C to prevent throttling.Correction: The fans are spinning, but at a very low RPM (almost silent) even when the GPU reaches 83°C and starts throttling. The issue is not that fans don’t spin at all, but that the fan speed does not ramp up sufficiently under load to prevent overheating and downclocking. Manual control via nvidia-settings fails with ERROR: Error assigning value to 'GPUTargetFanSpeed'. The card is a Colorful iGame GeForce RTX 2080 Super Vulcan.

Additional info

  • nvidia-smi --query-gpu=fan.speed --format=csv shows 0 % even at 83°C.
  • Screenshot of error attached.Correction: The fans are spinning, but at a very low RPM (almost silent) even when the GPU reaches 83°C and starts throttling. The issue is not that fans don’t spin at all, but that the fan speed does not ramp up sufficiently under load to prevent overheating and downclocking. Manual control via nvidia-settings fails with ERROR: Error assigning value to 'GPUTargetFanSpeed'. The card is a Colorful iGame GeForce RTX 2080 Super Vulcan.

Thanks for any help!

2

Workaround found: Use LACT (GitHub: ilya-zlobintsev/LACT) to control fan speed and overclocking on this card. nvidia-settings fails with Unknown Error, but LACT works perfectly via NVML. Set fan curve aggressive (e.g. 100% at 75°C) and adjust power limit as needed.