Arch Linux

deadrabbit

Member

Registered: 2008-04-26

Posts: 118

Can not get CPU Scaling to work

My computer is overheating whenever I try to compile something serious (it's a finicky, hot little small form factor computer). Anyway, I thought I fix the problem by underclocking with cpufreq, but when I run cpufreq-info, this is what I get:

cpufrequtils 004: cpufreq-info (C) Dominik Brodowski 2004-2006
Report errors and bugs to cpufreq@lists.linux.org.uk, please.
analyzing CPU 0:
  no or unknown cpufreq driver is active on this CPU
analyzing CPU 1:
  no or unknown cpufreq driver is active on this CPU

My processor is a Core 2 Duo T5600 1.83Ghz, which should support cpu scaling. Here's my uname -a:

Linux clover 2.6.26-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Tue Aug 26 21:15:43 UTC 2008 i686 Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5600 @ 1.83GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this? My computer is crashing a lot due overheating - I can't do much on it other than basic web stuff.

Thanks

somedrew

Member

From: Canada

Registered: 2007-05-14

Posts: 140

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

Is the acpi_cpufreq driver loaded?

# modprobe acpi_cpufreq

deadrabbit

Member

Registered: 2008-04-26

Posts: 118

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

I forgot to mention, running "modprobe acpi_cpufreq" produces:

FATAL: Error inserting acpi_cpufreq (/lib/modules/2.6.26-ARCH/kernel/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/cpufreq/acpi-cpufreq.ko): No such device

somedrew

Member

From: Canada

Registered: 2007-05-14

Posts: 140

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

That should be the correct driver for your processor. Are you getting any ACPI errors in dmesg?  After a little searching it seems like the issue could be due to 1)speedstep not being enabled in the BOIS or 2)proper ACPI tables for the driver are not getting exported by the BIOS (http://lkml.org/lkml/2008/6/24/334).
Hopefully it's just a config option, I'm always a little weary about BIOS updates unless they're absolutely required. Someone else may have experienced this and found another solution though.

cheers,

deadrabbit

Member

Registered: 2008-04-26

Posts: 118

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

I'm not getting any ACPI errors in dmesg, or least nothing I recognize as errors. Certainly nothing like the above link. I'll check out my BIOS settings again - the BIOS is up to date, so that shouldn't be an issue. Thanks for your help.

deadrabbit

Member

Registered: 2008-04-26

Posts: 118

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

Is anyone else at least seeing this problem? Is it just me? I really don't want to switch distros over this, but it makes my core 2 duo desktop more useless than an atom processor . . .

tam1138

Member

Registered: 2007-09-10

Posts: 238

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

A lot of other people have seen this problem; a search of the forums will result in lots of complaints, but no solutions, sadly.

somedrew

Member

From: Canada

Registered: 2007-05-14

Posts: 140

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

Shouldn't this be strictly kernel/ACPI/BIOS related? If your BIOS is ruled out there might be some undetected conflict with the former two. It might not help but what about running your own barebones custom kernel in case there may be some unwanted interaction underlying this issue with the greatly-inclusive Arch kernel config?

If you have any live CDs hanging around, is scaling working on those distros?

HTH,

Last edited by somedrew (2008-09-04 04:36:23)

deadrabbit

Member

Registered: 2008-04-26

Posts: 118

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

I've tried building a vanilla kernel26 package, but ironically, the computer overheats and crashes before the build finishes . . . I guess I'll throw an Ubuntu cd in there and see what happens when I get a chance. Thanks for the suggestion.

corleone

Member

Registered: 2007-10-17

Posts: 13

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

I have the same problem (Core2Duo e6320), but I don't know the solution.

CyberCill

Member

Registered: 2008-07-02

Posts: 1

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

Must be someting with the BIOS. I have the exact same error om my Core2Quad 2,8 but my Core2Duo 2,4 works fine. Both runs Arch64.

deadrabbit

Member

Registered: 2008-04-26

Posts: 118

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

I tried an Ubuntu live CD - no luck there either. Like everyone else, I'm concluding that the BIOS doesn't support CPU scaling. Damn you Phoenix, you don't deserve the name AWARDBios. On a positive note, switching to an ADD2 card fixed my overheating problem. Now, if I could just get X work at the right resolution, I'd finally be all set . . . (http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=55433)

gav616

Member

Registered: 2008-01-16

Posts: 182

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

another one here that can't get it to work on my athlonXP 3200+
followed the arch wiki to the T

$  cpufreq-info
cpufrequtils 005: cpufreq-info (C) Dominik Brodowski 2004-2006
Report errors and bugs to cpufreq@vger.kernel.org, please.
analyzing CPU 0:
  no or unknown cpufreq driver is active on this CPU
$  sudo /etc/rc.d/cpufreq start
:: Setting cpufreq governing rules                                       [BUSY] , cpu 0wrong, unknown or unhandled CPU?
                                                                         [DONE] 
$  sudo modprobe powernow-k7
FATAL: Error inserting powernow_k7 (/lib/modules/2.6.26-ARCH/kernel/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/cpufreq/powernow-k7.ko): No such device

senjin

Member

Registered: 2006-09-15

Posts: 181

Website

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

I have the same problem with Intel Core 2. I can't modprobe acpi_cpufreq.

I doubt that it is BIOS problem since everything works fine in Windows.

cerbie

Member

Registered: 2008-03-16

Posts: 124

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

I have the same problem with Intel Core 2. I can't modprobe acpi_cpufreq.

I doubt that it is BIOS problem since everything works fine in Windows.

...that often is why there are so many BIOS problems (especially ACPI): Windows gets the testing, and Linux might not do everything just like Windows. However, if it previously worked, then it probably isn't a BIOS issue. However, there doesn't seem to be a nice log of why it thinks there's no device (every C2D should, to my knowledge).

...that said, an ADD2 card fixing overheating reads like a strange issue...do you mean an ADD2 instead of a poorly cooled video card, by any chance?

Last edited by cerbie (2009-02-23 20:37:47)

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"If the data structure can't be explained on a beer coaster, it's too complex." - Felix von Leitner

deadrabbit

Member

Registered: 2008-04-26

Posts: 118

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

...that said, an ADD2 card fixing overheating reads like a strange issue...do you mean an ADD2 instead of a poorly cooled video card, by any chance?

Yes. An ADD2 card doesn't really put out any heat, unlike graphics cards, which are notorious for heating problems. The particular case I'm using doesn't have very good ventilation, and the graphics card I tried was fanless (I'm tring to minimize noise). Anyway, I've been happy for several months using the ADD2 card. "xrandr -s 0" in my WM's autostart fixes the resolution problem.

cerbie

Member

Registered: 2008-03-16

Posts: 124

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

I'm with you on overheating...I've personally caused long-term damage to three video cards from trying to keep things both quiet and cooled.

I've never read of using xrandr automatically like that. Saved for possible future use.

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"If the data structure can't be explained on a beer coaster, it's too complex." - Felix von Leitner

Paulaner

Member

Registered: 2009-02-19

Posts: 3

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

Did you try this?

senjin

Member

Registered: 2006-09-15

Posts: 181

Website

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

Yes, and loading kernel module is the step that doesn't work.

Paulaner

Member

Registered: 2009-02-19

Posts: 3

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

Do you have laptop-mode listed in your deamons in your rc.conf file?

Last edited by Paulaner (2009-03-04 15:12:05)

senjin

Member

Registered: 2006-09-15

Posts: 181

Website

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

No. Do I need it on the desktop computer?

Edit: Anyway, I tried to run the laptop-mode daemon and it didn't help

Last edited by senjin (2009-03-10 14:02:52)

cro

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2006-01-02

Posts: 101

Re: Can not get CPU Scaling to work

I had the same problem (Core2Duo E6600, Asus P5B). BIOS update solved the issue.