cpu-frequency scaling doens't work w/ 2009.2

graysky · 2009-03-29 23:10:30

Just installed 2009.2 and attempted to get cpufrequtils running. I grabbed it (pacman -S cpufrequtils) and attempted to load up the kernel mod when I was presented with the following:

# modprobe acpi-cpufreq
FATAL: Error inserting acpi_cpufreq (/lib/modules/2.6.28-ARCH/kernel/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/cpufreq/acpi-cpufreq.ko): No such device

Here is the output of cpufreq-info:

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
analyzing CPU 1:
  no or unknown cpufreq driver is active on this CPU
analyzing CPU 2:
  no or unknown cpufreq driver is active on this CPU
analyzing CPU 3:
  no or unknown cpufreq driver is active on this CPU

My hardware is an X3360 (xeon version of the Q9550) running an a P35 board. I have Debian/Lenny installed on this machine and cpufreq scaling works just fine with it using that specific kernel module. Thoughts are welcomed

Last edited by graysky (2009-03-29 23:11:10)

SkonesMickLoud · 2009-03-29 23:14:39

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/CPU … cy_Scaling

Also, do you have the acpid daemon running?

graysky · 2009-03-29 23:45:25

I know acpi_cpufreq is the right mod based on my experience under Debian. I didn't setup the acpid daemon, but I should be able to modprobe the ko without it, no?

SkonesMickLoud · 2009-03-30 00:00:42

If acpi isn't running, It would be hard for a kernel module to call acpi...

graysky · 2009-03-30 17:05:54

I tried the modprobe after install acpid and got the same result...

.:B:. · 2009-03-30 17:23:02

Did you try it only once or twice or more? I've seen people reporting that it wouldn't work the first time but would miraculously work the second or third time... Very bizarre.

graysky · 2009-03-30 17:36:38

Just tried it several times in a row.. same result I'm afraid It's almost like the kernel doesn't believe the CPU has this feature set. The really odd thing is that if I boot into Debian/Lenny-amd64, the module can be loaded-up/cpufrequtils work just fine. Seems like something related to the 2.6.28 kernel.

Last edited by graysky (2009-03-30 17:36:46)

kclive18 · 2009-03-30 17:43:41

Looks like someone posted this on the Ubuntu LaunchPad site:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sour … bug/350360

Try finding things in dmesg that pertain to acpi, or double-check the BIOS settings (it could be disabled).

EDIT: Here's another thing I found on acpi's bugzilla:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sour … bug/350360

But there don't seem to be any solutions there...but do you really need frequency scaling for a desktop/server chip? I wouldn't consider it necessary unless you're so determined to save a little electricity

Last edited by kclive18 (2009-03-30 17:46:43)

broch · 2009-03-30 17:49:05

This in fact was failing in my case too (T2500 dual core).
Recompiling custom kernel from vanilla fixed this, without messing around with rc.conf
then either used performance as default and then added to rc.local
echo "ondemand" > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor
echo "ondemand" > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu1/cpufreq/scaling_governor
or simply selected ondemand as default CPUFreq governor.

graysky · 2009-03-30 18:07:41

@broch - which version did you compile and what does your Power management and ACPI options --->CPU Frequency scaling ---> [*] CPU Frequency scaling page look like? Also, are you using the acpi-cpufreq module?

Here is mine:

[*] CPU Frequency scaling
[ ]   Enable CPUfreq debugging
<M>   CPU frequency translation statistics
[ ]     CPU frequency translation statistics details
      Default CPUFreq governor (ondemand)  --->
-*-   'performance' governor
<M>   'powersave' governor
<M>   'userspace' governor for userspace frequency scaling
-*-   'ondemand' cpufreq policy governor
<M>   'conservative' cpufreq governor
      *** CPUFreq processor drivers ***
<M>   ACPI Processor P-States driver
< >   AMD Opteron/Athlon64 PowerNow!
< >   Intel Enhanced SpeedStep (deprecated)
< >   Intel Pentium 4 clock modulation
      *** shared options ***

Also, it doesn't matter if acpi-cpufreq is a module or if I compile it into the kernel.

broch · 2009-03-30 18:32:07

vanilla 2.6.29
# CPU Frequency scaling
#
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ=y
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_TABLE=y
# CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEBUG is not set
# CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_STAT is not set
# CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEFAULT_GOV_PERFORMANCE is not set
# CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEFAULT_GOV_POWERSAVE is not set
# CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEFAULT_GOV_USERSPACE is not set
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEFAULT_GOV_ONDEMAND=y
# CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEFAULT_GOV_CONSERVATIVE is not set
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_GOV_PERFORMANCE=y
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_GOV_POWERSAVE=m
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_GOV_USERSPACE=m
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_GOV_ONDEMAND=y
# CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_GOV_CONSERVATIVE is not set

so by default there is ondemand governor set.
and when i check it:
#cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor
ondemand
#cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu1/cpufreq/scaling_governor
ondemand

or as in the case of 2.6.28.7
# CPU Frequency scaling
#
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ=y
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_TABLE=m
# CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEBUG is not set
# CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_STAT is not set
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEFAULT_GOV_PERFORMANCE=y
# CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEFAULT_GOV_POWERSAVE is not set
# CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEFAULT_GOV_USERSPACE is not set
# CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEFAULT_GOV_ONDEMAND is not set
# CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEFAULT_GOV_CONSERVATIVE is not set
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_GOV_PERFORMANCE=y
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_GOV_POWERSAVE=m
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_GOV_USERSPACE=m
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_GOV_ONDEMAND=m
# CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_GOV_CONSERVATIVE is not set

default governor is performance
and then:
/etc/rc.local
echo "ondemand" > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor
echo "ondemand" > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu1/cpufreq/scaling_governor

I have also
/etc/rc.conf
MODULES=(acpi-cpufreq)

that is all

KDE Klaptop shows default
Performance Profile::
ondemand

Thankfully Arch is using vanilla kernel so even without small patches added all functionality is preserved (unless you miss ppm but this can be easily added to the vanilla)

hope this will help

Last edited by broch (2009-03-30 18:32:57)

R00KIE · 2009-03-30 19:11:09

No acpid daemon here and it works fine.
Just insert the proper module for your cpu and the governors you want to use, you will need to insert at least cpufreq_ondemand if you want scaling (there are more governor modules). The first time load them manually to make sure you are trying to load the proper ones, if you get an error then you will know that one doesn't work for you
Also edit /etc/conf.d/cpufreq and comment the min and max frequency lines as that may be causing problems, usually letting cpufreq automatically detect the max and min speed of your cpu works just fine.
Then just (re)start cpufreq and check if it works.

graysky · 2009-03-30 20:22:57

I figured it out! I took a clue from my /var/log/dmesg

[    4.633657] [Firmware Bug]: BIOS needs update for CPU frequency support
[    4.633718] ACPI Error (psloop-0136): Found unknown opcode 20 at AML address ffff88012d27c633 offset 4F, ignoring [20080926]
[    4.633722] ACPI Error (psloop-0136): Found unknown opcode 6F at AML address ffff88012d27c638 offset 54, ignoring [20080926]
[    4.633726] ACPI Error (psloop-0136): Found unknown opcode 20 at AML address ffff88012d27c63c offset 58, ignoring [20080926]
[    4.633729] ACPI Error (psloop-0136): Found unknown opcode 6F at AML address ffff88012d27c640 offset 5C, ignoring [20080926]

That line that reads, Firmware Bug: BIOS needs update for CPU frequency support was really bugging me. So I took a risk, d/l'ed the latest BIOS for my board, flashed, reset all my custom BIOS settings, and rebooted into my new kernel. I'm now able to use acpi-cpufreq and scaling works smoothly

Thanks for all the advice.

Arch Linux

#1 2009-03-29 23:10:30

cpu-frequency scaling doens't work w/ 2009.2

#2 2009-03-29 23:14:39

Re: cpu-frequency scaling doens't work w/ 2009.2

#3 2009-03-29 23:45:25

Re: cpu-frequency scaling doens't work w/ 2009.2

#4 2009-03-30 00:00:42

Re: cpu-frequency scaling doens't work w/ 2009.2

#5 2009-03-30 17:05:54

Re: cpu-frequency scaling doens't work w/ 2009.2

#6 2009-03-30 17:23:02

Re: cpu-frequency scaling doens't work w/ 2009.2

#7 2009-03-30 17:36:38

Re: cpu-frequency scaling doens't work w/ 2009.2

#8 2009-03-30 17:43:41

Re: cpu-frequency scaling doens't work w/ 2009.2

#9 2009-03-30 17:49:05

Re: cpu-frequency scaling doens't work w/ 2009.2

#10 2009-03-30 18:07:41

Re: cpu-frequency scaling doens't work w/ 2009.2

#11 2009-03-30 18:32:07

Re: cpu-frequency scaling doens't work w/ 2009.2

#12 2009-03-30 19:11:09

Re: cpu-frequency scaling doens't work w/ 2009.2

#13 2009-03-30 20:22:57

Re: cpu-frequency scaling doens't work w/ 2009.2

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