Arch Linux

Zibi1981

Member

From: Poland

Registered: 2008-01-31

Posts: 717

[SOLVED] Setting max frequency for a single core of a multi-core CPU

Maybe a simple question, but couldn't find the proper answer anywhere: how can I set an upper frequency limit for a particular CPU core in a multi-core Intel CPU using intel_pstate driver?

When I try to do this according to Arch wiki I'm getting this

LC_ALL=C.UTF-8 sudo cpupower frequency-set -c 2 -u 5600000
frequency-set: invalid option -- 'c'
invalid or unknown argument

Last edited by Zibi1981 (2025-02-13 21:36:12)

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V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 24,119

Re: [SOLVED] Setting max frequency for a single core of a multi-core CPU

Generally not directly possible, unless you set intel_pstate=per_cpu_perf_limits on the kernel cmdline: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/ … ate-limits

The more important question, what do you aim to gain by doing that? If you have single core loads that need to boost the defaults should work pretty fine, and afaik effective frequency setting is generally not a concept on intel_pstate, you might have to fallback to cpufreq.

Zibi1981

Member

From: Poland

Registered: 2008-01-31

Posts: 717

Re: [SOLVED] Setting max frequency for a single core of a multi-core CPU

OK, thank you. The issue with my CPU is that it has eight P-cores, two of which can turbo-boost up to 5,6Ghz, whereas the other six only up to 5,4Ghz. I've found out that most probably those two 5,6GHz boosting up to their maximum cause some kind of instability, but fortunately I can set them down with the general cpupower frequency-set -u command without affecting the other cores.

I wasn't sure what's possible and what's not with the intel_pstate driver, the wiki seems to state that this was possible. On some laptops under Windows core-specific frequency setting can be achieved with the Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel® XTU).

Last edited by Zibi1981 (2025-02-13 21:35:22)

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"... being a Linux user is sort of like living in a house inhabited by a large family of carpenters and architects. Every morning when you wake up, the house is a little different. Maybe there is a new turret, or some walls have moved. Or perhaps someone has temporarily removed the floor under your bed."

MSI Raider GE78HX 13VI-032PL