Arch Linux

NotMyTpm

Member

Registered: 2025-12-20

Posts: 4

Why does Linux think my CPU is out of spec?

Hello. I got a kernel panic. They aren't common (once a year or so) and I'm not concerned. But I got to see the new DRM-based BSOD that allows me to actually get the kernel log in a format I can read. Something I noticed is that under Tainted: "CPU_OUT_OF_SPEC" is listed. I'm on Raptor Lake and I really hope I didn't accidentally overclock my CPU. I looked in the BIOS and my CPU isn't overclocked and is at the "Intel Default" power limit.

I really want to know what I'm doing that's OOS so I don't kill my delicate CPU early.

Is there a way to find what makes Linux think my CPU is out-of-spec?

NotMyTpm

Member

Registered: 2025-12-20

Posts: 4

Re: Why does Linux think my CPU is out of spec?

The BSOD is completely unrelated. I'm not concerned but it's what signaled me to this. I don't think this and the BSOD are related.

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 73,429

Re: Why does Linux think my CPU is out of spec?

But I got to see the new DRM-based BSOD that allows me to actually get the kernel log in a format I can read.

If you want have any chance to get an informed comment on the situation you'll have to share that.
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=57855

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NotMyTpm

Member

Registered: 2025-12-20

Posts: 4

Re: Why does Linux think my CPU is out of spec?

But I got to see the new DRM-based BSOD that allows me to actually get the kernel log in a format I can read.

If you want have any chance to get an informed comment on the situation you'll have to share that.
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=57855

Hello. Please actually read my post instead of skimming it. I want to know how Linux knows a CPU is out of spec. Just ignore the BSOD part;.

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 73,429

Re: Why does Linux think my CPU is out of spec?

I read your post, https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/ … rnels.html

If you want an *informed* comment on what the actual cause might be, you'll have to provide some actual data on the system but I understand you're just to lazy to Google yourself.

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loqs

Member

Registered: 2014-03-06

Posts: 18,796

Re: Why does Linux think my CPU is out of spec?

The kernel will add TAINT_CPU_OUT_OF_SPEC for multiple different reasons only one of which is overclocking.  Most if not all the locations where the taint is set emit a warning message which can be accessed by `dmesg`/`journalctl`.  You have not shared the output of either so how can anyone tell you why TAINT_CPU_OUT_OF_SPEC is being set in your specific instance?  If you want to know all the possible reasons you can read the kernel's source.

Last edited by loqs (2026-02-14 19:39:41)