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#1 2011-03-11 00:53:31

estan
Member
Registered: 2011-03-11
Posts: 13

CPU frequency scaling dual Opteron 252 on MSI K8N Master2-FAR reboots!

I'm trying to get CPU frequency scaling working on an old MSI K8N Master2-FAR motherboard running dual Opteron 252.

After a BIOS upgrade to version 1.44 from MSI, the 'powernow-k8' module loaded without problems. Here's the dmesg output:

powernow-k8: Found 1 AMD Processor Model Unknown (2 cpu cores) (version 2.20.00)
powernow-k8:    0 : fid 0x12 (2600 MHz), vid 0x6
powernow-k8:    1 : fid 0x10 (2400 MHz), vid 0x8
powernow-k8:    2 : fid 0xe (2200 MHz), vid 0xa
powernow-k8:    3 : fid 0xc (2000 MHz), vid 0xc
powernow-k8:    4 : fid 0xa (1800 MHz), vid 0xe
powernow-k8:    5 : fid 0x2 (1000 MHz), vid 0x12
powernow-k8:    0 : fid 0x12 (2600 MHz), vid 0x6
powernow-k8:    1 : fid 0x10 (2400 MHz), vid 0x8
powernow-k8:    2 : fid 0xe (2200 MHz), vid 0xa
powernow-k8:    3 : fid 0xc (2000 MHz), vid 0xc
powernow-k8:    4 : fid 0xa (1800 MHz), vid 0xe
powernow-k8:    5 : fid 0x2 (1000 MHz), vid 0x12

and cpufreq-info shows:

cpufrequtils 008: cpufreq-info (C) Dominik Brodowski 2004-2009
Report errors and bugs to cpufreq@vger.kernel.org, please.
analyzing CPU 0:
  driver: powernow-k8
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 0
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 0
  maximum transition latency: 109 us.
  hardware limits: 1000 MHz - 2.60 GHz
  available frequency steps: 2.60 GHz, 2.40 GHz, 2.20 GHz, 2.00 GHz, 1.80 GHz, 1000 MHz
  available cpufreq governors: conservative, ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 1000 MHz and 2.60 GHz.
                  The governor "performance" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 2.60 GHz.
analyzing CPU 1:
  driver: powernow-k8
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 1
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 1
  maximum transition latency: 109 us.
  hardware limits: 1000 MHz - 2.60 GHz
  available frequency steps: 2.60 GHz, 2.40 GHz, 2.20 GHz, 2.00 GHz, 1.80 GHz, 1000 MHz
  available cpufreq governors: conservative, ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 1000 MHz and 2.60 GHz.
                  The governor "performance" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 2.60 GHz.

I can also load the two governer modules cpufreq_conservative and cpufreq_ondemand without any problems.

However, whenever I try to change the scaling governor to anything else than the default (performance), by running e.g.

cpufreq-set -r -g ondemand

I get an immediate reboot!

Here's also my /proc/cpuinfo:

processor       : 0
vendor_id       : AuthenticAMD
cpu family      : 15
model           : 37
model name      : AMD Processor Model Unknown
stepping        : 1
cpu MHz         : 2600.000
cache size      : 1024 KB
fpu             : yes
fpu_exception   : yes
cpuid level     : 1
wp              : yes
flags           : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt lm 3dnowext 3dnow rep_good nopl pni lahf_lm
bogomips        : 5229.72
TLB size        : 1024 4K pages
clflush size    : 64
cache_alignment : 64
address sizes   : 40 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
power management: ts fid vid ttp

processor       : 1
vendor_id       : AuthenticAMD
cpu family      : 15
model           : 37
model name      : AMD Processor Model Unknown
stepping        : 1
cpu MHz         : 2600.000
cache size      : 1024 KB
fpu             : yes
fpu_exception   : yes
cpuid level     : 1
wp              : yes
flags           : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt lm 3dnowext 3dnow rep_good nopl pni lahf_lm
bogomips        : 5228.22
TLB size        : 1024 4K pages
clflush size    : 64
cache_alignment : 64
address sizes   : 40 bits physical, 48 bits virtual                                                                                                                                                                                          
power management: ts fid vid ttp

I'm running an up-to-date Arch Linux (x64).

Anyone have this board working with frequency scaling and dual CPUs? Would love to get it to work as I'm more interested in silence than in performance, and frequency scaling would allow my fans to spin down a bit when I'm not doing CPU intensive work.

Best regards,
Elvis

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#2 2011-03-11 11:05:33

nTia89
Banned
From: varese, italy
Registered: 2008-12-22
Posts: 1,230

Re: CPU frequency scaling dual Opteron 252 on MSI K8N Master2-FAR reboots!

i have a 175 so only 1 cpu and powernow-k8 works very well for me.

first: i noticed that your cpus are not identified, so report its to "cpufreq@vger.kernel.org" as described in cpufreq

second: -r switch is deprecated
third: try to specify cpu number
last: check in your BIOS settings ... i know that Cool'n'Quiet must be enabled

where did you catch 1.44 BIOS ? msi website say the latest is 1.42 ?!!?!?!?!


+pc: custom | AMD Opteron 175 | nForce4 Ultra | 2GB ram DDR400 | nVidia 9800GT 1GB | ArchLinux x86_64 w/ openbox
+laptop: Apple | MacBook (2,1) | 2GB ram | Mac OS X 10.4 -> DIED
+ultrabook: Dell | XPS 13 (9343) | 8GB ram | 256GB ssd | FullHD display | Windows 8.1 64bit ArchLinux x86_64 w/ Gnome

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#3 2011-03-11 13:49:47

estan
Member
Registered: 2011-03-11
Posts: 13

Re: CPU frequency scaling dual Opteron 252 on MSI K8N Master2-FAR reboots!

Hi nTia89.

nTia89 wrote:

i have a 175 so only 1 cpu and powernow-k8 works very well for me.

Glad to hear it.

nTia89 wrote:

first: i noticed that your cpus are not identified, so report its to "cpufreq@vger.kernel.org" as described in cpufreq

I believe this to be a BIOS bug, as the BIOS also identifies it as Unknown. It might have to do with it being a pretty obscure model OSP252FAABL, not the regular OSA252FAABL. I think this OSP model was only sold to system builders such as IBM. It's the same as a OSA only with a different power limit specification or something (I think). The OSP is not even included in AMD Opteron(tm) Processor Power and Thermal Data Sheet [1]. I don't think AMD meant for these to be sold to end consumers. Found mine on eBay, propably ripped from some IBM or HP server.

nTia89 wrote:

second: -r switch is deprecated

Oh didn't know that. Anyway, I looked at the source and it's doing exactly the same as -c N, just for all CPUs.

nTia89 wrote:

third: try to specify cpu number

I forgot to say, that was the first thing I tried. With the same result; instantaneous reboot hmm

nTia89 wrote:

last: check in your BIOS settings ... i know that Cool'n'Quiet must be enabled

The thing is, I used to have the Cool'n'Quiet option when I was running on 1.1 BIOS, but now that I've upgraded to 1.42, that option is gone (!). There is one option called "Performance"-something which I can set to "Performance" and "Optimal" (I think those were the options). The Optimal is described in the BIOS help as something that will save battery. Perhaps this is really Cool'n'Quiet just that they've changed the name in BIOS for some reason? I can't find a proper changelog for the BIOS. Anyway, when I try to set it to "Optimal", the machine will just power itself on for a couple of seconds and then shut down, so I had to do a CMOS reset.

where did you catch 1.44 BIOS ? msi website say the latest is 1.42 ?!!?!?!?!

Sorry, my mistake. I meant 1.42 of course.

Any other ideas? What mainboard are you running on? Are you running on the same as me (MSI K8N Master2-FAR)? If so, can you see the Cool'n'Quiet option in BIOS (1.42)?

Anyone else running this specific board?

[1] http://support.amd.com/us/Processor_TechDocs/30417.pdf

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#4 2011-03-11 14:48:54

nTia89
Banned
From: varese, italy
Registered: 2008-12-22
Posts: 1,230

Re: CPU frequency scaling dual Opteron 252 on MSI K8N Master2-FAR reboots!

i am on an asus a8n-e

your (our) hardware is very particular (and unfortunately also a bit old) i suggest you to contact "cpufreq@vger.kernel.org" for this problem, maybe they can help you ......


+pc: custom | AMD Opteron 175 | nForce4 Ultra | 2GB ram DDR400 | nVidia 9800GT 1GB | ArchLinux x86_64 w/ openbox
+laptop: Apple | MacBook (2,1) | 2GB ram | Mac OS X 10.4 -> DIED
+ultrabook: Dell | XPS 13 (9343) | 8GB ram | 256GB ssd | FullHD display | Windows 8.1 64bit ArchLinux x86_64 w/ Gnome

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#5 2011-03-11 15:02:54

estan
Member
Registered: 2011-03-11
Posts: 13

Re: CPU frequency scaling dual Opteron 252 on MSI K8N Master2-FAR reboots!

nTia89 wrote:

i am on an asus a8n-e

your (our) hardware is very particular (and unfortunately also a bit old) i suggest you to contact "cpufreq@vger.kernel.org" for this problem, maybe they can help you ......

Yea, I'll do that. Thanks for the tip!

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