I use openSUSE 12.1 (x64, KDE) and I have a AMD FX-8150 CPU (that is not overclocked). By default it operates on 1400 to 3600 MHz, also AMD use some technology “AMD Turbo CORE” that suppose to speed up frequency under heavy load up to 4200 MHz (and more if overclocked). In BIOS I’ve enabled corresponding profile and in BIOS and I do observe 4200 MHz frequency on a start-up. But in openSUSE I observe only 1400 to 3600 MHz frequency (with System Load Viewer) even under heavy load. I’ve changed Power management options in Yast from Default to Balanced Low Latency Computing, but max frequency stayed the same.
How do I milk my CPU for this 4200 MHz under load? Also 90% of the time I need only 1400 MHz so I can’t abandon powersaving options.
Try cpupower, I use it for my FX-8120
Thanks for the hint! I’ve read the documentation on its usage, and Turbo core option is mentioned as available through cpupower, but still I can’t figure out how to enable it. frequency-info does not provide valuable info on the boost state support:
:~> cpupower frequency-info
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: 8.0 us.
hardware limits: 1.40 GHz - 3.60 GHz
available frequency steps: 3.60 GHz, 3.30 GHz, 2.70 GHz, 2.10 GHz, 1.40 GHz
available cpufreq governors: conservative, userspace, powersave, ondemand, performance
current policy: frequency should be within 1.40 GHz and 3.60 GHz.
The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
within this range.
current CPU frequency is 1.40 GHz.
boost state support:
Supported: yes
Active: yes
Can you explain how do you handle it on your machine, please?
On my system cpupower frequency-info show me the boost mode frequency
and I use it to set it with cpupower frequency-set -u 4.00G for example