Hy to everyone and sorry for my bad english…i installed suse 11.3 KDE 4.5 is my first experience with linux world , and i have some problem with cpu frequency that is fix to 800mhz…when i turn on my pc scaling is working correct (800-1800mhz) after 10-15 min that i use is fix to 800mhz and off course notebook show me very bad performance when example i look i video…there is some solution? i ask also in suse irc but some people say that also them have same problem and probably is a bug of OS…is true? i have to leave suse for this reason?
On 08/22/2010 12:36 PM, Torakiki76 wrote:
>
> Hy to everyone and sorry for my bad english…i installed suse 11.3 KDE
> 4.5 is my first experience with linux world , and i have some problem
> with cpu frequency that is fix to 800mhz…when i turn on my pc scaling
> is working correct (800-1800mhz) after 10-15 min that i use is fix to
> 800mhz and off course notebook show me very bad performance when example
> i look i video…there is some solution? i ask also in suse irc but some
> people say that also them have same problem and probably is a bug of
> OS…is true? i have to leave suse for this reason?
If there is a bug in the CPU frequency, it is probably in the kernel, not in
openSUSE. I do not normally run the standard kernel, but for my configuration my
AMD CPUs (dual core 2.0 GHz) are usually running at 800 MHz as shown by the
command ‘cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep MHz’. As needed, the cpu frequency is increased.
You can check the configuration with the command
zcat /proc/config.gz | grep CPU_FREQ
On my 64-bit system, this shows
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ=y
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_TABLE=y
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEBUG is not set
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_STAT=m
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_STAT_DETAILS=y
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEFAULT_GOV_PERFORMANCE 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=m
ok i tried your command:
linux-rx5c:~> zcat /proc/config.gz | grep CPU_FREQ
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ=y
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_TABLE=y
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEBUG=y
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_STAT=m
CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_STAT_DETAILS=y
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=m
my system is 32-bit…
my impression is that something depends of temperature of my pc, when i make cold start directly in suse scaling is working good more time than when is already hot…example before i was using windows for see a match in streaming over internet when finish the match i pass to suse and is fix to 800 mhz directly from beginning…maybe is stupid thing i dont know, like i say in my first post i am newbie with linux and suse system…
what i can do?
On 08/22/2010 05:06 PM, Torakiki76 wrote:
>
> ok i tried your command:
>
> linux-rx5c:~> zcat /proc/config.gz | grep CPU_FREQ
> CONFIG_CPU_FREQ=y
> CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_TABLE=y
> CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_DEBUG=y
> CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_STAT=m
> CONFIG_CPU_FREQ_STAT_DETAILS=y
> # 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=m
>
> my system is 32-bit…
>
> my impression is that something depends of temperature of my pc, when i
> make cold start directly in suse scaling is working good more time than
> when is already hot…example before i was using windows for see a match
> in streaming over internet when finish the match i pass to suse and is
> fix to 800 mhz directly from beginning…maybe is stupid thing i dont
> know, like i say in my first post i am newbie with linux and suse
> system…
> what i can do?
The only difference between your configuration and mine is that you have
debugging enabled. That will not be important.
Is your fan working? If not, the system would be keeping the CPU frequency down
to protect it. You can see the CPU temperature by
cat /proc/acpi/thermal_zone/TZS0/temperature
If that fails, the directory TZS0 may not be correct. BTW, my CPU temp is 40 C.
If your fan is working, you might try cleaning it to improve its efficiency.
yes fun is working, this fun have 3 speed mode depends of the temp., the notebook that i use have tempereture issue from when i bought it, is a defect of this model of Acer, with a normal use the temperature is around 50-55°C…but with windows i never had any problem…if the problem is the temp. there is any way to change some parameters to avoid the protection of the system? now i am out of my home this evening when i come back ill try and post results of your command…
I have had the opposite problem (“on demand” stuck on full CPU speed) but in my case it was specific to KDE (Powerdevil?), not the kernel. Gnome was OK. Have a look at Comment 1 appended to:
https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=600477
and the bug linked within that comment.
Optional (but recommended) additional reading:
https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=612131
https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=623355
https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=615644
https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=596896 (Comment 2: Case of a similar Gnome problem?!!)
I think I should point out that I am not a champion of either Gnome or KDE (I have both desktops installed and find them both useful in different contexts).
If you wish to check whether the Gnome desktop can help diagnose your problem, then have a look at
bluetooth does not work with kde modules, but it works with blueman and nautilus ?
…in Reply#2 I describe how to add the Gnome desktop to a KDE based system. After the experiment you can stick with KDE (and even remove Gnome), but under the circumstances I reckon this simple experiment is well worth a try.
Terry.
I have a single AMD Sempron Processor 3100+ (64bit) 1.8 GHz that steps between 1000MHz and 1800MHz. It’s mounted on an Asus mobo with onboard graphics chip, only one cpu fan, in an older desktop PC. My normal cpu operating temperatures will be lower than yours, probably. Today its running at 28-30°C (ambient temp is 20°C here).
I have a default install of 11.3 (desktop kernel) with KDE 4.4.4, fully updated.
Result of
zcat /proc/config.gz | grep CPU_FREQ
is exactly as yours with debugging enabled. (different on 11.2 default, with debugging disabled).
Result of
cat /proc/acpi/thermal_zone/TZS0/temperature
fails here since directory /proc/acpi/thermal_zone is empty.
To monitor my cpu temp., fan, and mobo voltages, I use the commandline package “sensors”. You can install it from 11.3 oss repo e.g. in a terminal with:
sudo zypper install sensors
Once installed, you run it by entering sensors at the commandline. In previous releases, I had to modify a configuration file to setup and read the correct sensors for my mobo and chipset. I am very happy as on 11.3, “sensors” seems to have picked up the relevant sensors without my intervention, although I haven’t had time yet to check all the detail. You may not be so lucky, but I recommend you try it out. For background information see the lm-sensors website here, it includes an FAQ. Success depends on what monitoring chip(s) came with your hardware.
Here is the output from running my “sensors” unmodified:
k8temp-pci-00c3
Adapter: PCI adapter
Core0 Temp: +28.0°C
atk0110-acpi-0
Adapter: ACPI interface
Vcore Voltage: +1.13 V (min = +0.80 V, max = +1.80 V)
+3.3 Voltage: +3.18 V (min = +2.97 V, max = +3.63 V)
+5 Voltage: +5.21 V (min = +4.50 V, max = +5.50 V)
+12 Voltage: +12.14 V (min = +10.20 V, max = +13.80 V)
CPU FAN Speed: 3199 RPM (min = 1800 RPM)
CHASSIS FAN Speed: 0 RPM (min = 1200 RPM)
POWER FAN Speed: 0 RPM (min = 1800 RPM)
CPU Temperature: +32.0°C (high = +60.0°C, crit = +95.0°C)
MB Temperature: +32.0°C (high = +45.0°C, crit = +95.0°C)
The important sensor here is the Core0 temp. My cpu has an embedded sensor, whereas the other temperatures are from sensors on the mobo. I don’t think the earlier semprons had the K8temp core sensor.
There is also a fan on my power supply, but that has never been monitored by “sensors”. There is no chassis mounted fan.
BTW, upto and including 11.2 there was a ksensors package in packman’s repo that provides a simple GUI and easy setup, but it’s not there for 11.3 so far.
Come back with any further questions on the above, and we will try to help. 
Thanks to everybody for your support…so now i am almost sure that the problem is temperature of my pc…i installed sensors package and i check every time the temp and cpu frequency untill when working correct, i discovered that under 50°C of Core0 temp the scaling was working correct (without any program open temp was around 40°C), after i open mozilla and i start a flash application in 2 min temp go up untill 55°C, start second speed of fun and fix to 800mhz with bad perfomance of system…this is what i see now and frequency i still fix at 800:
linux-rx5c:~> sensors
acpitz-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1: +84.0°C (crit = +102.0°C)
temp2: +72.0°C (crit = +83.0°C)
temp3: +85.0°C (crit = +115.0°C)
k8temp-pci-00c3
Adapter: PCI adapter
Core0 Temp: +51.0°C
linux-rx5c:~> cat /proc/acpi/thermal_zone/TZS0/temperature
temperature: 84 C
like your advice ill try also to install GNOME desktop but before i want try to resolve if possible the problem in KDE…
What i can do now?
now temperature go down to 45°C but still fix to 800 and fun working to second speed, i have to reboot for take again normal condition…
i was checking your procedure for try to install GNOME but when i select Gnome desktop environment appear a alert conflict message with KDE…so i stop there…
You can check the cpu utilization of running processes by entering “top” at the commandline of terminal. It uses less overhead than GUI based performance monitors. See how that correlates with periodic core temperature measurements. Top will also tell you about memory usage.
i checked already yesterday and i didnt see anything strange…all process working normal and more process was opened more temperature going up…when i close application temp go down…also for memory didnt use more than 30% with a lot of program opened…
i post also kernel version:
uname -r
2.6.34-12-desktop
i have to say that with windows xp i never had any problem with frequency of cpu in 6 years that i use…and also in windows temperature of my notebook is very high!! so the problem is in OS not in my hw this is sure!
something very strange: when i start cold my pc everything working good when temperature go up over 50°C frequency fix to 800mhz and start second speed of fun, after also if the temp go down frequency remain fix to 800 and fun still running at second speed…for take normal condition again i have to reboot…so there is something wrong in Suse or in Kernel…there is anything I can do other than continue to monitor parameters?
Isn’t this CPU 64bit compatible? I have 11.3 running on a Sempron 2800+, i.e. the 64bit version, the stepping of the CPU is fine, like it should be. I suggest you download a 64bit KDE4 Live-CD, boot from it and see if the problem occurs. If not, I’d reinstall from the Live-CD, keeping your /home etc.
This i dont know i never try to install a 64bit os…may you link me where i can take live-cd? there is any problem to launch live-cd with already installed Suse in my pc?
From this post, you are saying that temperature is not a problem. The cpu utilization is ok and correlates ok with running processes. It appears that your machine is behaving as mine does, and I would expect your notebook to reach higher temperatures than my desktop pc.
After the boot process settles, your machine should step down to 800MHz (mine 1000MHz). It will only step up to 1800MHz when the load on the processor requires it to do that. When it steps up to 1800MHz, Core0 temperature will increase. Once the load decreases as processes complete, the cpu will step down to 800MHz and remain there until the demand on the processor significantly increases. After a lag, the temperature should decrease (maybe only sightly). My Sempron runs most of the time at the lower rate. For example, given I have integrated video chip, if I stream a Flash based video remotely across the internet, my processor immediately steps up to 1800MHz and stays there until it finishes before stepping down to 1000MHz. However if I play a video locally (Flash not involved), the processor steps up briefly and steps down to the lower rate for the duration of the video, and stays there. If I open several windows, it won’t step the processor up unless one ore more of the windows run cpu intensive processes.
Running the processor at the lower rate saves power and lengthens its life.
It has nothing to do with 64bit versus 32bit. I have run them both on my processor and the stepping between the two rates works the same way. In fact on the Sempron machine I am considering returning to 32bit to see if I can pack in more concurrent processes, as a post in another recent thread suggested. My 64bit Sempron did not come with the extra h/w virtualization support, so I can’t run 64bit guest operating systems with VirtualBox - only 32bit guests.
How much real memory is installed on your machine?
2gb installed
Yes also for me in normal condition example in windows xp the cpu work like your…the problem in suse for what i understand is that when i reach a “medium” temp of cpu the step between 800-1800 stop to work and stay fix in 800 also if system ask more frequency to cpu, for this reason i see bad performance…other strange think is the fun that start to running with second speed over 50°C and dont come back to first speed also if temp decrease, i have to reboot for have again normal condition of frequency and fun speed…
How do you know it has “stop to work”. There may just be no demand for it to increase at that point?
How do you know that the system is asking for more frequency? How are you measuring that?
This doesn’t surprise me, and I believe I have seen this lack of fan speed reduction before on mine. It’s not a show-stopper. I have been using my Sempron from 10.1 through to openSUSE 11.3. Some time back I researched the control of the AMD cpu fan, and the support of AMD’s Cool 'n Quiet technology. At that time there was doubt about the accuracy of the monitoring of the Fan’s sensor. In any case, monitoring is one thing, but additional software was then needed to correctly control the cpu fan i.e. reduce speed once temperature lowered (i.e. the Quiet). It was clear then, that openSUSE or Linux didn’t provide this support (I’m not sure, but Window’s probably did provide that support). I haven’t checked for at last two openSUSE releases. I guess for Linux, it would require kernel or kernel module support for the AMD Cool 'n Quiet technology.
Simply monitoring the cpu during a flash application for example…when a i start the application cpu increase to 1800 and everythink working good, after 2-3 min when used the application cpu decrease to 800 (start fan 2° speed and increase temp.) and start also bad perfomance of system and flash application with lag…
also i see that in normal condition when the load of cpu reach 80-90% step correct to 1600-1800 mhz, in “bad” condition cpu load reach also 90-100% but without make any step, fix at 800mhz…then over the lags on flash or other application you can also understand and feel that system is not reactive like before…