cpupower: No HW Cstate monitors found

English Hardware
#1

Hello all,

I am running openSuSE 12.2 (x86_64)

kde4-config -v
Qt: 4.8.1
KDE Development Platform: 4.8.5 (4.8.5) "release 2"
kde4-config: 1.0

On a AMD Phenom™ II x4 965 Black Edition processor
Mounted on a ASUS M4A89GTD-PRO.

Output of

# cpufreq-info


cpufrequtils 008: cpufreq-info (C) Dominik Brodowski 2004-2009
Report errors and bugs to http://bugs.opensuse.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: 8.0 us.
  hardware limits: 800 MHz - 3.40 GHz
  available frequency steps: 3.40 GHz, 2.70 GHz, 2.20 GHz, 800 MHz
  available cpufreq governors: conservative, userspace, powersave, ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 3.40 GHz.
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 800 MHz (asserted by call to hardware).
  cpufreq stats: 3.40 GHz:22.86%, 2.70 GHz:0.67%, 2.20 GHz:5.62%, 800 MHz:70.85%  (27493)
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: 8.0 us.
  hardware limits: 800 MHz - 3.40 GHz
  available frequency steps: 3.40 GHz, 2.70 GHz, 2.20 GHz, 800 MHz
  available cpufreq governors: conservative, userspace, powersave, ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 3.40 GHz.
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 800 MHz (asserted by call to hardware).
  cpufreq stats: 3.40 GHz:21.80%, 2.70 GHz:0.58%, 2.20 GHz:4.87%, 800 MHz:72.75%  (27583)
analyzing CPU 2:
  driver: powernow-k8
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 2
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 2
  maximum transition latency: 8.0 us.
  hardware limits: 800 MHz - 3.40 GHz
  available frequency steps: 3.40 GHz, 2.70 GHz, 2.20 GHz, 800 MHz
  available cpufreq governors: conservative, userspace, powersave, ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 3.40 GHz.
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 800 MHz (asserted by call to hardware).
  cpufreq stats: 3.40 GHz:25.16%, 2.70 GHz:0.69%, 2.20 GHz:5.16%, 800 MHz:68.98%  (27202)
analyzing CPU 3:
  driver: powernow-k8
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 3
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 3
  maximum transition latency: 8.0 us.
  hardware limits: 800 MHz - 3.40 GHz
  available frequency steps: 3.40 GHz, 2.70 GHz, 2.20 GHz, 800 MHz
  available cpufreq governors: conservative, userspace, powersave, ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 3.40 GHz.
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 800 MHz (asserted by call to hardware).
  cpufreq stats: 3.40 GHz:23.34%, 2.70 GHz:0.72%, 2.20 GHz:6.13%, 800 MHz:69.82%  (28866)

Output of

# cpupower info

System's multi core scheduler setting: 1
System's thread sibling scheduler setting: not supported
System does not support Intel's performance bias setting
analyzing CPU 0:

Output of

# 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: 800 MHz - 3.40 GHz
  available frequency steps: 3.40 GHz, 2.70 GHz, 2.20 GHz, 800 MHz
  available cpufreq governors: conservative, userspace, powersave, ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 3.40 GHz.
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 800 MHz (asserted by call to hardware).
  cpufreq stats: 3.40 GHz:22.64%, 2.70 GHz:0.66%, 2.20 GHz:5.71%, 800 MHz:70.98%  (29644)
  boost state support:
    Supported: no
    Active: no
    Boost States: 0
    Total States: 4
    Pstate-P0:  3400MHz
    Pstate-P1:  2700MHz
    Pstate-P2:  2200MHz
    Pstate-P3:  800MHz

Output of

# cpupower monitor

No HW Cstate monitors found

Now what I am getting from this is that the CPU supports P-states but no C-states and Boost states, which I assume are the same as Turbo capabilities. Havent used windows in along time but I do remember that I had experimented with turbo boost utilities supplied by the motherboard manufacturer so it could just be that there is no software or drivers in linux that utilizes these capabilities. But C-states should be there.

Could it be that powernow-k8 driver is outdated? Or am I missing something here?

Any information that would help me to clarify whether is a hardware or software lacking issue would be more than welcome.

Thanks in advance.

#2

Nothing? Anyone?

#3

May I ask just what it is you want to do with this CPU and motherboard? Can you tell me if this works for you?:

C.F.U. - CPU Frequency Utility - Version 1.20 - For use with the cpufrequtils package: https://forums.opensuse.org/blogs/jdmcdaniel3/c-f-u-cpu-frequency-utilitiy-version-1-10-use-cpufrequtils-package-40/

Have you ever look at this blog?:

YaST Power Management - Control Your CPU Energy Usage How To & FAQ: https://forums.opensuse.org/blogs/jdmcdaniel3/yast-power-management-control-your-cpu-energy-usage-how-faq-28/

Thank You,

#4

Thanks for the response.

What I want to do is calibrate my system in a way that utilizes the capabilities of the CPU and the motherboard for maximum performance when needed and maximum power saving when performance is not needed. cpufreq is not as updated to today’s technology available in the hardware that is why I chose to go with cpupower which is, to my understanding, the continuation of cpufreq updated with all the new features cpu come with today.

I visited the links you posted but I would rather go with an approach that gives me more control of P-states, C-states T-states and Turbo features. I did my research and eventually decided to go with the tools mentioned here: openSUSE 12.2: Chapter 11. Power Management.

I have used these features through Asus software in Windows so I am pretty sure they exist and they work. Since I made a complete transition to openSuSE, calibrating my system as I described, was low on my to do list. I finally found the time to do it but I run into a speed bump which is visible in my initial post.

But regardless of the background story, my question is pretty specific.

cpupower frequency-info states that boost state is not supported and cpupower monitor states that no HW Cstate monitor found. It seems to me its wrong so could it be the cpu powernow-k8 driver or is it because of lack of drivers from the motherboard manufacturer?
Is there something I can do to be able to use these features?

It could be that I am totally missing something. If this is the case please enlighten me.

#5

In the end, if the available tools here don’t do what you want, you must visit the AMD website and/or the motherboard web site to see if Linux tools exist that you could compile and install into openSUSE. I have not see such here beyond what has already been suggested.

Thank You,

#6

Already visited AMD and Asus websites, the support section do not provide any drivers or software for linux systems. Posting in the forums is always my last resort. I prefer finding the solutions through my own research and rarely taking the easy way out. But when all else fail I seek the advice of more experienced users. Apparently my question might be a bit too low level to get an answare here, although with linux been the operating system that provides the user with the freedom to use the hardware as he/she pleases (ofcourse not the only freedom), I did expect at least some of the members in these forums would be able to help.

Ah well, if I find any more information and / or become able to produce a methodology for utilizing these cpu/motherboard features I will make a new post in the thread for anyone else interested.

Thanks for your time.

#7

Indeed, if you find anything of interest in this subject, please make a post of the info here. While we do deal with hardware specific issues, most common being Wireless networking and video operation, doing anything much with a CPU beyond speed and basic power consumption, like on a Laptop, is about all you will find here. I wish you good luck is your quest.

Thank You for using openSUSE,