Sensors don't show real CPU frequency when overclocking

English Hardware
1

There’s a little inconvenience with the hardware monitoring system, likely related to either the sensors / libsensors4 packages or ksysguard itself; I have an Intel Core i7 CPU, which by default runs at 2.66 Ghz. I got it overclocked up to 3.15 Ghz from BIOS, and the frequency displays there as well as the increased performance / temperature confirm the overclock is working as expected. However, the frequency sensor in openSUSE (cpu/system/AverageClock) never shows more than 2661 Mhz. It appears to not consider the possibility of overclocking, and limits the display to the clock the CPU comes with, assuming that’s the maximum frequency it can reach.

Is there any way to correct this, so that ksysguard displays the real frequency my CPU reaches when under load? I prefer seeing it when overclocking, so I know everything works as expected at all time. Thanks.

2

You need to install cpupower to view, monitor, tuning cpu power. Read more here: http://doc.opensuse.org/products/draft/SLES/SLES-tuning_sd_draft/cha.tuning.power.html.

Command to get current freq values for all cpus:


susegeeko@ASROCK:~> cpupower -c all frequency-info
analyzing CPU 0:
  driver: acpi-cpufreq
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 0
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 0
  maximum transition latency: 10.0 us.
  hardware limits: 800 MHz - 3.40 GHz
  available frequency steps: 3.40 GHz, 3.40 GHz, 3.20 GHz, 3.00 GHz, 2.80 GHz, 2.70 GHz, 2.50 GHz, 2.30 GHz, 2.10 GHz, 1.90 GHz, 1.70 GHz, 1.50 GHz, 1.40 GHz, 1.20 GHz, 1000 MHz, 800 MHz
  available cpufreq governors: ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 3.40 GHz.
                  The governor "performance" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 3.40 GHz.
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
analyzing CPU 1:
  driver: acpi-cpufreq
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 1
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 1
  maximum transition latency: 10.0 us.
  hardware limits: 800 MHz - 3.40 GHz
  available frequency steps: 3.40 GHz, 3.40 GHz, 3.20 GHz, 3.00 GHz, 2.80 GHz, 2.70 GHz, 2.50 GHz, 2.30 GHz, 2.10 GHz, 1.90 GHz, 1.70 GHz, 1.50 GHz, 1.40 GHz, 1.20 GHz, 1000 MHz, 800 MHz
  available cpufreq governors: ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 3.40 GHz.
                  The governor "performance" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 3.40 GHz.
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
analyzing CPU 2:
  driver: acpi-cpufreq
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 2
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 2
  maximum transition latency: 10.0 us.
  hardware limits: 800 MHz - 3.40 GHz
  available frequency steps: 3.40 GHz, 3.40 GHz, 3.20 GHz, 3.00 GHz, 2.80 GHz, 2.70 GHz, 2.50 GHz, 2.30 GHz, 2.10 GHz, 1.90 GHz, 1.70 GHz, 1.50 GHz, 1.40 GHz, 1.20 GHz, 1000 MHz, 800 MHz
  available cpufreq governors: ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 3.40 GHz.
                  The governor "performance" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 3.40 GHz.
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
analyzing CPU 3:
  driver: acpi-cpufreq
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 3
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 3
  maximum transition latency: 10.0 us.
  hardware limits: 800 MHz - 3.40 GHz
  available frequency steps: 3.40 GHz, 3.40 GHz, 3.20 GHz, 3.00 GHz, 2.80 GHz, 2.70 GHz, 2.50 GHz, 2.30 GHz, 2.10 GHz, 1.90 GHz, 1.70 GHz, 1.50 GHz, 1.40 GHz, 1.20 GHz, 1000 MHz, 800 MHz
  available cpufreq governors: ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 3.40 GHz.
                  The governor "performance" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 3.40 GHz.
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
3

Thanks for the info. I tried cpupower, but funny enough it also fails the same way; It shows hardware limitations rather than real overclocked frequency. Everywhere it says 2.66 GHz, while my CPU is loaded to 3.15 GHz.

mircea@linux-qz0r:~> cpupower -c all frequency-info
analyzing CPU 0:
  driver: acpi-cpufreq
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 0
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 0
  maximum transition latency: 10.0 us.
  hardware limits: 1.60 GHz - 2.66 GHz
  available frequency steps: 2.66 GHz, 2.66 GHz, 2.53 GHz, 2.39 GHz, 2.26 GHz, 2.13 GHz, 2.00 GHz, 1.86 GHz, 1.73 GHz, 1.60 GHz
  available cpufreq governors: ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 1.60 GHz and 2.66 GHz.
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 2.66 GHz.
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
    25500 MHz max turbo 4 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 3 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 2 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 1 active cores
analyzing CPU 1:
  driver: acpi-cpufreq
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 1
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 1
  maximum transition latency: 10.0 us.
  hardware limits: 1.60 GHz - 2.66 GHz
  available frequency steps: 2.66 GHz, 2.66 GHz, 2.53 GHz, 2.39 GHz, 2.26 GHz, 2.13 GHz, 2.00 GHz, 1.86 GHz, 1.73 GHz, 1.60 GHz
  available cpufreq governors: ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 1.60 GHz and 2.66 GHz.
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 2.66 GHz.
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
    25500 MHz max turbo 4 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 3 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 2 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 1 active cores
analyzing CPU 2:
  driver: acpi-cpufreq                                                                                                                                 
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 2                                                                                                     
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 2                                                                                   
  maximum transition latency: 10.0 us.                                                                                                                 
  hardware limits: 1.60 GHz - 2.66 GHz                                                                                                                 
  available frequency steps: 2.66 GHz, 2.66 GHz, 2.53 GHz, 2.39 GHz, 2.26 GHz, 2.13 GHz, 2.00 GHz, 1.86 GHz, 1.73 GHz, 1.60 GHz                        
  available cpufreq governors: ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 1.60 GHz and 2.66 GHz.
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 2.66 GHz.
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
    25500 MHz max turbo 4 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 3 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 2 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 1 active cores
analyzing CPU 3:
  driver: acpi-cpufreq
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 3
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 3
  maximum transition latency: 10.0 us.
  hardware limits: 1.60 GHz - 2.66 GHz
  available frequency steps: 2.66 GHz, 2.66 GHz, 2.53 GHz, 2.39 GHz, 2.26 GHz, 2.13 GHz, 2.00 GHz, 1.86 GHz, 1.73 GHz, 1.60 GHz
  available cpufreq governors: ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 1.60 GHz and 2.66 GHz.
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 2.66 GHz.
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
    25500 MHz max turbo 4 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 3 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 2 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 1 active cores
analyzing CPU 4:
  driver: acpi-cpufreq
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 4
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 4
  maximum transition latency: 10.0 us.
  hardware limits: 1.60 GHz - 2.66 GHz
  available frequency steps: 2.66 GHz, 2.66 GHz, 2.53 GHz, 2.39 GHz, 2.26 GHz, 2.13 GHz, 2.00 GHz, 1.86 GHz, 1.73 GHz, 1.60 GHz
  available cpufreq governors: ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 1.60 GHz and 2.66 GHz.
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 2.66 GHz.
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
    25500 MHz max turbo 4 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 3 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 2 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 1 active cores
analyzing CPU 5:
  driver: acpi-cpufreq
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 5
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 5
  maximum transition latency: 10.0 us.
  hardware limits: 1.60 GHz - 2.66 GHz
  available frequency steps: 2.66 GHz, 2.66 GHz, 2.53 GHz, 2.39 GHz, 2.26 GHz, 2.13 GHz, 2.00 GHz, 1.86 GHz, 1.73 GHz, 1.60 GHz
  available cpufreq governors: ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 1.60 GHz and 2.66 GHz.
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 2.66 GHz.
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
    25500 MHz max turbo 4 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 3 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 2 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 1 active cores
analyzing CPU 6:
  driver: acpi-cpufreq
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 6
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 6
  maximum transition latency: 10.0 us.
  hardware limits: 1.60 GHz - 2.66 GHz
  available frequency steps: 2.66 GHz, 2.66 GHz, 2.53 GHz, 2.39 GHz, 2.26 GHz, 2.13 GHz, 2.00 GHz, 1.86 GHz, 1.73 GHz, 1.60 GHz
  available cpufreq governors: ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 1.60 GHz and 2.66 GHz.
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 2.66 GHz.
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
    25500 MHz max turbo 4 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 3 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 2 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 1 active cores
analyzing CPU 7:
  driver: acpi-cpufreq
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 7
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 7
  maximum transition latency: 10.0 us.
  hardware limits: 1.60 GHz - 2.66 GHz
  available frequency steps: 2.66 GHz, 2.66 GHz, 2.53 GHz, 2.39 GHz, 2.26 GHz, 2.13 GHz, 2.00 GHz, 1.86 GHz, 1.73 GHz, 1.60 GHz
  available cpufreq governors: ondemand, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 1.60 GHz and 2.66 GHz.
                  The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 2.66 GHz.
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
    25500 MHz max turbo 4 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 3 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 2 active cores
    25500 MHz max turbo 1 active cores
mircea@linux-qz0r:~>
4

Hi
Install my i7z package (home:malcolmlewis:Miscellanous)and check out the frequency;
http://software.opensuse.org/package/i7z

5

Just found out it’s because bios freq limitation.

cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/bios_limit

Upgrading the kernel to 3.12 or newer should fix the issue. Here’s my freq report with kernel 3.15:


susegeeko@ASROCK:~> hwinfo --cpu | grep Clock
  Clock: 4200 MHz
  Clock: 4200 MHz
  Clock: 4200 MHz
  Clock: 4200 MHz
susegeeko@ASROCK:~> cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep MHz
cpu MHz         : 4200.328
cpu MHz         : 4194.351
cpu MHz         : 4200.328
cpu MHz         : 4143.484
susegeeko@ASROCK:~> sudo cpupower -c all frequency-info
analyzing CPU 0:
  driver: intel_pstate
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 0
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 0
  maximum transition latency: 0.97 ms.
  hardware limits: 800 MHz - 4.20 GHz
  available cpufreq governors: performance, powersave
  current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 4.20 GHz.
                  The governor "performance" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 4.18 GHz (asserted by call to hardware).
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
analyzing CPU 1:
  driver: intel_pstate
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 1
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 1
  maximum transition latency: 0.97 ms.
  hardware limits: 800 MHz - 4.20 GHz
  available cpufreq governors: performance, powersave
  current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 4.20 GHz.
                  The governor "performance" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 4.20 GHz (asserted by call to hardware).
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
analyzing CPU 2:
  driver: intel_pstate
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 2
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 2
  maximum transition latency: 0.97 ms.
  hardware limits: 800 MHz - 4.20 GHz
  available cpufreq governors: performance, powersave
  current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 4.20 GHz.
                  The governor "performance" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 4.20 GHz (asserted by call to hardware).
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes
analyzing CPU 3:
  driver: intel_pstate
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 3
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 3
  maximum transition latency: 0.97 ms.
  hardware limits: 800 MHz - 4.20 GHz
  available cpufreq governors: performance, powersave
  current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 4.20 GHz.
                  The governor "performance" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 4.19 GHz (asserted by call to hardware).
  boost state support:
    Supported: yes
    Active: yes

Or just use malcolmlewis i7z package if you don’t want to upgrade the kernel.

Thanks for the package, working great here.


Cpu speed from cpuinfo 3398.00Mhz
cpuinfo might be wrong if cpufreq is enabled. To guess correctly try estimating via tsc
Linux's inbuilt cpu_khz code emulated now
True Frequency (without accounting Turbo) 3399 MHz
  CPU Multiplier 34x || Bus clock frequency (BCLK) 99.97 MHz

Socket [0] - [physical cores=4, logical cores=4, max online cores ever=4]
  TURBO ENABLED on 4 Cores, Hyper Threading OFF
  Max Frequency without considering Turbo 3498.97 MHz (99.97 x [35])
  Max TURBO Multiplier (if Enabled) with 1/2/3/4 Cores is  42x/42x/42x/42x
  Real Current Frequency 4144.14 MHz [99.97 x 41.45] (Max of below)
        Core [core-id]  :Actual Freq (Mult.)      C0%   Halt(C1)%  C3 %   C6 %   C7 %  Temp      VCore
        Core 1 [0]:       4119.31 (41.21x)      2.31    4.43    3.33    1.25    88.2    33      1.1580
        Core 2 [1]:       4144.14 (41.45x)      3.95    13.7    2.63     1.1    77.7    33      1.1562
        Core 3 [2]:       4008.88 (40.10x)      2.28    6.48    2.93    2.52    85.4    31      1.1555
        Core 4 [3]:       4017.56 (40.19x)      1.88    22.2    1.49       1      73    32      1.1580



C0 = Processor running without halting
C1 = Processor running with halts (States >C0 are power saver modes with cores idling)
C3 = Cores running with PLL turned off and core cache turned off
C6, C7 = Everything in C3 + core state saved to last level cache, C7 is deeper than C6
  Above values in table are in percentage over the last 1 sec
[core-id] refers to core-id number in /proc/cpuinfo
'Garbage Values' message printed when garbage values are read
  Ctrl+C to exit
6

Ah. If the latest Kernel fixes it, I’ll just wait for openSUSE 13.2 which isn’t too far off. Thanks for the info.