HOWTO: CPU Frequency Scaling w/ Kernel Module
I thought I would write a little howto on how to get cpu frequency scaling to work directly with the kernel modules. These modules are generally more efficient for performance computing and battery life.
Prerequisites
kernel >= 2.6.9
Step 1: Enable BIOS Support
Enter your BIOS at boot and make sure Cool'n'Quiet (AMD) or SpeedStep (Intel) is enable for you CPU. Some BIOS may not have option at all. If that is the case it is probably enabled by default. Other BIOS may have the option but it is listed as another name altogether. If that is the case check your BIOS manual for more info.
Step 2: Remove Userspace Scaling Software
powernowd
cpudyn
Step 3: Install CPU Module
Identify your cpu type by runnig the command
You can also Check the following links
AMD CPU Chart - http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/11/...05/page20.html
Intel CPU Chart - http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/11/...05/page21.html
AMD Sempron/Athlon/MP ( K7 )
Socket Types: A, Slot A
AMD Duron/Sempron/Athlon/Opteron 64 ( K8 )
Socket Types: 754, 939, 940, S1 ( 638 ), AM2 ( 940 ), F ( 1207 )
Intel Core Duo
Intel Pentium M
Others (Unknown)
I'm not entirely sure which cpus are supported using this module. If your cpu doesn't work with one of the above methods try this one.
Step 4: Scaling Modules
Step 5: Testing/Configuration
Show Available Governors
You should see output similar to
conservative
Description: CPU frequency is scaled based on load in incremental steps up and down.
Advanced Configuration Options
ondemand
Description: CPU frequency is scaled based on load.
Advanced Configuration Options
performance
Description: CPU only runs at max frequency regardless of load.
Configuration Dir: N/A
powersave
Description: CPU only runs at min frequency regardless of load.
Configuration Dir: N/A
Step 6: Load Modules at Boot
Add the following lines to the end of /etc/modules
Step 7: Configure Modules at Boot
This step needs to be done in order for the modules to retain your settings.
Make sure you have sysfsutils installed
Then add the following lines to /etc/sysfs.conf
Where
ondemand can be changed to another governor type (i.e. conservative, powersave, etc.). You can also add other configuration options that are specific to the governor selected.
Useful Links
http://ubuntu.wordpress.com/2005/11/...uency-scaling/
http://martin.ankerl.org/category/linux/
http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Undervolt_a_Pentium_M_CPU
http://wejp.k.vu/projects/howto_cnq_athlon_64_x2/
Prerequisites
kernel >= 2.6.9
Step 1: Enable BIOS Support
Enter your BIOS at boot and make sure Cool'n'Quiet (AMD) or SpeedStep (Intel) is enable for you CPU. Some BIOS may not have option at all. If that is the case it is probably enabled by default. Other BIOS may have the option but it is listed as another name altogether. If that is the case check your BIOS manual for more info.
Step 2: Remove Userspace Scaling Software
powernowd
Code:
sudo apt-get remove powernowd
Code:
sudo apt-get remove cpudyn
Identify your cpu type by runnig the command
Code:
cat /proc/cpuinfo
AMD CPU Chart - http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/11/...05/page20.html
Intel CPU Chart - http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/11/...05/page21.html
AMD Sempron/Athlon/MP ( K7 )
Socket Types: A, Slot A
Code:
sudo modprobe powernow-k7
Socket Types: 754, 939, 940, S1 ( 638 ), AM2 ( 940 ), F ( 1207 )
Code:
sudo modprobe powernow-k8
Code:
sudo modprobe speedstep-centrino
Code:
sudo modprobe speedstep-centrino
I'm not entirely sure which cpus are supported using this module. If your cpu doesn't work with one of the above methods try this one.
Code:
sudo modprobe acpi-cpufreq
Code:
sudo modprobe cpufreq_conservative sudo modprobe cpufreq_ondemand sudo modprobe cpufreq_powersave sudo modprobe cpufreq_stats sudo modprobe cpufreq_userspace
Show Available Governors
Code:
cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_governors
Code:
powersave conservative ondemand performance
Description: CPU frequency is scaled based on load in incremental steps up and down.
Code:
sudo -s echo conservative > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor
Code:
cd /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/conservative
Description: CPU frequency is scaled based on load.
Code:
sudo -s echo ondemand > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor
Code:
cd /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/ondemand
Description: CPU only runs at max frequency regardless of load.
Configuration Dir: N/A
Code:
sudo -s echo performance > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor
Description: CPU only runs at min frequency regardless of load.
Configuration Dir: N/A
Code:
sudo -s echo powersave > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor
Add the following lines to the end of /etc/modules
Code:
cpufreq_conservative
cpufreq_ondemand
cpufreq_powersave
cpufreq_stats
cpufreq_userspace
[Module from Step 3]
This step needs to be done in order for the modules to retain your settings.
Make sure you have sysfsutils installed
Code:
sudo apt-get install sysfsutils
Code:
devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor=ondemand
Useful Links
http://ubuntu.wordpress.com/2005/11/...uency-scaling/
http://martin.ankerl.org/category/linux/
http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Undervolt_a_Pentium_M_CPU
http://wejp.k.vu/projects/howto_cnq_athlon_64_x2/