Hey,
I'm trying to get cpu scaling to work. Heres my print out. Which ones correct? If any...

root@slackware:~/Desktop# /sbin/modprobe powernow-k8
FATAL: Error inserting powernow_k8 (/lib/modules/2.6.21.5-smp/kernel/arch/i386/kernel/cpu/cpufreq/powernow-k8.ko): No such device
root@slackware:~/Desktop# dmesg | tail
bcm43xx: core_up for active 802.11 core failed (-2)
NET: Registered protocol family 10
lo: Disabled Privacy Extensions
eth0: no IPv6 routers present
cpufreq: No nForce2 chipset.
powernow: This module only works with AMD K7 CPUs
powernow-k8: Found 1 AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 148 processors (version 2.00.00)
powernow-k8: BIOS error - no PSB or ACPI _PSS objects
powernow-k8: Found 1 AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 148 processors (version 2.00.00)
powernow-k8: BIOS error - no PSB or ACPI _PSS objects
root@slackware:~/Desktop# /sbin/modprobe speedstep-lib
root@slackware:~/Desktop#
root@slackware:~/Desktop# dmesg | tail
bcm43xx: core_up for active 802.11 core failed (-2)
NET: Registered protocol family 10
lo: Disabled Privacy Extensions
eth0: no IPv6 routers present
cpufreq: No nForce2 chipset.
powernow: This module only works with AMD K7 CPUs
powernow-k8: Found 1 AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 148 processors (version 2.00.00)
powernow-k8: BIOS error - no PSB or ACPI _PSS objects
powernow-k8: Found 1 AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 148 processors (version 2.00.00)
powernow-k8: BIOS error - no PSB or ACPI _PSS objects
root@slackware:~/Desktop#


FYI Even though it says, I have an Opteron 148.

Try powernow-k6, -k7 too..you probably can't load anything except the module that works with your cpu, so trying doesn't hurt

What CPU you are using? Please do 'cat /proc/cpuinfo'.

CPU scaling is usually for mobile, don't waste your time with desktop or server.

root@slackware:~/Desktop# cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor : 0
vendor_id : AuthenticAMD
cpu family : 15
model : 39
model name : AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 148
stepping : 1
cpu MHz : 2640.182
cache size : 1024 KB
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 1
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt lm 3dnowext 3dnow up pni lahf_lm ts fid vid ttp
bogomips : 5283.66
clflush size : 64

True, but in addition to consuming less energy, a scaled-down cpu also produces less heat. On a server it's not necessarily sensible to scale the CPU down (if the server didn't need that big a CPU, one shouldn't have bought it), but on a desktop you don't use all the time, but do like to keep up and running, it could be convenient to have the cpu produce less heat, and probably be more quiet (some desktop machines start extra cooling fans etc. when a lot of heat is produced, and cause a lot of noise then).

It's meant for laptops of course, but if it works for a desktop, I don't see why it couldn't be used.

The only kernel that doesn't give me some sort of error would be the speedstep-lib. I take it that its correct then:

root@slackware:~/Desktop# /sbin/modprobe speedstep-lib
root@slackware:~/Desktop# dmesg | tail
cpufreq: No nForce2 chipset.
powernow: This module only works with AMD K7 CPUs
powernow-k8: Found 1 AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 148 processors (version 2.00.00)
powernow-k8: BIOS error - no PSB or ACPI _PSS objects
powernow-k8: Found 1 AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 148 processors (version 2.00.00)
powernow-k8: BIOS error - no PSB or ACPI _PSS objects
NET: Registered protocol family 4
NET: Registered protocol family 3
NET: Registered protocol family 5
powernow: This module only works with AMD K7 CPUs
root@slackware:~/Desktop#

Sure. However, unless one uses a mobile CPU for desktop. AFAIK, if we are using a CPU that is design for desktop, there won't be such feature. So, there is no point configure it.

AFAIK, Opteron 148 does not support CPU scaling (I think is call Optimize Power Management for newer Opteron only. For older Opteron, it does not support CPU scaling).

So I take it then this will never work on this Opteron?

most of the nicer desktop boards come with this feature automatically , they scale up the speed when they see it is required and slow it down when not (many a times switching off the fans in later case)

It does? Well, it never occur me to setup CPU scaling for desktop. My system can do suspend, but that is not CPU scaling.

Just curious, do you know any particular desktop CPU support CPU scaling? I did a little google search, I can't find one. Whenever I search for Intel Speedstep or AMD PowerNOW, I gets mobile CPU listing.

I have a P4 desktop (HP) which I use CPU scaling on. I thought most modern chips supported scaling.

Brian

I think most Intel chips do, but looking online I can't seem to find many AMD chips that do as well.

My AMD Opteron 175 does, too. CPU scaling works well.

My desktop has AMD64 X2 4200+ and I use ondemand cpu freq scaling all the time. I have a mythtv box has AMD64 3700+ single core and that uses the ondemand scaling all the time.

What are you using in the single core kernel wise?