Correct processor family kernel option for Intel Core Duo (T2400)

dizzi · 06-15-2007, 06:49 AM

Hi All

Can anyone recommend the best processor family to select for an Intel Core Duo (T2400) when compiling a kernel (2.6.21 in my case)? I have tried the "Pentium-4/Celeron(P4-based)/Pentium-4 M/Xeon" and the "Core2/New Xeon" options which as far as I can see, both work fine. I currently have the latter selected.

However, I am trying set up CPU scaling and although it appears work, I am not too convinced that it is quite right yet. The CPU speed is regulated but those bloody fans don't seem to stop churning away-even when the laptop is unplugged. I have used both powernowd and cpufreqd daemons. The cpufreq driver that worked was p4-clockmod.

For some strange reason too, I can't make a wireless network connection when using the above mentioned CPU regulatory daemons.

Anyway I just want to ensure that I have made the correct processor family type selection thus eliminating that as the source of any problems.

Any help will be appreciated

cheers

Simon Bridge · 06-15-2007, 06:59 AM

core2 family with smp enabled.
fan speed is different from cpu freq... covered in ACPI.

the usual approach is to start with a stock kernel that works... pretty much, and use that config as a starting point.

dizzi · 06-15-2007, 07:22 AM

Thanks for the response.

I should reiterite though that the procesor is a Core Duo and not Core 2 Duo. I selected the "Core2/New Xeon" option based on the helpful notes available during kernel configuration. It states somewhere that New Zeons can be identified by the "6" valule for "family". /proc/cpuinfo showed "6" for my processor so I went with the "Core2/New Xeon" option.

I just hope that choice is correct

Cheers

H_TeXMeX_H · 06-15-2007, 11:27 AM

Both choices should work fine ... I do not think the fans have anything to do with what processor you choose to compile for. But, as Simon Bridge says, ACPI is much much likely to be a problem.

What brand computer is it (if any) ? (I believe Dell and Toshiba laptops have several specific fixes for these kind of things)

bioe007 · 06-15-2007, 11:48 AM

i have T2500 and

Quote:

"Core2/New Xeon" options which as far as I can see, both work fine. I currently have the latter selected.

use the same option..

Quote:

those bloody fans don't seem to stop churning

what temp is your cpu running at? bios will also regulate the fan speed.

if you have acpi working at all look around in /proc/acpi/fan and try

Code:

cat /proc/acpi/thermal_zone/THM/temperature

dizzi · 06-18-2007, 08:04 AM

Thanks guys once again

The Laptop is an HP NX9420. Apparently users have been having issues with some of the latest HP's (NC and NX series from what I have seen) with fan noise and laptop temperature notably when the machines are on AC power.

However heat and fan noise should not be an issue when the laptop is on battery power but annoyingly for mine, it is. Six thermal zones are present, four usually hover around the 40 degrees C mark but two of those zones (T2 and T5 I think - I am not on the laptop at the moment) usually shoot to around 60 degrees C pretty quickly even when there are no programs open.

Regards

bioe007 · 06-20-2007, 05:19 PM

would it help to do this?

echo "conservative" > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor

kanwar_rajan · 06-22-2007, 03:29 AM

while compiling the kernel... include support for ACPI as well as CPU frequency governers...

for controlling the fan speed.. i would recommend u to use cpufreq-utils package... it can use a "userspace" governer.. so u can yourself control the behavior of CPU frequency, temperature voltage etc...
once that is controlled.. i hope the fans will stop churning ;-)