Few questions regarding kernel 2.6 options.

xushi · 07-14-2005, 05:10 AM

Sorry for the countless questions, and please bare with me. i'm trying my best to take advantage of my kernel =)

There are a few thing's i'm not that sure of, and i'd like to ask for advice on. I'm on a mobile athlon 64 processor, but currently running 32bit Slack 10.1 with 2.6.12.2 as my kernel. I used the same but slightly modified kernel config from my last laptop (centrino), but i have a few options i'm still not that familiar with,

Processor Type and Features
Machine Check Exception

That is compiled (built in) because I checked /proc/cpuinfo and it has mce as a flag, so i guess that's supported. But i dont have "Check for non-fatal errors on AMD Athlon/Duron / Intel Pentium 4" enabled. Do i need to? If yes, as a module or built in?

/dev/cpu/microcode - Intel IA32 CPU microcode support
Since i'm on an AMD processor, can i disable that?

Power Management options
Cpu Frequency Scaling

AMD Mobile Athlon PowerNow!
I didn't enable this because i wasn't sure if my cpu is a K7 cpu or not.. Am i wrong on that?

Intel Exchange SpeedStep
That, as well as Use acpi tables, and Built-in tables are compiled built in. Again, do i still need them since i am not on a centrino anymore? Would i need to replace them with anything else?

Intel Speedstep on ICH-M chipset
I left it compiled (built in) because it sounded important, regardless of it being Intel based. Any comments?

Character Devices
Intel/AMD/VIA HW Random Number Generator
This is compiled (built in), although it says "If unsure, say N.". I'm unsure...

Thanks alot.

EDIT: Sorry, here's some info of my system that might be of use

/proc/cpuinfo

Code:

~# cat /proc/cpuinfo 
processor       : 0
vendor_id       : AuthenticAMD
cpu family      : 15
model           : 4
model name      : Mobile AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3200+
stepping        : 10
cpu MHz         : 2005.599
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 lm 3dnowext 3dnow
bogomips        : 3973.12

lspci

Code:

bash-3.00# lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8385 [K8T800 AGP] Host Bridge (rev 01)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8237 PCI bridge [K8T800 South]
00:0a.0 CardBus bridge: ENE Technology Inc CB1410 Cardbus Controller
00:0c.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM94306 802.11g (rev 03)
00:10.0 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT6202 [USB 2.0 controller] (rev 80)
00:10.1 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT6202 [USB 2.0 controller] (rev 80)
00:10.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT6202 [USB 2.0 controller] (rev 80)
00:10.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB 2.0 (rev 82)
00:11.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8235 ISA Bridge
00:11.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C/VT8235 PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06)
00:11.5 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233/A/8235/8237 AC97 Audio Controller (rev 50)
00:11.6 Communication controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. Intel 537 [AC97 Modem] (rev 80)
00:12.0 Ethernet controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT6102 [Rhine-II] (rev 74)
00:13.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): VIA Technologies, Inc. IEEE 1394 Host Controller (rev 80)
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc RV350 [Mobility Radeon 9600 M10]

My kernel config file
http://xushi.co.uk/xushi/sv/kernel-2.6.12.2.config

Half_Elf · 07-14-2005, 02:55 PM

Machine Check Exception : You can enable this without problem, it does some extra checks about your processor I believe. I like built-in usually, it's more convenient, but it is really up to you.

Intel IA32 CPU microcode support : You probably don't need this, unless you plan to update your processor microcode (I really doubt so). You will be fine without this. I believe you could enable this on an AMD as well if you would want it.

Cpu Frequency Scaling : This is quite confusing, it depends on your ACPI implementation mostly. My guess would be to enable everything that is relative to AMD processor (as Intel stuff will probably not work) and the "basic" ACPI 2.0 relative stuff. You kernel will do the dirty job to find out what is supported by your computer and what is not. Then if it detected that you support cpu scaling, use "dmesg" to find out what is used to do so then compile again to desactivate useless options.

Intel/AMD/VIA HW Random Number Generator : This wouldn't hurt. Go for it.

xushi · 07-15-2005, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Cpu Frequency Scaling : This is quite confusing, it depends on your ACPI implementation mostly. My guess would be to enable everything that is relative to AMD processor (as Intel stuff will probably not work) and the "basic" ACPI 2.0 relative stuff. You kernel will do the dirty job to find out what is supported by your computer and what is not. Then if it detected that you support cpu scaling, use "dmesg" to find out what is used to do so then compile again to desactivate useless options.

Would i have to enable as a module, or built in?

Thanks for the help

maginotjr · 07-15-2005, 09:00 AM

The only function of this is to change the frequency of your processor on the fly, I don´t see why you supposed to want this, thinking that this can be a real kick in the ass... but anyway to change the frequency you will have to use some especific program to do this so you can compile as module if you want, or in the kernel, will not be such a big deal...

ps: I dont know, I dont like to think in my processor friting or blowing to space lol

gbonvehi · 07-15-2005, 10:16 AM

Changing the frequency of the CPU is used on laptops to reduce consuming and save more battery, it's a normal thing nowadays.