Fedora 13 - CPU not scaling frequency

[Adunaic]

I am not entirely convinced that my CPU is actually changing frequency as it is meant to. It sometimes changes frequency, but most of the time it is stuck on 800MHz even when doing cpu intensive tasks.

Here is information that may or may not be of help:

cat /proc/cpuinfo

processor : 0
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 6
model : 23
model name : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T9400 @ 2.53GHz
stepping : 6
cpu MHz : 800.000
cache size : 6144 KB
physical id : 0
siblings : 2
core id : 0
cpu cores : 2
apicid : 0
initial apicid : 0
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 10
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx lm constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts aperfmperf pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl vmx smx est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm sse4_1 lahf_lm tpr_shadow vnmi flexpriority
bogomips : 5054.79
clflush size : 64
cache_alignment : 64
address sizes : 36 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
power management:

processor : 1
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 6
model : 23
model name : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T9400 @ 2.53GHz
stepping : 6
cpu MHz : 800.000
cache size : 6144 KB
physical id : 0
siblings : 2
core id : 1
cpu cores : 2
apicid : 1
initial apicid : 1
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 10
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx lm constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts aperfmperf pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl vmx smx est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm sse4_1 lahf_lm tpr_shadow vnmi flexpriority
bogomips : 5053.73
clflush size : 64
cache_alignment : 64
address sizes : 36 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
power management:
cpufreq-info

cpufrequtils 007: cpufreq-info (C) Dominik Brodowski 2004-2009
Report errors and bugs to cpufreq@vger.kernel.org, please.
analyzing CPU 0:
driver: acpi-cpufreq
CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 0 1
CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 0
maximum transition latency: 10.0 us.
hardware limits: 800 MHz - 2.54 GHz
available frequency steps: 2.54 GHz, 2.53 GHz, 1.60 GHz, 800 MHz
available cpufreq governors: ondemand, userspace, performance
current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 800 MHz.
The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
within this range.
current CPU frequency is 800 MHz (asserted by call to hardware).
analyzing CPU 1:
driver: acpi-cpufreq
CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 0 1
CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 1
maximum transition latency: 10.0 us.
hardware limits: 800 MHz - 2.54 GHz
available frequency steps: 2.54 GHz, 2.53 GHz, 1.60 GHz, 800 MHz
available cpufreq governors: ondemand, userspace, performance
current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 800 MHz.
The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
within this range.


I notice here that it says between 800 and 800, but does that mean it is currently at 800, or can only be 800.

P.S. Sorry for the long post.

[diamond_ramsey]

Adunaic, thank you for your post.

Originally Posted by Adunaic

...current CPU frequency is 800 MHz (asserted by call to hardware).I notice here that it says between 800 and 800, but does that mean it is currently at 800, or can only be 800..

May be take a look at this and see if this helps.
====================================
View Full Version : [ubuntu] Speedstep stuck on 800MHz -

http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/inde...t-1069429.html
====================================

Originally Posted by Adunaic

...current CPU frequency is 800 MHz (asserted by call to hardware)...

The assertion bothers me, though. Are you in some sort of battery mode and/or power save option or bios setting? This may be a consideration to check. Save/write down bios settings before making changes.
====================================
Nice CPUs, by the way.

Hope this helps.

[Adunaic]

Thanks for this. I shall see if the problem, persists, but it does sound like it is a fault with the laptop. Damn.. Means I will have to reinstall windows to prove its a fault in there I suspect. I'm not sure what annoys me more, a possible hardware fault, or the need to reinstall windows

Once again, cheers for the link.

---------- Post added at 09:40 AM CDT ---------- Previous post was at 07:09 AM CDT ----------

Originally Posted by diamond_ramsey

Adunaic, thank you for your post.

The assertion bothers me, though. Are you in some sort of battery mode and/or power save option or bios setting?

Why does this bother you / what does it mean? I'm not in any battery mode as far as I know,; I'm running the laptop plugged into the mains. It makes no dififference if it is battery or mains.

[DrewP]

I had a similar problem several days ago.

It turned out to be hardware but was easy to fix.

http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=246688

(However if your notebook is still under warranty you may prefer just to have the manufacturer look at it)

[Adunaic]

Ah, thankyou. That kind of confirms what I thought. It does appear to only get stuck once it gets hot. Although a shut-down usually fixes it ( until I run a cpu hogging process again).

Aye, it is still under warrenty, I was already in contact with dell as I have some dead pixels. Might as well kill two birds with one stone.

Cheers