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    Weird CPU speed

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      Almost certainly something BIOS is passing. Is it actually using speedshift? Try setting it disabled and see if it then shows values for speedstep.

      Check the boot logs for hwpstate messages from Speedshift.

      Run: sysctl -a | grep freq
      What levels are shown?

      Steve

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        Octopuss @stephenw10
        last edited by

        @stephenw10 said in Weird CPU speed:

        hwpstate

        hwpstate_intel3: <Intel Speed Shift> on cpu3
        hwpstate_intel2: <Intel Speed Shift> on cpu2
        hwpstate_intel1: <Intel Speed Shift> on cpu1
        hwpstate_intel0: <Intel Speed Shift> on cpu0

        and then
        [2.7.2-RELEASE][admin@rozcestnik.lan]/root: sysctl -a | grep freq
        Timecounter "HPET" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 950
        Event timer "HPET" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 550
        Event timer "HPET1" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
        Event timer "HPET2" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
        Event timer "HPET3" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
        Event timer "HPET4" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
        Event timer "RTC" frequency 32768 Hz quality 0
        Timecounter "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 0
        Event timer "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 100
        Timecounter "ACPI-fast" frequency 3579545 Hz quality 900
        Timecounter "TSC" frequency 806401610 Hz quality 1000
        kern.timecounter.tc.TSC.frequency: 806401610
        kern.timecounter.tc.ACPI-fast.frequency: 3579545
        kern.timecounter.tc.i8254.frequency: 1193182
        kern.timecounter.tc.HPET.frequency: 19200000
        kern.ntp_pll.time_freq: 18360527011520
        kern.ntp_pll.pps_freq: 14937882624000
        device cpufreq
        kern.eventtimer.et.i8254.frequency: 1193182
        kern.eventtimer.et.RTC.frequency: 32768
        kern.eventtimer.et.HPET4.frequency: 19200000
        kern.eventtimer.et.HPET3.frequency: 19200000
        kern.eventtimer.et.HPET2.frequency: 19200000
        kern.eventtimer.et.HPET1.frequency: 19200000
        kern.eventtimer.et.HPET.frequency: 19200000
        kern.eventtimer.et.LAPIC.frequency: 806401610
        kern.acct_chkfreq: 15
        debug.cpufreq.verbose: 0
        debug.cpufreq.lowest: 0
        debug.uart_poll_freq: 50
        machdep.tsc_freq: 806401610
        machdep.i8254_freq: 1193182
        machdep.acpi_timer_freq: 3579545
        dev.cpufreq.3.freq_driver: hwpstate_intel3
        dev.cpufreq.3.%parent: cpu3
        dev.cpufreq.3.%pnpinfo:
        dev.cpufreq.3.%location:
        dev.cpufreq.3.%driver: cpufreq
        dev.cpufreq.3.%desc:
        dev.cpufreq.2.freq_driver: hwpstate_intel2
        dev.cpufreq.2.%parent: cpu2
        dev.cpufreq.2.%pnpinfo:
        dev.cpufreq.2.%location:
        dev.cpufreq.2.%driver: cpufreq
        dev.cpufreq.2.%desc:
        dev.cpufreq.1.freq_driver: hwpstate_intel1
        dev.cpufreq.1.%parent: cpu1
        dev.cpufreq.1.%pnpinfo:
        dev.cpufreq.1.%location:
        dev.cpufreq.1.%driver: cpufreq
        dev.cpufreq.1.%desc:
        dev.cpufreq.0.freq_driver: hwpstate_intel0
        dev.cpufreq.0.%parent: cpu0
        dev.cpufreq.0.%pnpinfo:
        dev.cpufreq.0.%location:
        dev.cpufreq.0.%driver: cpufreq
        dev.cpufreq.0.%desc:
        dev.cpufreq.%parent:
        dev.cpu.3.freq_levels: 806/-1
        dev.cpu.3.freq: 1658
        dev.cpu.2.freq_levels: 806/-1
        dev.cpu.2.freq: 1534
        dev.cpu.1.freq_levels: 806/-1
        dev.cpu.1.freq: 1612
        dev.cpu.0.freq_levels: 806/-1
        dev.cpu.0.freq: 1502

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        • stephenw10S
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by

          Ok so that looks relatively normal for speedshift. There's probably no issue there.

          Try setting speedshift disabled so speedstep is used. See what levels are reported then.

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            Octopuss @stephenw10
            last edited by

            @stephenw10 But why is the damn thing running at so high frequency when it's not doing anything?

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            • stephenw10S
              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
              last edited by

              Speedshift responds orders of magnitude faster than speedstep. When I was first testing it I had problems seeing what it's doing because simply running the command to report it bumps the CPU speed.

              However I would not expect that if it's set to maximum efficiency.

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                Octopuss @stephenw10
                last edited by

                @stephenw10 Hm, I have disabled Speed Shift, and now pfSense doesn't even display any frequency at all. That's not right I guess?

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                • stephenw10S
                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                  last edited by

                  Mmm, perhaps SpeedStep (EIST) is not enabled in the BIOS then.

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                    Octopuss @stephenw10
                    last edited by

                    @stephenw10 Weirdly, the frequency info appeared after a few seconds. It also disappears after page refresh.
                    Speedstep is enabled.

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                      Octopuss @stephenw10
                      last edited by

                      @stephenw10 Btw does the Intel Core somerthing thermal sensor option apply to any Intel CPU? I'm not sure what to choose: this or the generic ACPI value? Both seem to work.

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                      • stephenw10S
                        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                        last edited by

                        The coretemp driver should work there.

                        Yes, with speedstep it generally only shows frequency info when the CPU is running at a reduced frequency.

                        Try running sysctl -a | grep freq again to see what levels are now shown.

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                          Octopuss @stephenw10
                          last edited by

                          @stephenw10 said in Weird CPU speed:

                          sysctl -a | grep freq

                          Timecounter "HPET" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 950
                          Event timer "HPET" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 550
                          Event timer "HPET1" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "HPET2" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "HPET3" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "HPET4" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "RTC" frequency 32768 Hz quality 0
                          Timecounter "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 0
                          Event timer "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 100
                          Timecounter "ACPI-fast" frequency 3579545 Hz quality 900
                          Timecounter "TSC" frequency 806401669 Hz quality 1000
                          Timecounter "HPET" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 950
                          Event timer "HPET" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 550
                          Event timer "HPET1" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "HPET2" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "HPET3" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "HPET4" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "RTC" frequency 32768 Hz quality 0
                          Timecounter "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 0
                          Event timer "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 100
                          Timecounter "ACPI-fast" frequency 3579545 Hz quality 900
                          Timecounter "TSC" frequency 806402450 Hz quality 1000
                          Timecounter "HPET" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 950
                          Event timer "HPET" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 550
                          Event timer "HPET1" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "HPET2" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "HPET3" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "HPET4" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "RTC" frequency 32768 Hz quality 0
                          Timecounter "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 0
                          Event timer "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 100
                          Timecounter "ACPI-fast" frequency 3579545 Hz quality 900
                          Timecounter "TSC" frequency 806401594 Hz quality 1000
                          Timecounter "HPET" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 950
                          Event timer "HPET" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 550
                          Event timer "HPET1" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "HPET2" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "HPET3" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "HPET4" frequency 19200000 Hz quality 440
                          Event timer "RTC" frequency 32768 Hz quality 0
                          Timecounter "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 0
                          Event timer "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 100
                          Timecounter "ACPI-fast" frequency 3579545 Hz quality 900
                          Timecounter "TSC" frequency 806402560 Hz quality 1000
                          kern.timecounter.tc.TSC.frequency: 806402560
                          kern.timecounter.tc.ACPI-fast.frequency: 3579545
                          kern.timecounter.tc.i8254.frequency: 1193182
                          kern.timecounter.tc.HPET.frequency: 19200000
                          kern.ntp_pll.time_freq: 5467471872000
                          kern.ntp_pll.pps_freq: 5467471872000
                          device cpufreq
                          kern.eventtimer.et.i8254.frequency: 1193182
                          kern.eventtimer.et.RTC.frequency: 32768
                          kern.eventtimer.et.HPET4.frequency: 19200000
                          kern.eventtimer.et.HPET3.frequency: 19200000
                          kern.eventtimer.et.HPET2.frequency: 19200000
                          kern.eventtimer.et.HPET1.frequency: 19200000
                          kern.eventtimer.et.HPET.frequency: 19200000
                          kern.eventtimer.et.LAPIC.frequency: 806402560
                          kern.acct_chkfreq: 15
                          debug.cpufreq.verbose: 0
                          debug.cpufreq.lowest: 0
                          debug.uart_poll_freq: 50
                          machdep.tsc_freq: 806402560
                          machdep.i8254_freq: 1193182
                          machdep.acpi_timer_freq: 3579545
                          dev.cpufreq.3.freq_driver: est3
                          dev.cpufreq.3.%parent: cpu3
                          dev.cpufreq.3.%pnpinfo:
                          dev.cpufreq.3.%location:
                          dev.cpufreq.3.%driver: cpufreq
                          dev.cpufreq.3.%desc:
                          dev.cpufreq.2.freq_driver: est2
                          dev.cpufreq.2.%parent: cpu2
                          dev.cpufreq.2.%pnpinfo:
                          dev.cpufreq.2.%location:
                          dev.cpufreq.2.%driver: cpufreq
                          dev.cpufreq.2.%desc:
                          dev.cpufreq.1.freq_driver: est1
                          dev.cpufreq.1.%parent: cpu1
                          dev.cpufreq.1.%pnpinfo:
                          dev.cpufreq.1.%location:
                          dev.cpufreq.1.%driver: cpufreq
                          dev.cpufreq.1.%desc:
                          dev.cpufreq.0.freq_driver: est0
                          dev.cpufreq.0.%parent: cpu0
                          dev.cpufreq.0.%pnpinfo:
                          dev.cpufreq.0.%location:
                          dev.cpufreq.0.%driver: cpufreq
                          dev.cpufreq.0.%desc:
                          dev.cpufreq.%parent:
                          dev.est.3.freq_settings: 801/6000 800/6000 700/5160
                          dev.est.2.freq_settings: 801/6000 800/6000 700/5160
                          dev.est.1.freq_settings: 801/6000 800/6000 700/5160
                          dev.est.0.freq_settings: 801/6000 800/6000 700/5160
                          dev.cpu.3.freq_levels: 801/6000 800/6000 700/5160
                          dev.cpu.3.freq: 801
                          dev.cpu.2.freq_levels: 801/6000 800/6000 700/5160
                          dev.cpu.2.freq: 801
                          dev.cpu.1.freq_levels: 801/6000 800/6000 700/5160
                          dev.cpu.1.freq: 801
                          dev.cpu.0.freq_levels: 801/6000 800/6000 700/5160

                          No idea what part of it is relevant.
                          PowerD is disabled if it matters.

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                          • stephenw10S
                            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                            last edited by

                            It must have been enabled at some point because the est(4) driver, speedstep, is loaded. The levels it's reporting, which are passed by the BIOS, are not useful though.

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                              Octopuss @stephenw10
                              last edited by

                              @stephenw10 Yes it was. I previously flipped several settings around.
                              What baffles me is the reported speed. And there's no way to tell whether it's real or not.

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                              • stephenw10S
                                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                last edited by

                                Which one?

                                The speedstep levels there could be correct just not helpful. 700MHz and 800MHz are just that. 801MHz implies 800+turbo which could be anything, speedstep doesn't see the actual turbo speeds.

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                                  Octopuss @stephenw10
                                  last edited by

                                  @stephenw10 The 1700-1900MHz one. That's with Speed Shift.

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                                  • stephenw10S
                                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                    last edited by

                                    Speedshift does report the actual speed so I'd expect that to be real.

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                                      Octopuss @stephenw10
                                      last edited by

                                      @stephenw10 Hmm, ok. But then something is not right anyway, because 1700MHz when there's less than 1% load.... that's just weird.

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                                      • stephenw10S
                                        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                        last edited by

                                        That's unexpected if it set to maximum efficiency for sure. At higher performance levels it might be since as I said just opening the dashboard would ramp it up significantly.

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                                          Octopuss @stephenw10
                                          last edited by

                                          @stephenw10 I tried both extremes, and at max performance it went even higher, but never lower than 1700. But again, I don't know if it's the real speed, because the BIOS might be sketchy.

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                                          • stephenw10S
                                            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                            last edited by

                                            Mmm, I guess I'd be reading through the epic length threads there are for those boxes on the serverthehome forums. Seems like people have done a lot of investigation there:
                                            https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/cwwk-topton-nxxx-quad-nic-router.39685/

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