PC Engines apu2 experiences
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So the core boost feature wouldn't really do anything for pfSense?
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of course it does! 40% more performance, less heat, less consumption.
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Just because there's nothing to indicate it's happening in pfSense doesn't mean it's not.
You would only see that in pfSense on the dashboard if it were controlled by powerd.
Steve
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@wgentine theoretically up to 40% boost for partial CPU loads not requiring more than a single core. Boost is lower (or zero) when multiple cores are in use.
So any lightly loaded APU2 system will benefit but moderate or heavily loaded systems won’t. -
@dugeem nothing shall be running at 100%, 100% of time. If does, its ridiculously undersized.
Check developer's info: https://3mdeb.com/firmware/amd-cpu-boost/
I see more value for the same cost.
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Is that something that you need to enable though? Or would running at the latest mainline firmware automatically overclock the CPU?
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@kevindd992002 as long as you install 4.9.0.2 or 4.0.24 you get it activated.
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@wgentine As per link the APU2 system load doesn’t even have to reach 100% for boost mode to cease. AMD internal power control will reduce or disable boost based on multi core activity together with thermal parameters.
No argument though that it adds useful extra lift to APU2 performance.
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@wgentine said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:
@kevindd992002 as long as you install 4.9.0.2 or 4.0.24 you get it activated.
Or wait a few days for forthcoming releases 4.9.0.3 & 4.0.25 which will enable core boost as well as providing the ability to disable it in BIOS.
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@dugeem fair enough... thermal and power consumption is still priority in a small system with passive cooling.
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@dugeem said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:
@wgentine said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:
@kevindd992002 as long as you install 4.9.0.2 or 4.0.24 you get it activated.
Or wait a few days for forthcoming releases 4.9.0.3 & 4.0.25 which will enable core boost as well as providing the ability to disable it in BIOS.
Well, I already have 4.9.0.2 since two weeks ago so I think I'm good. I'll still wait for 4.9.0.3 main release and update as necessary. My pfsense APU2C4 boxes are for home-use only anyways.
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Maybe I've missed, but as far as you know what will be the difference concerning this between 4.9.0.2 and 4.9.0.3?
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@qinn All APU2 open firmware source is on github.
Release notes for mainline are here ... github PCEngines mainline changelog
NB v4.9.0.3 hasn’t been released yet... we have to be patient and allow 3mdeb to go thru their full release cycle
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@dugeem Thnx for pointing that one out for me, I did not know there were "Unreleased" notes in the change log.
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PC Engines / 3mdeb have released new coreboot firmware:
- mainline v4.9.0.3 (link https://pcengines.github.io/#mr-20)
- legacy v4.0.25 (link https://pcengines.github.io/#lr-17).
Both now offer ability in sortbootorder to disable Core Boost (default is enabled).
v4.9.0.3 also includes some additonal firmware fixes and support for SMBIOS memory capability types 16 & 17. The command
dmidecode -t 16 -t 17now works as expected on APU2 with 4GB.
Installed mainline v4.9.0.3 on my test APU2 with no issues.
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Thanks for the update, I will install it asap.
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@dugeem said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:
SMBIOS memory capability types 16 & 17
Where does one use "SMBIOS memory capability types 16 & 17"?
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@kevindd992002 For informational purposes only with dmidecode. Arguably this should have already been in the firmware but since it took time for 3mdeb to get ECC working (due to lack of AMD documentation) it probably hasn’t mattered.
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How does the APU2C4 with the new BIOS compare to a Fitlet2 J3455? Does anyone know the boost clock that the APU will get up to now? Forgive me if I missed this info earlier in the thread.
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With AMD CPB enabled in latest APU2 BIOS a lightly loaded (i.e. no more than single core active) APU2 CPU will boost from normal 1.0Ghz up to 1.4GHz. In the real world the gain is less - around 20% (see 3mdeb tech notes https://3mdeb.com/firmware/amd-cpu-boost/).
The quad core Celeron J3455 CPU has a base frequency of 1.5GHz and boosts to 2.3GHz - this would suggest it should offer ~50% higher performance than the AMD GX-412TC. Benchmarking would be required to confirm this.
However before selecting router hardware there are many other considerations apart from just CPU performance. EG. bandwidth, budget, form factor, interfaces, storage etc
