Wanting to modify CPU governors, or load the user space governor.

Debian_SuperUser

Active Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2024
Messages
136
Reaction score
33
Credits
1,606
So you might know that the processor in my laptop has problems (I am just a very young student working with all I have), and it crashes when running at max frequency. One makeshift I used it to lock the frequency down quite a bit, but now, I have completely put that core offline which was having problems. I got my clocks back, but it still sucks to not have a core. I was trying a bit to get access to voltage controls through firmware modding (a guy was helping me), but that is too dangerous and can brick the machine. Meanwhile, a second option for me was to lock down the frequency of that core, while running other cores at full speed. But, the firmware also doesn't allow modifying turbo ratio limits of specific cores.

But, something that came in my mind is that running different frequencies on different cores on the basis of the current power profile is a thing. I monitored through i7z and /proc/cpuinfo, and when my system is idle, different clock speed is being run on different CPUs. So can I not modify something to reduce the maximum clocks on a specific core?

One thing that comes in mind are the power profiles (CPU governors). I have no idea about this, but can you modify the governors to achieve what I am saying?

Second is to try the userspace governor. That thing just wont load how much I tried. I tried cpupower, cpufrequtils, manually changing the governers in kernel files, disabling intel_pstate (this way, the user space governor was actually visible in the kernel files, but I still couldn't switch it on). I am running Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Do I need to recompile the kernel to allow the userspace governor? Or does my system doesn't support at all?
 


I notice you're waffling a LOT about what it is you think you need to do.....but you're very carefully not mentioning what this CPU actually is?

I don't see how we can be expected to help if you don't give us any information to work with. Not everyone will go to the trouble of reading your posting history to find out what it is you're talking about! Please, always give as much information as possible in each new thread. Help US to help YOU.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

I'm assuming it's an Intel of some sort from frequent mentions of the intel_pstate governor. From what I understand, if the pstate governor is in charge, the Linux native governors won't run (it blocks them, because the last thing it needs is conflicting instructions from several different directions). And frankly, the pstate governor will always do a far better job on Intel CPUs.

What you're trying to do can't be done, because the pstate governor, in conjunction with the rest of the CPU, randomises scheduled activity across all cores to maintain even temperatures & prevent hot-spots from forming.

Linux kernel controls, here, will only ever be able to work with whatever info is publicly available. Intel know their own chips inside-out, because they design and build them from the ground up. Their own software controls will always be the best option.


Mike. ;)
 
Last edited:
@MikeWalsh

I am sorry, but I gave you all the necessary context that you need to help me. What do you exactly want? My CPU model? It's an i5 8350U. But that doesn't even matter.

At least help me get the userspace governer. I at least know that it is possible to get running. And the way you mentioned it, I am okay disabling intel pstate to get the user space governer running, but it doesn't run.
 
@MikeWalsh

All I am trying now is to get the userspace governor working. I disabled intel_pstate at boot, set all CPUs to use userspace governor, and used cpupower to set frequency to something like 2 GHz. There are no errors, but the CPU frequency is unchanged. Monitored through i7z and /proc/cpuinfo. I even verified that I am using the userspace governor, and I also manually set the frequency in the kernel files.

Please, if you have any idea which can help me, then please share it.

edit - Setting any governor when intel pstate is disabled is not working. But then the userspace governor is not available on intel pstate.
 
Last edited:
@Caluser2000

You do know that the processor is soldered to the motherboard, right? And if you are wanting me to still desolder it and replace it, first, finding a mobile CPU just hanging out is extremely hard to find, and then the risk of my problem not being solved or worse, the motherboard being damaged is not worth it over the cost of a new processor with the motherboard.
 
@Caluser2000

You do know that the processor is soldered to the motherboard, right? And if you are wanting me to still desolder it and replace it, first, finding a mobile CPU just hanging out is extremely hard to find, and then the risk of my problem not being solved or worse, the motherboard being damaged is not worth it over the cost of a new processor with the motherboard.
Well if you gave some useful information folk here may be able to help you.....Faster fully functioning laptops are tossed away as ewaste these dayz.

Justin Beaver Linux is just the right Distro suited for you.
 
Last edited:

Staff online

Members online


Latest posts

Top