Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

[pakt]

Here's how to get CPU frequency scaling to work in Puppy 2.xx:
(these examples are for a 'centrino' laptop with a Pentium-M, but modules are included for many types of CPU)

For 2.13 and 2.14, you don't need to download anything - the necessary modules are already included in zdrv_2.13/2.14. Just make sure that file is copied to the same location as your pup_213/214 file.

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Only for 2.11/2.12:
Download http://www.puppyos.com/test/all-modules-k2.6.16.7-PUP202.tar.gz

From the file all-modules-k2.6.16.7-PUP202.tar.gz, extract the modules from

all-modules/kernel/arch/i386/kernel/cpu/cpufreq/
and
all-modules/kernel/drivers/cpufreq/

and copy them all into a new Puppy folder /lib/modules/2.6.16.7/cpufreq/

Run depmod so Puppy will find the new modules
# depmod
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Also see HairyWill's post further down on this page

Load these modules:
# modprobe cpufreq_userspace
# modprobe speedstep_centrino

See what CPU frequency settings are avaiable:
# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_frequencies
1600000 1600000 1600000 1400000 1200000 1000000 800000 600000

Check the current frequency setting:
# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/cpuinfo_cur_freq
1600000

I chose to lower the CPU freq to 1GHz (lower heat, quieter fan but still snappy response on my Dell Inspiron 510m with 1.6GHz Dothan Pentium-M)
# echo 1000000 > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_max_freq

Check again the current frequency setting:
# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/cpuinfo_cur_freq
1000000

This is how you would set the CPU freq manually. There are other "governors" (ie, mechanisms to steer the CPU frequency) available:
# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_governors
userspace performance

If you also load modules "cpufreq_powersave" and "cpufreq_conserative" you'll get even more governors to play with:
# modprobe cpufreq_powersave
# modprobe cpufreq_conservative
# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_governors
conservative powersave userspace performance

I can't remember exactly how the governors work but info can be found on the net. "conservative" "powersave" "performance" all adjust the CPU freq automatically using different algorithms.

To use a different governor, e.g. "powersave":
# echo powersave > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor

To have the settings I want at bootup, I put these lines in /etc/rc.d/rc.local:

modprobe cpufreq_userspace
modprobe speedstep_centrino
echo 1000000 > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_max_freq

Paul

[nilsja]

hi pakt,

i extracted the files from
all-modules/kernel/arch/i386/kernel/cpu/cpufreq/
and
all-modules/kernel/drivers/cpufreq/

to /lib/modules/2.6.18.1/cpufreq
than made depmod

and when i try to modprobe, i get the error "invalid module format".
Does only work with kernel 2.6.16.7 ?

[pakt]

[nilsja]

pakt,
you are a magician.

thx

[pakt]

[brad_chuck]

Thanks. This is GREAT! I have made so much progress on getting all the "iches" to work on my laptop and this was a big one that I don't have to fix!


Battery, LCD Brightness, SMP, Suspend 2 Disk, CPU scaleing.............


Thanks so much Paul.

[headfound]

I get the same problem as nilsja! could someone please explain in simple terms what file i need to put into the zdrv directory?
I'm running on usb stick so i guess the right directory is
initrd/mnt/dev_save
(it shows pup save, zdrv etc)
Im using puppy 2.15ce alpha, with athlon 3200+
Thanks!

[HairyWill]

headfound
You don't need to do anything to the zdrv file you just need to have it stored next to your pup_215.sfs all the necessary modules are probably in there.
I use 2.14, I'm assuming that nothing has been removed for 2.15.
When you try a modprobe for a driver that isn't in the main file the system automatically checks to see if you have a zdrv file and then loads it from there.
So all I do is:

[pakt]

Thanks for the tip, Will. I'll modify my first post.

Paul

[headfound]

Thanks for your help HairyWill, your code seemed to work ok, unfortunately when i try to modprobe current frequencies etc it can't find anything. Never mind! Now to try to get lm-sensors working to slow down the power supply fan....

[EdFromHouston]

This is what I get on my home computer, a HP a310n pavilion with Puppy 2.14-all-modules installed to the hard drive (PUPMODE 2):

sh-3.00# cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor : 0
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 15
model : 2
model name : Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.70GHz
stepping : 9
cpu MHz : 2691.425
cache size : 128 KB
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 2
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 cid xtpr
bogomips : 5385.52

sh-3.00# modprobe cpufreq_userspace

sh-3.00# modprobe acpi-cpufreq
sh-3.00# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_frequencies
cat: /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_frequencies: No such file or directory
sh-3.00#

[HairyWill]

Ed
I think the driver for your processor should be p4_clockmod
so instead of

[headfound]

Success!!
Thanks Will. I think before I must've done something in the wrong order, but I just followed everything from both posts and now i'm down by half!
Thanks again!

[EdFromHouston]

That worked Will.

I put this in rc.local:

[HairyWill]

headfound
Glad it works. I just happen to be going through the learming curve 5 minutes ahead of you. The first time I tried this was yesterday.

All credit to pakt for putting the drivers up in the first place, I presume it was him that got them included in the zdrv.