CPU not scaling up in battery mode [Kernel 5.17 with amd-pstate driver]

[mldytech]

Hello,

first of all thanks for this very helpful tool.
I just installed kernel 5.17 (including the new amd-pstate driver) on my system and am experiencing weird behaviour when using auto-cpufreq. First of all, the "min" and "max" frequencies seem to adjust dynamically (seen in auto-cpufreq --stats).
I tested the following scenarios while running prime95 (full cpu-load simulation). When charging, the freq goes only up to 2.3 GHz on all cores, and in battery mode I barely reach 1 GHz. I also experienced low frequencies (when on battery) with kernel 5.15 and the acpi driver.

I tried installing auto-cpufreq through the AUR package, as well as from source.
Am I doing something wrong, or is using the new amd-pstate driver a bad idea in general?

Thank you very much!

Output of auto-cpufreq --debug

### System information:

Base clock = 1.8 GHz
Boost = up to 4.3 GHz

---

Linux distro: Manjaro Linux 21.2.6 Qonos
Linux kernel: 5.17.9-1-MANJARO
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5700U with Radeon Graphics
Cores: 16
Architecture: x86_64
Driver: amd-pstate

------------------------------ Current CPU stats ------------------------------

CPU max frequency: 1801 MHz
CPU min frequency: 400 MHz

Core Usage Temperature Frequency
CPU0: 5.8% 51 °C 1801 MHz
CPU1: 1.0% 51 °C 1776 MHz
CPU2: 5.0% 51 °C 1801 MHz
CPU3: 0.0% 51 °C 1801 MHz
CPU4: 1.0% 51 °C 1801 MHz
CPU5: 1.0% 51 °C 1801 MHz
CPU6: 1.0% 51 °C 1801 MHz
CPU7: 0.0% 51 °C 1801 MHz
CPU8: 2.0% 51 °C 1801 MHz
CPU9: 0.0% 51 °C 1801 MHz
CPU10: 0.0% 51 °C 1801 MHz
CPU11: 0.0% 51 °C 1801 MHz
CPU12: 1.0% 51 °C 1801 MHz
CPU13: 0.0% 51 °C 1801 MHz
CPU14: 7.4% 51 °C 1801 MHz
CPU15: 0.0% 51 °C 1801 MHz

auto-cpufreq version: 1.9.4

Python: 3.10.4
psutil package: 5.9.1
platform package: 1.0.8
click package: 8.1.3
distro package: 1.7.0

Computer type: Convertible
Battery is: charging

auto-cpufreq system resource consumption:
cpu usage: 0.0 %
memory use: 0.07 %

Total CPU usage: 2.3 %
Total system load: 0.38
Average temp. of all cores: 50.88 °C

Currently using: performance governor
Currently turbo boost is: off

---

[fukaraca]

After i upgraded the Kernel from 5.13 to 5.18 and initialized AMD_PSTATE it started working properly. /etc/autocpufreq.conf file and AMD's CPPC driver settings are given below.

/etc/auto-cpufreq.conf file example

# settings for when connected to a power source
[charger]
# see available governors by running: cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_governors
# preferred governor.
governor = performance

# minimum cpu frequency (in kHz)
# example: for 800 MHz = 800000 kHz --> scaling_min_freq = 800000
# see conversion info: https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/frequency/mhz-to-hz.html
# to use this feature, uncomment the following line and set the value accordingly
#scaling_min_freq = 3500000

# maximum cpu frequency (in kHz)
# example: for 1GHz = 1000 MHz = 1000000 kHz -> scaling_max_freq = 1000000
# see conversion info: https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/frequency/mhz-to-hz.html
# to use this feature, uncomment the following line and set the value accordingly
#scaling_max_freq = 4200000

# turbo boost setting. possible values: always, auto, never
turbo = always

# settings for when using battery power
[battery]
# see available governors by running: cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_governors
# preferred governor
governor = powersave

# minimum cpu frequency (in kHz)
# example: for 800 MHz = 800000 kHz --> scaling_min_freq = 800000
# see conversion info: https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/frequency/mhz-to-hz.html
# to use this feature, uncomment the following line and set the value accordingly
scaling_min_freq = 1500000

# maximum cpu frequency (in kHz)
# see conversion info: https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/frequency/mhz-to-hz.html
# example: for 1GHz = 1000 MHz = 1000000 kHz -> scaling_max_freq = 1000000
# to use this feature, uncomment the following line and set the value accordingly
scaling_max_freq = 3300000

# turbo boost setting. possible values: always, auto, never
turbo = auto

And AMD settings from here

HOW TO ENABLE AMD-PSTATE FOR UBUNTU JAMMY WITH KERNEL 5.17 OEM

edit /etc/initramfs-tools/modules and include amd_pstate at the end of the text file
edit /etc/default/grub and modify this line GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="initcall_blacklist=acpi_cpufreq_init"
in a terminal, execute sudo update-grub then sudo update-initramfs -u
reboot
check that less /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_driver returns amd-pstate (you can also check this with sudo tlp-stat -p )

[mldytech]

Hey, thanks for your answer!
According to the second section you posted: Since I'm Manjaro, amd_pstate seems to be enabled by default. At least the output of "cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_driver" is correct. Therefore I did not change anything else.

Unfortunately the config file did not change the behaviour when on battery and under full load. CPU is still not scaling over the scaling_min_freq (now ~1.1GHz). To clarify my problem a bit more, here is the output of "auto-cpufreq --debug" under full CPU load on battery, as well as plugged-in.

On battery (with above config-file)

Using settings defined in /etc/auto-cpufreq.conf file

---

Linux distro: Manjaro Linux 21.2.6 Qonos
Linux kernel: 5.17.9-1-MANJARO
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5700U with Radeon Graphics
Cores: 16
Architecture: x86_64
Driver: amd-pstate

------------------------------ Current CPU stats ------------------------------

CPU max frequency: 4372 MHz
CPU min frequency: 1000 MHz

Core Usage Temperature Frequency
CPU0: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU1: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU2: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU3: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU4: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU5: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU6: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU7: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU8: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU9: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU10: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU11: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU12: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU13: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU14: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz
CPU15: 100.0% 67 °C 1098 MHz

auto-cpufreq version: 1.9.4

Python: 3.10.4
psutil package: 5.9.1
platform package: 1.0.8
click package: 8.1.3
distro package: 1.7.0

Computer type: Convertible
Battery is: discharging

auto-cpufreq system resource consumption:
cpu usage: 0.0 %
memory use: 0.07 %

Total CPU usage: 100.0 %
Total system load: 11.51
Average temp. of all cores: 66.75 °C

Currently using: powersave governor
Currently turbo boost is: on

---

Plugged in (with above config-file)

Using settings defined in /etc/auto-cpufreq.conf file

---

Linux distro: Manjaro Linux 21.2.6 Qonos
Linux kernel: 5.17.9-1-MANJARO
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5700U with Radeon Graphics
Cores: 16
Architecture: x86_64
Driver: amd-pstate

------------------------------ Current CPU stats ------------------------------

CPU max frequency: 1801 MHz
CPU min frequency: 400 MHz

Core Usage Temperature Frequency
CPU0: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU1: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU2: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU3: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU4: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU5: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU6: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU7: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU8: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU9: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU10: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU11: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU12: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU13: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU14: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz
CPU15: 100.0% 68 °C 1777 MHz

auto-cpufreq version: 1.9.4

Python: 3.10.4
psutil package: 5.9.1
platform package: 1.0.8
click package: 8.1.3
distro package: 1.7.0

Computer type: Convertible
Battery is: charging

auto-cpufreq system resource consumption:
cpu usage: 0.0 %
memory use: 0.07 %

Total CPU usage: 100.0 %
Total system load: 7.53
Average temp. of all cores: 68.00 °C

Currently using: performance governor
Currently turbo boost is: on

---

[riskingh]

Having simiar issue when using amd-pstate on battery mode. Even when turbo boost kicks in it never gets over min cpu freq

Stats:

Linux kernel: 5.17.0-051700-generic
Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS with Radeon Graphics
Cores: 16
Architecture: x86_64
Driver: amd-pstate

------------------------------ Current CPU stats ------------------------------

CPU max frequency: 3301 MHz
CPU min frequency: 800 MHz

Core    Usage   Temperature     Frequency
CPU0:    28.7%     57 °C      800 MHz
CPU1:    74.0%     57 °C      780 MHz
CPU2:   100.0%     57 °C      780 MHz
CPU3:     5.8%     57 °C      800 MHz
CPU4:    22.8%     57 °C      780 MHz
CPU5:     9.1%     57 °C      800 MHz
CPU6:    39.0%     57 °C      780 MHz
CPU7:    19.2%     57 °C      800 MHz
CPU8:    73.7%     57 °C      800 MHz
CPU9:     6.0%     57 °C      800 MHz
CPU10:   34.3%     57 °C      780 MHz
CPU11:   10.0%     57 °C      800 MHz
CPU12:    4.0%     57 °C      800 MHz
CPU13:   55.0%     57 °C      780 MHz
CPU14:   16.2%     57 °C      800 MHz
CPU15:   45.0%     57 °C      780 MHz

---------------------------- CPU frequency scaling ----------------------------

Battery is: discharging

Setting to use: "powersave" governor

Total CPU usage: 35.0 %
Total system load: 7.70
Average temp. of all cores: 56.75 °C

High CPU load
setting turbo boost: on

[riskingh]

Looks like this is amd-pstate behavior with "powersave" governor and it should be replaced with "ondemand" instead

[AdnanHodzic]

Looks like this is amd-pstate behavior with "powersave" governor and it should be replaced with "ondemand" instead

@riskingh I do not own AMD CPU hence I cannot test this. If you or anyone else wants to submit a PR which could potentially resolve this problem that would be great, as I always encourage users to submit code contributions and credit everyone for their work.

[zoitrok]

@AdnanHodzic
I don't think this is just on AMD CPUs. The powersave governor just won't scale up at all on any of my devices. My i7-8550U, i7-2620M and Ryzen 3700U all stay on the lowest clock frequency on powersave.

I'm not a big fan of changing existing behavior, which is why my solution to this was to submit the (now merged) PR to add config files. It seems a lot of people would be expecting the behavior of the conservative governor on battery.

[mldytech]

@zoitrok I think you're absolutely right. According to arch-wiki, the powersave-governor always sets the frequency at it's minimum. I wasn't aware of that before.

Nevertheless, I think there is something fishy about the amd-pstate driver. I experience sometimes weird behaviour when using it. Can anyone confirm that, or might it just be my individual setup?

For now I went back to acpi-cpufreq driver and upgraded to kernel 5.18. Using an adjusted config file, I now get the desired results. Under full load, the Ryzen 7 5700U scales up to 2.3 GHz in charging-mode as well as in battery-mode. Even though it's capable of up to 4.3 GHz, I think it might be limited due to thermals (~75°C @2.3GHz, full load) - am I right?

Below is my current config file for those who are interested. Min and max frequencies are adapted to my specific CPU.

[charger]
governor = performance
scaling_min_freq = 1400000
scaling_max_freq = 4369921
turbo = auto

[battery]
governor = conservative
scaling_min_freq = 1400000
scaling_max_freq = 4369921
turbo = auto

[zoitrok]

@mldytech turbo=auto leaves it up to auto-cpufreq to enable the turbo. It takes a bit of sustained load to kick in. In my world keeping it on 'always' gives a more responsive system with no real hit to heat or battery.

[RaptaG]

Hello, I can reproduce. Yesterday night I got auto-cpufreq to work, and it did improve performance (while on charge). I installed it via the AUR package and enabled it with the sudo systemctl enable auto-cpufreq, then rebooted. Everything worked fine and the performance optimization was notable. Today, when I opened my laptop, (battery mode) I noticed the same thing. It was lagging because the CPU was not scaling up and was locked to 500Mhz (CPU: Intel Celeron N2840). I had to manually disable the service manually (with sudo systemctl disable auto-cpufreq). Kernel: 5.18.12-arch1-1 x86_64. Please fix that, auto-cpufreq brings my old laptop back to life, but with this problem it makes it function even worse :(

[AdnanHodzic]

Closing the issue due to inactivity.

If there are any changes that could be made please give it a try and contribute to the project and you will be credited for your work as part of future release.

[DCH3416]

conser

Hello, I can reproduce. Yesterday night I got auto-cpufreq to work, and it did improve performance (while on charge). I installed it via the AUR package and enabled it with the sudo systemctl enable auto-cpufreq, then rebooted. Everything worked fine and the performance optimization was notable. Today, when I opened my laptop, (battery mode) I noticed the same thing. It was lagging because the CPU was not scaling up and was locked to 500Mhz (CPU: Intel Celeron N2840). I had to manually disable the service manually (with sudo systemctl disable auto-cpufreq). Kernel: 5.18.12-arch1-1 x86_64. Please fix that, auto-cpufreq brings my old laptop back to life, but with this problem it makes it function even worse :(

I have the same CPU. I was able to correct being locked at 500Mhz by changing to governor = conservative under battery in auto-cpufreq.conf

[RaptaG]

I have the same CPU. I was able to correct being locked at 500Mhz by changing to governor = conversative under battery in auto-cpufreq.conf

Thanks a lot!