New tool for undervolt/overclock AMD K8L and K10 processors

[zz13]

I have Phenom X4 945 on AM2-motherboard and get the following readings.

Power States table:
-- Core 0
core 0 pstate 0 - En:1 VID:22 FID:14 DID:0 Freq:3000 VCore: 1.0000
core 0 pstate 1 - En:1 VID:30 FID:7 DID:0 Freq:2300 VCore: 0.8000
core 0 pstate 2 - En:1 VID:32 FID:2 DID:0 Freq:1800 VCore: 0.7625
core 0 pstate 3 - En:1 VID:32 FID:0 DID:1 Freq:800 VCore: 0.7625
core 0 pstate 4 - En:0 VID:32 FID:0 DID:1 Freq:800 VCore: 0.7625

I assume that the VCore readings should be actual values which I get for example using K10stat. Is this an error of tpc or am I missing something obvious?

[blackshard]

I have Phenom X4 945 on AM2-motherboard and get the following readings.

Power States table:
-- Core 0
core 0 pstate 0 - En:1 VID:22 FID:14 DID:0 Freq:3000 VCore: 1.0000
core 0 pstate 1 - En:1 VID:30 FID:7 DID:0 Freq:2300 VCore: 0.8000
core 0 pstate 2 - En:1 VID:32 FID:2 DID:0 Freq:1800 VCore: 0.7625
core 0 pstate 3 - En:1 VID:32 FID:0 DID:1 Freq:800 VCore: 0.7625
core 0 pstate 4 - En:0 VID:32 FID:0 DID:1 Freq:800 VCore: 0.7625

I assume that the VCore readings should be actual values which I get for example using K10stat. Is this an error of tpc or am I missing something obvious?

Yup, actually there's no error.
Since you got an AM2 motherboard, core voltage is controlled by northbridge voltage. I hope you have version 0.30 of the program, because it is able to control northbridge voltage. Check the documentation too, it is described there also.

[zz13]

I understand that the nbv = vcore in my case. But the readings are different and incorrect compared to the K10stat. For example the listing of the previous message is received the actual vcore voltage is 1.30v.

Should this app work on the fly when running Linux (no need to specify values at boot time)? I have tried to undervolt but it has no effect when using tpc 0.30 under Linux.

[blackshard]

I understand that the nbv = vcore in my case. But the readings are different and incorrect compared to the K10stat. For example the listing of the previous message is received the actual vcore voltage is 1.30v.

I don't know how k10stat works, but actually it may detect your configuration and show you the northbridge voltage inside the core voltage field. Instead tpc shows exactly what is contained in the MSR registers of the processor about core voltage. You may change them, but they will have no effect at all because all is dominated by northbridge voltage.
AFAIK such configurations like yours always show inconsistent values inside core voltage fields. Can you put the complete output of tpc -l switch?

Should this app work on the fly when running Linux (no need to specify values at boot time)? I have tried to undervolt but it has no effect when using tpc 0.30 under Linux.

Of course it works on the fly. How did you try to undervolt and how did you check if it was working or it wasn't?

[zz13]

Turion Power States Optimization and Control - by blackshard - v0.30
Detected CPU:
Family: 0xf		Model: 0x4		Stepping: 0x3
Extended Family: 0x10	Extended Model: 0x4
Package Type: 0x1	BrandId: 0x1ad6	
Detected Physical Cores: 4
Detected processor: AMD Family 10h Processor
Processor has 4 cores
Processor has 5 p-states

Power States table:
-- Core 0
core 0 pstate 0 - En:1 VID:22 FID:14 DID:0 Freq:3000 VCore: 1.0000
core 0 pstate 1 - En:1 VID:30 FID:7 DID:0 Freq:2300 VCore: 0.8000
core 0 pstate 2 - En:1 VID:32 FID:2 DID:0 Freq:1800 VCore: 0.7625
core 0 pstate 3 - En:1 VID:52 FID:0 DID:1 Freq:800 VCore: 0.5125
core 0 pstate 4 - En:0 VID:52 FID:0 DID:1 Freq:800 VCore: 0.5125

>>>other cores have identical info, clipped
 
Processor Maximum PState: 3
Processor Startup PState: 3
Processor Maximum Operating Frequency: 3000 MHz

Minimum allowed VID: 63 (0.375v) - Maximum allowed VID 22 (1.000v)
Processor AltVID: 34 (0.738v)
Northbridge Power States table:
PState 0 - NbVid 22 (1.0000) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
PState 1 - NbVid 30 (0.8000) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
PState 2 - NbVid 32 (0.7625) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
PState 3 - NbVid 52 (0.5125) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
PState 4 - NbVid 52 (0.5125) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
Northbridge Maximum frequency: 2000
* Warning: PVI mode is set. Northbridge voltage is used for processor voltage at given pstates!
* Changing Northbridge voltage changes core voltage too.

Core 0 C1E CMP halt bit is disabled
Core 1 C1E CMP halt bit is disabled
Core 2 C1E CMP halt bit is disabled
Core 3 C1E CMP halt bit is disabled

Voltage Regulator Slamming time register: 4
Voltage Regulator Step Up Ramp Time: 8
Voltage Regulator Step Down Ramp Time: 8
Processor is using Parallel VID Interface (probably Single Plane mode)
Processor PState Identifier: 0x3
PSI_L bit not enabled

Value 0.5125 on pstate 3 under Windows 85W (voltage dropped) and Linux (no effect) 105W measured with power consumption meter.

[blackshard]

Turion Power States Optimization and Control - by blackshard - v0.30
Detected CPU:
Family: 0xf		Model: 0x4		Stepping: 0x3
Extended Family: 0x10	Extended Model: 0x4
Package Type: 0x1	BrandId: 0x1ad6	
Detected Physical Cores: 4
Detected processor: AMD Family 10h Processor
Processor has 4 cores
Processor has 5 p-states

Power States table:
-- Core 0
core 0 pstate 0 - En:1 VID:22 FID:14 DID:0 Freq:3000 VCore: 1.0000
core 0 pstate 1 - En:1 VID:30 FID:7 DID:0 Freq:2300 VCore: 0.8000
core 0 pstate 2 - En:1 VID:32 FID:2 DID:0 Freq:1800 VCore: 0.7625
core 0 pstate 3 - En:1 VID:52 FID:0 DID:1 Freq:800 VCore: 0.5125
core 0 pstate 4 - En:0 VID:52 FID:0 DID:1 Freq:800 VCore: 0.5125

>>>other cores have identical info, clipped
 
Processor Maximum PState: 3
Processor Startup PState: 3
Processor Maximum Operating Frequency: 3000 MHz

Minimum allowed VID: 63 (0.375v) - Maximum allowed VID 22 (1.000v)
Processor AltVID: 34 (0.738v)
Northbridge Power States table:
PState 0 - NbVid 22 (1.0000) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
PState 1 - NbVid 30 (0.8000) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
PState 2 - NbVid 32 (0.7625) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
PState 3 - NbVid 52 (0.5125) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
PState 4 - NbVid 52 (0.5125) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
Northbridge Maximum frequency: 2000
* Warning: PVI mode is set. Northbridge voltage is used for processor voltage at given pstates!
* Changing Northbridge voltage changes core voltage too.

Core 0 C1E CMP halt bit is disabled
Core 1 C1E CMP halt bit is disabled
Core 2 C1E CMP halt bit is disabled
Core 3 C1E CMP halt bit is disabled

Voltage Regulator Slamming time register: 4
Voltage Regulator Step Up Ramp Time: 8
Voltage Regulator Step Down Ramp Time: 8
Processor is using Parallel VID Interface (probably Single Plane mode)
Processor PState Identifier: 0x3
PSI_L bit not enabled

Value 0.5125 on pstate 3 under Windows 85W (voltage dropped) and Linux (no effect) 105W measured with power consumption meter.

Mmmh...
First of all it looks really strange to me that your processor is running at 3.0 Ghz with 1.000 voltage. Does k10stat tell the same power state table as tpc does? I'm worried about some voltage conversion errors (even if I double checked them).

BTW, you should let the processor do a pstate transition to really apply new settings. I explain: when you use tpc and change the core voltage, the processor has to reenter in that pstate to apply new settings. When the pstate changed is the slowest pstate (the pstate used when the processor goes idling) you need to put a load to let the processor go out of the pstate and then reenter.

Unfortunately I had no chance to test the behaviour on a AM2 motherboard with a AM2+ processor, so I can't be more detailed on this.

[zz13]

Mmmh...
First of all it looks really strange to me that your processor is running at 3.0 Ghz with 1.000 voltage. Does k10stat tell the same power state table as tpc does? I'm worried about some voltage conversion errors (even if I double checked them).

Well, this is the thing I have tried to tell. Tpc reports unlogical values. K10stat reports logical and probably correct values. By the way, also other Linux tool k10ctl have this wrong value problem.

BTW, you should let the processor do a pstate transition to really apply new settings.

There has been transitions but still no effect.

[blackshard]

Mmmh... what kind of motherboard do you have?

Anyway, I'm not really sure if the problem is related to Serial VID and Parallel VID settings.

Maybe you can try to force Serial VID and see if voltages became coherent with k10stat.

If you want to try, open K10Processor.cpp file and change line 473 from:

if (miscReg==0) return false; else return true;

to

return false;

According to the SVI VID table, VID 22 (your maximum voltage accepted) is equal to 1.2750v, and I think it is the correct value there. Can you confirm?

[zz13]

Mmmh... what kind of motherboard do you have?

Asus M2NPV-MX

Anyway, I'm not really sure if the problem is related to Serial VID and Parallel VID settings.

Maybe you can try to force Serial VID and see if voltages became coherent with k10stat.

If you want to try, open K10Processor.cpp file and change line 473 ...

With the code change the values are identical to K10stat.

According to the SVI VID table, VID 22 (your maximum voltage accepted) is equal to 1.2750v, and I think it is the correct value there. Can you confirm?

This is true.

I tested non-modifed tpc in OpenSuSE and it worked. There is something in my Gentoo kernel with rejects undervolting.

Thank you for your help and the nice app.

[kbios]

Mmmh... what kind of motherboard do you have?

Anyway, I'm not really sure if the problem is related to Serial VID and Parallel VID settings.

Maybe you can try to force Serial VID and see if voltages became coherent with k10stat.

If you want to try, open K10Processor.cpp file and change line 473 from:

if (miscReg==0) return false; else return true;

to

return false;

According to the SVI VID table, VID 22 (your maximum voltage accepted) is equal to 1.2750v, and I think it is the correct value there. Can you confirm?

Hi blackshard, thanks a lot for the update. I had exactly the same problem (extremely low voltage reported on my AM2 motherboard), and this fixed it. ./TurionPowerControl -l now says

Turion Power States Optimization and Control - by blackshard - v0.30
Detected CPU:
Family: 0xf             Model: 0x4              Stepping: 0x2
Extended Family: 0x10   Extended Model: 0x4
Package Type: 0x1       BrandId: 0x1a86
Detected Physical Cores: 4
Detected processor: AMD Family 10h Processor
Processor has 4 cores
Processor has 5 p-states

Power States table:
-- Core 0
core 0 pstate 0 - En:1 VID:11 FID:19 DID:0 Freq:3500 VCore: 1.4125
core 0 pstate 1 - En:1 VID:24 FID:7 DID:0 Freq:2300 VCore: 1.2500
core 0 pstate 2 - En:1 VID:32 FID:2 DID:0 Freq:1800 VCore: 1.1500
core 0 pstate 3 - En:1 VID:32 FID:0 DID:1 Freq:800 VCore: 1.1500
core 0 pstate 4 - En:0 VID:0 FID:0 DID:0 Freq:1600 VCore: 1.5500
-- Core 1
core 1 pstate 0 - En:1 VID:11 FID:19 DID:0 Freq:3500 VCore: 1.4125
core 1 pstate 1 - En:1 VID:24 FID:7 DID:0 Freq:2300 VCore: 1.2500
core 1 pstate 2 - En:1 VID:32 FID:2 DID:0 Freq:1800 VCore: 1.1500
core 1 pstate 3 - En:1 VID:32 FID:0 DID:1 Freq:800 VCore: 1.1500
core 1 pstate 4 - En:0 VID:0 FID:0 DID:0 Freq:1600 VCore: 1.5500
-- Core 2
core 2 pstate 0 - En:1 VID:11 FID:19 DID:0 Freq:3500 VCore: 1.4125
core 2 pstate 1 - En:1 VID:24 FID:7 DID:0 Freq:2300 VCore: 1.2500
core 2 pstate 2 - En:1 VID:32 FID:2 DID:0 Freq:1800 VCore: 1.1500
core 2 pstate 3 - En:1 VID:32 FID:0 DID:1 Freq:800 VCore: 1.1500
core 2 pstate 4 - En:0 VID:0 FID:0 DID:0 Freq:1600 VCore: 1.5500
-- Core 3
core 3 pstate 0 - En:1 VID:11 FID:19 DID:0 Freq:3500 VCore: 1.4125
core 3 pstate 1 - En:1 VID:24 FID:7 DID:0 Freq:2300 VCore: 1.2500
core 3 pstate 2 - En:1 VID:32 FID:2 DID:0 Freq:1800 VCore: 1.1500
core 3 pstate 3 - En:1 VID:32 FID:0 DID:1 Freq:800 VCore: 1.1500
core 3 pstate 4 - En:0 VID:0 FID:0 DID:0 Freq:1600 VCore: 1.5500
Processor Maximum PState: 3
Processor Startup PState: 3
Processor Maximum Operating Frequency: No maximum defined. Unlocked multiplier.

Minimum allowed VID: 123 (0.013v) - Maximum allowed VID 0 (1.550v)
Processor AltVID: 34 (1.125v)
Northbridge Power States table:
PState 0 - NbVid 11 (1.4125) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
PState 1 - NbVid 24 (1.2500) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
PState 2 - NbVid 32 (1.1500) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
PState 3 - NbVid 32 (1.1500) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
PState 4 - NbVid 0 (1.5500) NbDid 0 NbFid 4
Northbridge Maximum frequency: 800

Core 0 C1E CMP halt bit is disabled
Core 1 C1E CMP halt bit is disabled
Core 2 C1E CMP halt bit is disabled
Core 3 C1E CMP halt bit is disabled

Voltage Regulator Slamming time register: 4
Voltage Regulator Step Up Ramp Time: 8
Voltage Regulator Step Down Ramp Time: 8
Processor is using Serial VID Interface (probably Dual Plane mode)
Processor PState Identifier: 0x2
PSI_L bit not enabled

There is only one thing which is not correctly reported - the frequency. I'm overclocking the processor in the BIOS from 15 x 200 = 3000 to 17.5 x 212 = 3710 Mhz. Memtest86+, dmesg, x86info correctly show "3710 mhz processor", but as you can see Tpc (as well as k10ctl) shows 3500 mhz (that is, 17.5 x 200, as if I hadn't touched the FSB). Simple benchmarks show that the CPU is actually running at 3710 Mhz. Maybe the BIOS is not updating the P-States information correctly? Thanks