[Dell Zino HD] BIOS bug prevents frequency scaling?

I have the exact same problem when running Fedora 12 with kernel 2.6.31. The ACPI information from the BIOS is malformed, and no CPU scaling is possible. The CPU is locked at the fastest speed, with the result that the cooling fan is constantly running. Far from ideal for a "low-power" system. The fan is also running constantly under Windows 7, so I guess the issue of CPU scaling is also present there, although I didn't click my way through the menus to find a way of getting information about the current frequency of the processors. This is a problem which needs fixing by Dell through a BIOS update.

What are the results of the Dell Diagnostics? Toastie0815, did you have the same issue running the factory installed operating system?

* Restart the PC and Press F12
* Highlight Boot to Utility Partition and press Enter
- Express Test performs a quick test of devices. This typically can take 10 to 20 minutes and requires no interaction on your part. Run Express Test first to increase the odds of tracing the problem quickly
- Extended Test performs a thorough check of devices. This typically can take an hour or more and requires you to answer questions periodically
- Custom Test performs a customized test only on the device(s) you select
- Symptom Tree Lists the most common symptoms encountered, and allows you to select a test based on the symptom of the problem you are having

I flagged this thread for the Moderators. They should be able to pass the issue over to the Dell techies for review.

Ron

What part of the output would you like?

Is there any information I can give which will assist in the solution of this problem?

Toastie0815 posted the following in an Ubuntu forum: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1389281

It contains the following link, which might be useful in debugging the problem: http://wejp.k.vu/projects/howto_cnq_athlon_64_x2?lang=de

At least it explains how to get the information from the bios, which turns out not to conform to the required standard.

Indeed, the Processor section obtained on my Zino HD does not contain any information about CPU scaling:

    Scope (_PR)
    {
        Processor (P001, 0x01, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
        Processor (P002, 0x02, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
        Processor (P003, 0x03, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
        Processor (P004, 0x04, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
        Alias (P001, CPU1)
        Alias (P002, CPU2)
        Alias (P003, CPU3)
        Alias (P004, CPU4)
    }

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help resolve this issue.

This is from engineering -

If it is the AMD Athlon X2 Dual Core Processor 3250e, the CPU does not support AMD Cool and Quiet. So it can’t change CPU frequency.
Min P-State
2650e: 800MHz
2850e: 800MHz
3250e: N/A
6850e: 1000MHz

Strange.This document from AMD: http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_1260_10221%5E10269,00.html

clearly states that the 3200+-series support AMD PowerNow technology (also known as "Cool and Quiet"). In fact, the CPU clearly reports power management features. The content of /proc/cpuinfo is (just listing processor 0):

processor    : 0
vendor_id    : AuthenticAMD
cpu family    : 15
model        : 107
model name    : AMD Athlon(tm) X2 Dual Core Processor 3250e
stepping    : 2
cpu MHz        : 1500.173
cache size    : 512 KB
physical id    : 0
siblings    : 2
core id        : 0
cpu cores    : 2
apicid        : 0
initial apicid    : 0
fdiv_bug    : no
hlt_bug        : no
f00f_bug    : no
coma_bug    : no
fpu        : yes
fpu_exception    : yes
cpuid level    : 1
wp        : yes
flags        : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt rdtscp lm 3dnowext 3dnow extd_apicid pni cx16 lahf_lm cmp_legacy svm extapic cr8_legacy 3dnowprefetch
bogomips    : 3000.34
clflush size    : 64
power management: ts fid vid ttp tm stc 100mhzsteps

where of course the interesting bit is the last line, which suggest that scaling in 100mhz steps should be possible. But the BIOS does not allow that.

Cheers, Jeppe

See also

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K8/AMD-Athlon%2064%20X2%203250e%20-%20ADJ3250IAA5DO.html

Hi Chris!

What are the results of the Dell Diagnostics? Toastie0815, did you have the same issue running the factory installed operating system?

Dell Diagnostics don't show any issue.

The issue also applies with the "factory installed operating system" Windows 7. If you check e.g. with AMDs Power Monitor support application under Windows 7 you'll see that the frequency keeps always the same, even in idle. This cause the fan to spin all the time :-(

I've dumped DSDT (Differentiated System Description Table) and disassembled using Intel's iasl. Respective _PSS object is really missing. If helpful, I can provide the dump.

Please pass over the issue to the respective expert within Dell so that a fix for the BIOS becomes available.

BR
Dominik

Hi Chris!

If it is the AMD Athlon X2 Dual Core Processor 3250e, the CPU does not support AMD Cool and Quiet. So it can’t change CPU frequency.

Thanks for taking care and discussing with your colleagues. But as posted by others, the X2 3250e should support CPU frequency scaling. For me the issue looks still like a BIOS bug. Please follow-up again.

Another reference :emotion-5:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Athlon_X2_microprocessors

(In addition I've requested clarification from AMD.)

BR
Dominik

jrandersen,
Strange.This document from AMD: http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_1260_10221%5E10269,00.html
clearly states that the 3200+-series support AMD PowerNow technology (also known as "Cool and Quiet"). In fact, the CPU clearly reports power management features.
http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K8/AMD-Athlon%2064%20X2%203250e%20-%20ADJ3250IAA5DO.html
* You have Dell OEM (original equipment manufacturer) hardware. The retail specifications you posted do not apply to our hardware.

Toastie0815,
Please pass over the issue to the respective expert within Dell so that a fix for the BIOS becomes available.
* I don't follow. Exactly what do you want fixed?
* You have Dell OEM (original equipment manufacturer) hardware. The retail specifications you posted do not apply to our hardware.

Thanks for taking care and discussing with your colleagues. But as posted by others, the X2 3250e should support CPU frequency scaling. For me the issue looks still like a BIOS bug. Please follow-up again.

I'm sorry, but your collegues seem to be right :-(

Just got an e-mail from AMD confirming that Cool'n'Quite is not available :-(

Please be advised that the Cool'n'Quiet feature is not available on the Athlon X2 3250e. The Cool'n'Quiet feature is available for other energy efficient processor models that are operating at 1.6GHz or higher. (E.g. Athlon X2 4050e, 5050e) We are unable to provide you with the datasheet as it has not be cleared for public release.

Unfortunatly 14 days after delivery are already over, so no chance to give my Zino HD back and change to a box with AMD Athlon Neo X2 6850e. Does anyone have a 6850e? Is CPU freq scaling working. How does the power consumption in idle look like? My box takes around 30 Watts as reference.

Please pass over the issue to the respective expert within Dell so that a fix for the BIOS becomes available. * I don't follow. Exactly what do you want fixed?

As stated in my last post, also AMD has confirmed that cool'n'quite is not supported. So your colleagues are unfortunatly right :-(