FreeBSD uses a lot more power in Desktop, also won't go into C states

K

kriptomahsun

On my Desktop this is the specs. I've tried powerd, and power tuning stuff at wiki. Even installed intel microcode, no help. It won't go below 3.6GHz. Only thing is that it makes the fans blow much more, and it's disturbing kind of. Also unneccessary power use.
i3 8100
RX 550
8GB RAM
On Linux this is fixed on 35-36W while streaming from local share. But within FreeBSD this is atleast 53W. Doing exact same things. I think this shows that it just can't select any other frequency than 3.6GHz.
Code: 
kriptomahsun@kriptomahsun-freebsd ~> sysctl dev.cpufreq.0.freq_driver dev.cpu.0.freq_levels dev.cpu.0.freq

dev.cpufreq.0.freq_driver: hwpstate_intel0

dev.cpu.0.freq_levels: 3600/-1

dev.cpu.0.freq: 3596
 
This is a processor using hwpstate, new power technology. Neither powerd nor powerdxx work with new driver and C states. This wiki should not be taken verbatim for newer chips. It mentions Intel Speed Shift but only very briefly. This is the one I use. Look for epp settings. I set them to highest possible which is 100 ( it is confusing but it is lowest state ) If i need to compile something i just them to 0 ( highest performance )
 
kriptomahsun said:
On my Desktop this is the specs. I've tried powerd, and power tuning stuff at wiki. Even installed intel microcode, no help. It won't go below 3.6GHz. Only thing is that it makes the fans blow much more, and it's disturbing kind of. Also unneccessary power use.
i3 8100
RX 550
8GB RAM
On Linux this is fixed on 35-36W while streaming from local share. But within FreeBSD this is atleast 53W. Doing exact same things. I think this shows that it just can't select any other frequency than 3.6GHz.
Code: 
kriptomahsun@kriptomahsun-freebsd ~> sysctl dev.cpufreq.0.freq_driver dev.cpu.0.freq_levels dev.cpu.0.freq

dev.cpufreq.0.freq_driver: hwpstate_intel0

dev.cpu.0.freq_levels: 3600/-1

dev.cpu.0.freq: 3596
Click to expand...
The manual configuration is a nonsense, it does not help the machine to reduce the high consumption of resources...

$ sysctl dev.cpu | grep cx
Code: 
dev.cpu.3.cx_method: C1/mwait/hwc C2/mwait/hwc
dev.cpu.3.cx_usage_counters: 258051 0
dev.cpu.3.cx_usage: 100.00% 0.00% last 192us
dev.cpu.3.cx_lowest: C1
dev.cpu.3.cx_supported: C1/1/1 C2/2/80
dev.cpu.2.cx_method: C1/mwait/hwc C2/mwait/hwc
dev.cpu.2.cx_usage_counters: 709432 0
dev.cpu.2.cx_usage: 100.00% 0.00% last 514us
dev.cpu.2.cx_lowest: C1
dev.cpu.2.cx_supported: C1/1/1 C2/2/80
dev.cpu.1.cx_method: C1/mwait/hwc C2/mwait/hwc
dev.cpu.1.cx_usage_counters: 298791 0
dev.cpu.1.cx_usage: 100.00% 0.00% last 216us
dev.cpu.1.cx_lowest: C1
dev.cpu.1.cx_supported: C1/1/1 C2/2/80
dev.cpu.0.cx_method: C1/mwait/hwc C2/mwait/hwc
dev.cpu.0.cx_usage_counters: 403064 0
dev.cpu.0.cx_usage: 100.00% 0.00% last 332us
dev.cpu.0.cx_lowest: C1
dev.cpu.0.cx_supported: C1/1/1 C2/2/80
$
 
angry_vincent said:
This is a processor using hwpstate, new power technology. Neither powerd nor powerdxx work with new driver and C states. This wiki should not be taken verbatim for newer chips. It mentions Intel Speed Shift but only very briefly. This is the one I use. Look for epp settings. I set them to highest possible which is 100 ( it is confusing but it is lowest state ) If i need to compile something i just them to 0 ( highest performance )
Click to expand...
Well these actually helped. It uses around 39W doing the same thing. Thanks. Huge improvement. But no wiki talks about this.
 
How do you measure power consumption? Also, if you want to push it little bit more - you can try undervolting the CPU. I do this on my Thinkpad T480, which also has 8-gen CPU.

pkg install intel-undervolt

Then, look in /usr/local/etc/intel-undervolt.conf
You can change CPU and CPU cache by gradually reducing volts. It is self-explanatory in this conf. I started with -50mV for both, stressed, then moved to -60mV, stressed and so on. I would not go beyond -100mV, but it may very well be stable. I find GPU undervolting is unstable even with slight changes, so I leave it as is. It will be interesting to see power consumption results
 
I made an /etc/sysctl.conf entry with those settings and they seem aggressive for me.

Slight lag on keyboard and opening screens.

I like the effort though.

I just bought a used 6/12 core Dell Precision 7530. My approach was I needed a strong machine for 3D scanner but now I am stuck with way more power than I need.
So I disabled hyperthreading and use only two cores.
That way if I need the power I reboot turn on all cores and let it eat.

I don't do power readings but I can tell by fan what's happening.
Very positive results with these on 8850H:
Code: 
dev.hwpstate_intel.0.epp=100
dev.hwpstate_intel.1.epp=100
#dev.hwpstate_intel.2.epp=100
#dev.hwpstate_intel.3.epp=100
May need to pare back slightly.

sysctl dev.cpufreq.0.freq_driver dev.cpu.0.freq_levels dev.cpu.0.freq
Code: 
dev.cpufreq.0.freq_driver: hwpstate_intel0
dev.cpu.0.freq_levels: 2600/-1
dev.cpu.0.freq: 1024

sysctl dev.cpu | grep cx
Code: 
dev.cpu.1.cx_method: C1/hlt
dev.cpu.1.cx_usage_counters: 1934041
dev.cpu.1.cx_usage: 100.00% last 327us
dev.cpu.1.cx_lowest: C8
dev.cpu.1.cx_supported: C1/1/0
dev.cpu.0.cx_method: C1/hlt
dev.cpu.0.cx_usage_counters: 327561
dev.cpu.0.cx_usage: 100.00% last 623us
dev.cpu.0.cx_lowest: C8
dev.cpu.0.cx_supported: C1/1/0
 
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