FM2+ CPUs. Are there any programs to change the multipliers for CPU's Power States

[john_]

Let me give an example first. On a AM3 1055T CPU, I can use K10Stat to change the multipliers at the various powerstates of the processor. For example I had changed the multiplier for the lowest power state from 4 to 4.5 giving a minimum frequency of 900MHz instead of 800MHz.

Is there any program For FM2/FM2+ CPUs that does the same thing?



I took a risk to buy a Maxsun motherboard from GearBest(they refunded). While the motherboard is almost perfect for my needs, it did came with a huge problem. I tried three FM2 CPUs (all Trinity) and it locks ALL of them at their lowest powerstate, meaning that they are all running at 1400MHz and 0.99V. AMD's Overdrive can't change the multiplier.

So I was thinking that if I could find a program for FM2 CPUs that can change the multipliers for the various powerstates, I maybe could increase the multiplier of the lowest power state within Windows and manage to make this motherboard somewhat usable.

 

[HTC]

Try the one mentioned here: dunno if it works, though.

Perhaps there's a newer version?

 

[Toothless]

K10 is dead and so is any real hope of OCing newer AMD chips.

 

[Vya Domus]

Doesn't AMD OverDrive support these chips for OCing ?

 

[john_]

Try the one mentioned here: dunno if it works, though.

Perhaps there's a newer version?

I'll check them, but they are probably, as K10, for Phenom processors. FM1 APUs where using Phenom II cores. FM2 use Bulldozer cores.

K10 is dead and so is any real hope of OCing newer AMD chips.

I'am in love with that utility. Having stayed with the AM3 platform, this tool really made messing with AM3 processors a bit more interesting. It also helps to close the gap - a little - with modern processors in some areas, like power efficiency.

Doesn't AMD OverDrive support these chips for OCing ?

Yes it does. The problem is that this motherbord seems to lock the processor's multiplier to the lowest. So, for example the A6 5400K has multipliers from 14 to 38. Going at AOD and moving the multiplier higher, doesn't change anything. The frequency will remain at 1400MHz. On the other hand, lowering the multiplier will lower the frequency. Have a look at the screenshot below. AOD is thinking that it is checking the processor's stability at 3800MHz, but frequency is still locked at 1400MHz.

 

[Vya Domus]

I'll check them, but they are probably, as K10, for Phenom processors. FM1 APUs where using Phenom II cores. FM2 use Bulldozer cores.

I'am in love with that utility. Having stayed with the AM3 platform, this tool really made messing with AM3 processors a bit more interesting. It also helps to close the gap - a little - with modern processors in some areas, like power efficiency.

Yes it does. The problem is that this motherbord seems to lock the processor's multiplier to the lowest. So, for example the A6 5400K has multipliers from 14 to 38. Going at AOD and moving the multiplier higher, doesn't change anything. The frequency will remain at 1400MHz. On the other hand, lowering the multiplier will lower the frequency. Have a look at the screenshot below. AOD is thinking that it is checking the processor's stability at 3800MHz, but frequency is still locked at 1400MHz.

View attachment 91027

Then it looks to me like the motherboard is the issue , you said you already tried 3 different CPUs , honestly this doesn't look like something that can be fixed with software. I guess the last thing you could try is different OSs. Pop in a Ubuntu live sessions on a USB drive and see what clocks you get.

I know some AM3+ boards would cause CPUs to underclock to lowest power states when the northbridge or VRMs were overheating , I don't think this is the case though.

 

[john_]

It is the motherboard. The shop already gave me a refund, but because it is expensive to ship the motherboard back to China, they let me keep it. So I have a spare motherboard that can be used as a temporary solution, in case something goes wrong with the motherboard I bought latter to replace this one. The whole idea here is to ask if someone knows a program like K10Stat, but for FM2 APUs, or bulldozer CPUs in general. Probably there isn't any.

Linux alone wouldn't help, because even in BIOS the motherboard reports only 0.9V voltage for the APU. So even there it runs the processor at it's lowest speed, the lowest power state that it is for when the processor is (almost) idle. If I could change the multiplier for that power state, there is a chance I could make the APU run at higher speeds.

 

[cdawall]

I assume the bios has absolutely nothing for fid/did/vid control?

 

[john_]

I assume the bios has absolutely nothing for fid/did/vid control?

It does have options to change multiplier of the CPU and voltage. Changing voltage in BIOS does change voltage for the APU. Changing multipliers for the CPU doesn't change the end frequency of the APU, only when choosing multiplier lower than 14. I think it doesn't offer options for northbridge and stuff. I will try the motherboard again tomorrow and post here a few BIOS screenshots.

vid is voltage for CPU?
fid is ?
did is?

 

[cdawall]

Sounds like the cpu isn't fully supported by the bios so it goes to the lower fid/did/vid table.

Frequency ID, Divisor ID

 

[john_]

Sounds like the cpu isn't fully supported by the bios so it goes to the lower fid/did/vid table.

Frequency ID, Divisor ID

This is something I am hoping. But I don't think it is the case. Base on the first screenshot the motherboard does identify the APU, just doesn't run it at the correct voltage/frequency.


Another theory I have is that because of false temp reading (close to 0 Celsius - based on google that's 32 degrees Fahrenheit) the motherboard throttles the processor to the lowest possible power state, thinking that the temperature is out of range.



This is the page with the more advanced settings. To tell the truth i didn't cared for overclocking options when buying this mobo. It was going to be used in my HTPC, where I don't really need much.

 

[john_]

Found that AMD's old PSCheck utility can change powerstates and multipliers on FM2 processors. While it works nicely on the ASUS motherboard, the powerstate is totally locked on the Maxsun motherboard to the absolute lowest. So, no hope here.

Anyway, the risk was taken, the lesson was learned, never taking a chance again with Chinese hardware, in this case specifically, never buying anything with Maxsun brand on it.

 

[Flaky]

It seems that bad reading of temperature makes the whole platform to throttle.
It might be a bug in bios. Do you have the latest version? What exact motherboard model is that? On gearbest there is M.3 on sticker, but you might have different revision.

 

[john_]

It seems that bad reading of temperature makes the whole platform to throttle.
It might be a bug in bios. Do you have the latest version? What exact motherboard model is that? On gearbest there is M.3 on sticker, but you might have different revision.

Short version, I think I have the last version.

Long version,
it's a little (or maybe not) confusing about the latest BIOS version of this board. They have only one version for models with a serial code higher than a specific number, that could be used with my motherboard. While the date CPUz gives me and the date they give on their site is not the same(only a few days difference), they do state that the latest BIOS adds multi monitor support. Considering that there is a multi monitor option in my board's BIOS, I would say that I have the latest version.


As for the model, it is the M3 with the HDMI port. Even if the sticker was wrong, the presence of the HDMI port proves that it is the M3 version.

 

[Flaky]

I'd give it a try and reflash the same bios version. Sometimes bios itself gets corrupted.
Clearing cmos using jumper and restoring defaults also might help.

 

[john_]

I'd give it a try and reflash the same bios version. Sometimes bios itself gets corrupted.
Clearing cmos using jumper and restoring defaults also might help.

I might do it in the future. For now the board is sitting in it's box as a temporary solution in case something goes wrong with the ASUS. I'll try other processors in the future probably, Richland and Kaveri generations, to see if it works better with them.

At least I found out about PScheck(the whole point of this thread was to find a tool like this that works with FM2 APUs/CPUs).

 

[damric]

Try these

http://forum.hwbot.org/showthread.php?t=86959

 

[john_]

Try these

http://forum.hwbot.org/showthread.php?t=86959

The motherboard was sold. I sold my AM1, the person who bought it managed to burn the Sempron 3850, so I gave him the Maxsun board and the A4 5300 at very low price(he got the mobo for a single digit price), so he can at least have a temporary PC to browse the internet. I explained to him the motherboard's problem in detail.

I have to say that sometimes I regret giving him this board, I really wanted to test it further, I even have ordered a quad core 760K Richland the day before giving him the motherboard, that I wouldn't be able unfortunately to check. But he looked an OK person that just did something stupid with the AM1, so I decided to help him.

Thanks anyway for the link. It might be useful in the future.