[SOLVED] Major performance issue

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drmarton11
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Re: Major performance issue

Post by drmarton11 »

mikeflan wrote: Fri Dec 02, 2022 10:34 am Try searching for cpu frequency drops and you will get a ton of hits where the cpu frequency drops to 400 Hz, just like it does for you. Here are 3 of those hits:
https://linustechtips.com/topic/183465- ... ops-to-20/
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=248477
https://linustechtips.com/topic/1134475 ... ncy-drops/
Sometimes reapplication of thermal paste works - sometimes not. Yes, I know your temps show low in the inxi output.
Clearly this is a relatively common problem with some systems.
Thanks ! The second one seems promising, I'll look into that a bit deeper

An "update" about the temperature: I have just replaced the thermal paste, now the whole system runs around 5˚C cooler.
I turned on the laptop, while doing nothing it reached about 36-37˚C (room temperature is 18˚C rn) while staying on that temperature the frequency just suddenly dropped to 400MHz, as usual, so it's not temperature related.

I also tried disabling fast boot in the bios, no success.
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axrusar
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Re: Major performance issue

Post by axrusar »

External source:
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=241593

Remove the bottom cover and disconnect the battery. Maybe the CMOS battery too. Press the power button when there is no batteries or anything else connected to it so you completely drain the power.
Maybe you get lucky?
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deepakdeshp
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Re: Major performance issue

Post by deepakdeshp »

axrusar wrote: Fri Dec 02, 2022 4:07 am @drmarton11

Can you please take a screenshot of your system with these 3 terminal windows open? I still find hard to believe your CPU only raises its frequency
for a few minutes and then it stalls. That does not make sense.

I marked each window here:

1. Run yes > /dev/null & on terminal 1. Type the command and hit enter.
2. Run htop on the second terminal. You will see one of your cores at 100%, they fluctuate thats ok.
3. Only AFTER steps 1-2, run cpufreq-info on your 3rd terminal window.
4. Take screenshot and post here.

Close terminal 1 when you are done as this will slow down the computer while it is running.

Example:

Image
If you have another computer with mint installed load it like the examples above and test for frequency drop. It should not drop. Which will indicate that your problem isn't software related. If no other machine with Mint, boot it with live USB and perform the experiment. May be someone on the forum can perform it tOo and post the result.
If I have helped you solve a problem, please add [SOLVED] to your first post title, it helps other users looking for help.
Regards,
Deepak

Mint 21.1 Cinnamon 64 bit with AMD A6 / 8GB
Mint 21.1 Cinnamon AMD Ryzen3500U/8gb
drmarton11
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Re: Major performance issue

Post by drmarton11 »

axrusar wrote: Fri Dec 02, 2022 5:11 pm External source:
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=241593

Remove the bottom cover and disconnect the battery. Maybe the CMOS battery too. Press the power button when there is no batteries or anything else connected to it so you completely drain the power.
Maybe you get lucky?
Tried it, didn't get lucky.
I only disconnected the battery, I couldn't find the CMOS batt., it's probably on the underside of the motherboard, and I just didn't really feel like taking apart the whole laptop. There was no button on the motherboard that would disconnect the CMOS battery while pressed, but I know some laptops have that.
drmarton11
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Re: Major performance issue

Post by drmarton11 »

deepakdeshp wrote: Fri Dec 02, 2022 6:15 pm If you have another computer with mint installed load it like the examples above and test for frequency drop. It should not drop. Which will indicate that your problem isn't software related. If no other machine with Mint, boot it with live USB and perform the experiment. May be someone on the forum can perform it tOo and post the result.
I booted a live USB on a ThinkPad T450.

Code: Select all

mint@mint:~$ inxi -Fxxxrz
System:
  Kernel: 5.15.0-41-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 11.2.0
    Desktop: Xfce 4.16.0 tk: Gtk 3.24.23 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm 4.16.1
    vt: 7 dm: LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 21 Vanessa
    base: Ubuntu 22.04 jammy
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 20BUS1WP00 v: ThinkPad T450
    serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 10 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: LENOVO model: 20BUS1WP00 v: SDK0E50510 WIN
    serial: <superuser required> UEFI-[Legacy]: LENOVO v: JBET49WW (1.14 )
    date: 05/21/2015
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 20.1 Wh (99.5%) condition: 20.2/23.2 Wh (87.0%)
    volts: 12.2 min: 11.1 model: SONY 45N1111 type: Li-poly serial: <filter>
    status: Not charging
  ID-2: BAT1 charge: 15.1 Wh (85.3%) condition: 17.7/23.5 Wh (75.3%)
    volts: 12.7 min: 11.4 model: LGC 45N1127 type: Li-ion serial: <filter>
    status: Charging
CPU:
  Info: dual core model: Intel Core i5-5300U bits: 64 type: MT MCP
    smt: enabled arch: Broadwell rev: 4 cache: L1: 128 KiB L2: 512 KiB
    L3: 3 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 2296 high: 2299 min/max: 500/2900 cores: 1: 2296
    2: 2295 3: 2296 4: 2299 bogomips: 18356
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 5500 vendor: Lenovo driver: i915 v: kernel
    ports: active: eDP-1 empty: DP-1, DP-2, HDMI-A-1, HDMI-A-2 bus-ID: 00:02.0
    chip-ID: 8086:1616 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Lite-On Integrated Camera type: USB driver: uvcvideo
    bus-ID: 2-8:5 chip-ID: 04ca:703c class-ID: 0e02
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.3 compositor: xfwm v: 4.16.1 driver:
    X: loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa gpu: i915 display-ID: :0.0
    screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1600x900 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 423x238mm (16.7x9.4")
    s-diag: 485mm (19.1")
  Monitor-1: eDP-1 model: AU Optronics res: 1600x900 hz: 60 dpi: 132
    size: 309x174mm (12.2x6.9") diag: 355mm (14") modes: 1600x900
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 5500 (BDW GT2)
    v: 4.6 Mesa 22.0.1 direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Broadwell-U Audio vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel bus-ID: 00:03.0 chip-ID: 8086:160c class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: Intel Wildcat Point-LP High Definition Audio vendor: Lenovo
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:9ca0
    class-ID: 0403
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.15.0-41-generic running: yes
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 15.99.1 running: yes
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.48 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Ethernet I218-LM vendor: Lenovo driver: e1000e v: kernel
    port: 3080 bus-ID: 00:19.0 chip-ID: 8086:15a2 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp0s25 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Intel Wireless 7265 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel pcie:
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:095b class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel Bluetooth wireless interface type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8
    bus-ID: 2-7:4 chip-ID: 8087:0a2a class-ID: e001
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: <filter>
    bt-v: 2.1 lmp-v: 4.2 sub-v: 1000 hci-v: 4.2 rev: 1000
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 260.21 GiB used: 109.14 GiB (41.9%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Samsung model: MZ7LN256HCHP-000L7 size: 238.47 GiB
    speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 3L6Q scheme: MBR
  ID-2: /dev/sdb type: USB vendor: Generic model: STORAGE DEVICE
    size: 7.28 GiB type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 0903 scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/sdc type: USB vendor: Toshiba model: TransMemory
    size: 14.45 GiB type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 1.00 scheme: MBR
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 3.74 GiB used: 127.4 MiB (3.3%) fs: overlay source: ERR-102
  ID-2: /var/log size: 4.87 GiB used: 2.5 MiB (0.0%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/sdb3
Swap:
  Alert: No swap data was found.
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 39.0 C pch: 38.5 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): fan-1: 2500
Repos:
  Packages: apt: 2059
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
    1: deb cdrom:[Linux Mint 21 _Vanessa_ - Release amd64 20220726]/ jammy main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
    1: deb http://packages.linuxmint.com vanessa main upstream import backport
    2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy main restricted universe multiverse
    3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-updates main restricted universe multiverse
    4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-security main restricted universe multiverse
Info:
  Processes: 207 Uptime: 9m wakeups: 1 Memory: 7.47 GiB
  used: 1.02 GiB (13.6%) Init: systemd v: 249 runlevel: 5 Compilers:
  gcc: 11.2.0 alt: 11 Shell: Bash v: 5.1.16 running-in: xfce4-terminal
  inxi: 3.3.13
I booted from an 8GB SD card in a USB card reader (because I already had an LM installed on that card) and it felt at least 4 times faster than using my VivoBook with LM installed on an SSD '-'

On the ThinkPad there was absolutely no problem with the frequency or with anything.
I didn't take a screenshot, but I did the test with the yes > /dev/null & and there wasn't any issue.
I wanted to try to see what if the temperature gets high, but since I just recently cleaned the fan, reapplied thermal paste and this laptop has a really decent cooling anyways, the temperature didn't really go above 42˚C.

So the issue is with this (VivoBook) laptop. Asus probably made it as a "Windows-only" laptop, but I'm certain there is a workaround for this.

Somewhere I've read that basically the governor decides the frequency, the driver passes that decision to the firmware, and the firmware "applies" it.
If I'm correct with this, then I think the issue is driver or firmware related, since the governors work just fine (I can change governors, change then nim and max freq), even when the actual freq. is at 400,

The firmware has been up- and downgraded (now everything is the newest version), never really made a difference
Both the intel-pstate and the acpi-cpufreq driver (depending on which one I use) don't make a difference, is there maybe another diver(s) that I can install and try ?
deepakdeshp
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Re: Major performance issue

Post by deepakdeshp »

The problem is with only your machine and not with software and Mint. If in the exchange window try exchanging it, preferably with another model most preferable is a ThinkPad as they play well with Mint.
If I have helped you solve a problem, please add [SOLVED] to your first post title, it helps other users looking for help.
Regards,
Deepak

Mint 21.1 Cinnamon 64 bit with AMD A6 / 8GB
Mint 21.1 Cinnamon AMD Ryzen3500U/8gb
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axrusar
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Re: Major performance issue

Post by axrusar »

I am leaning towards another opinion. It could be a fault with the internal voltages or a leaking capacitor, even the power adapter not delivering enough juice for the CPU to raise its frequency. Do you have a different power adapter to try? Although if its the motherboard, you need to take it to a repair lab that work at the component level.

Also, search the net for your laptop model and other users in any forum using Linux on it, ask them if they have the same issue to rule out any windows only laptop theories.

I have no more ideas.. sorry.
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drmarton11
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Re: Major performance issue

Post by drmarton11 »

deepakdeshp wrote: Sat Dec 03, 2022 5:58 am The problem is with only your machine and not with software and Mint. If in the exchange window try exchanging it, preferably with another model most preferable is a ThinkPad as they play well with Mint.
At one point I'll have to replace this laptop anyway. Until that I'll just use it as it is, over the years I got used to using slow computers :D
I was also thinking about a ThinkPad, I've heard a lot of good about them, and the one I have (T450) is also quite good compared to it's age, I just overall prefer using this VivoBook.
drmarton11
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Re: Major performance issue

Post by drmarton11 »

axrusar wrote: Sat Dec 03, 2022 6:23 am I am leaning towards another opinion. It could be a fault with the internal voltages or a leaking capacitor, even the power adapter not delivering enough juice for the CPU to raise its frequency. Do you have a different power adapter to try? Although if its the motherboard, you need to take it to a repair lab that work at the component level.

Also, search the net for your laptop model and other users in any forum using Linux on it, ask them if they have the same issue to rule out any windows only laptop theories.

I have no more ideas.. sorry.
It's not likely, but possible, since this issue only appeared after switching to Mint.
I've already tried a different adapter, I even tried a lab powersupply.
I'll probably have a look at the battery's BMS, the caps on the main voltage rails, and the VRM. I actually do component level repair, so if it is a power related issue, I could fix it, however it is a bit hard to diagnose.

Thanks for all the help ! :D
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SMG
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Re: Major performance issue

Post by SMG »

drmarton11 wrote: Sat Dec 03, 2022 5:44 amAsus probably made it as a "Windows-only" laptop, but I'm certain there is a workaround for this.
Asus did not "probably" make it as a Windows laptop, I am sure they did. Are you aware of any Asus laptops which have been sold with anything other than Windows installed them? I am not (but I also do not claim to know everything).

The open-source community relies on people reverse-engineering hardware settings made to run on Windows (or other non-Linux-based operating systems) in order to optimize performance on Linux-based distros. If this was a popular laptop model with people running Linux-based distros who like to tinker with settings then there may be a workaround available.
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drmarton11
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Re: Major performance issue

Post by drmarton11 »

Update: I've "solved" my problem. I ended up switching over to the ThinkPad T450 with a LM installation. The VivoBook got a Windows installation. Both laptops work perfectly with their current OS.
Not exactly the solution I hoped, but it works.
I'll mark the topic as solved, since *technically* it is solved. Hopefully someone with the same/similar issue can find a solution in this topic.

Thank you everyone for the help and for your time !
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