Only 2 out of 8 cpufreq throttling states available

[scolbeck]

Binary package hint: cpufreqd

With cpufreq on 8.10, only 2 out of 8 CPU frequencies are available. Other than that, cpufreq seems to be working. I have an Intel Core 2 Duo 3Ghz (E8400) and a Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3R motherboard. The CPU is not overclocked.

# lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 8.10
Release: 8.10

# apt-cache policy cpufreqd
cpufreqd:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 2.3.3-1
  Version table:
     2.3.3-1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com intrepid/universe Packages

# apt-cache policy cpufrequtils
cpufrequtils:
  Installed: 002-7.2
  Candidate: 002-7.2
  Version table:
 *** 002-7.2 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com intrepid/universe Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

Here are the available frequencies:
# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_frequencies
3000000 2000000

dmesg shows there should be 8 frequencies available:
# dmesg | grep throttling
[ 1.230546] ACPI: Processor [CPU0] (supports 8 throttling states)
[ 1.230843] ACPI: Processor [CPU1] (supports 8 throttling states)

[Daniel Letzeisen (dtl131)]

This is not a bug. Basically, you're confusing throttling states ("t-states") with performance states ("p-states"). Don't feel bad; the names are a little confusing (because changing t-states doesn't change the clock speed).
See this for more detail: http://acpi.sourceforge.net/documentation/processor.html

[scolbeck (scolbeck)]

Thanks for the distinction between throttling states and performance states. However is it still a problem that I only have 2 frequencies available? I have another machine with an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5Ghz (E5200) and cpufreq jumps between 6 different states.