Introduction
This article provides a solution for a CPU frequency issue that occurs on Debian Testing with a Lenovo W540 laptop, where the CPU is stuck at 798 MHz while running high-demand tasks such as manipulating two large datasets using R. This issue can lead to extended task completion times and decreased system performance.
Context
The Lenovo W540 laptop runs Debian Testing with the kernel version 6.11.4-amd64. Yesterday, a high-demand task was initiated, which involved manipulating two large datasets using R. The task was expected to take approximately 26 hours to complete. However, during the execution of the task, the CPU frequency was stuck at 798 MHz, leading to concerns about the task completion time and system performance.
Solution
The CPU frequency issue can be resolved by adjusting the power management settings using the cpufrequtils package. Follow the steps below to fix the issue:
Step 1: Install cpufrequtils
To install the cpufrequtils package, run the following command:
sudo apt install cpufrequtils
Step 2: Check Current CPU Frequency
Before making any adjustments, it's essential to check the current CPU frequency. Run the following command:
sudo cpufreq-info
Step 3: Set CPU Frequency to Performance Mode
To set the CPU frequency to performance mode, run the following command:
sudo cpufreq-set -g frequency -c 0 -r 3.6GHz
Replace "0" with the core number if you have multiple cores. Repeat this command for each core.
Step 4: Set CPU Frequency Governor to Performance
To set the CPU frequency governor to performance mode, run the following command:
sudo cpufreq-set -g governor -c 0 performance
Replace "0" with the core number if you have multiple cores. Repeat this command for each core.
In summary, the CPU frequency issue on Debian Testing with a Lenovo W540 laptop can be resolved by adjusting the power management settings using the cpufrequtils package. By setting the CPU frequency to performance mode and the CPU frequency governor to performance mode, the CPU frequency will no longer be stuck at 798 MHz, allowing high-demand tasks to complete more efficiently.