I need help with Cool 'n' Quiet

[Goyik]

I used to have this feature disabled, yesterday I decided to give it a try, I did all steps mentioned in the manual, 1-Activated in BIOS, 2-Installed Driver in Windows XP (both original CD & new downloaded version), 3.-Selected Minimal Energy Administration, and nothing happens, the processor is still always running at full speed.

Can't figure out what's wrong, Any comments?

Do I need a Windows XP driver for ACPI 2.0?
Do i need to Flash My BIOS?, the lastest BIOS for my mobo in the manufacturer web page is from date 2004-09-27, but in AMD Recomended MotherBoards says Revision: QF, Bios: 10/12/2004 or later, where can i find that BIOS??

I have been investigating, what's ACPI 2.0?, can't find much about it, it's mentioned in the instalation guide of Cool 'n' Quiet, but in the Award BIOS page don't metion it, just says
Power Management ACPI 1.0, APM 1.2
Is award BIOS not compatible with ACPI 2.0?, my motherboard says that Cool 'n' quiet is supported, so it have to work with no additional efforts.

I'm thinking there is something wrong with my Windows, I'll try a fresh install & try cool 'n' quiet before installing any program including Service Packs

I just read that Windows must be reinstaled if you have changed the state of ACPI after install state. I'll give it a try, nasty issue.

 

[eeglot]

You should not be using Cool&Quiet when overclocked. You should disable it

 

[Goyik]

I have never used it, I just wanted to give it a try, because I'm having some heat problems, so I headed to it looking for a possible solution, I would appreciate if you share with me some valid technical reasons for not using cool & quite while overclocking.

 

[Icepick]

There's a special AMD driver that you need to install before Cool n' Quiet will work. You can get it from the AMD site. If I find it later I'll post it.

Originally posted by: eeglot
You should not be using Cool&Quiet when overclocked. You should disable it

This is not true. You can run Cool n' Quiet while overclocking and it will work fine. The caveat is that you need to make sure you leave your multiplier at stock and overclock by increasing the HTT (FSB). Cn'Q works by lowering the multiplier to around 5x and lowering the CPU Voltage. This makes the processor run slower and cooler. Then the motherboard will sense that it's cooler and lower the CPU fan speed, thus making your system quieter.

If you overclock by lowering the CPU multiplier and then raising the HTT you'll get instability. When Cn'Q needs to restore your multiplier when the CPU is under load, it will use the stock multiplier no matter what you have it set to in BIOS. That could result in an overclock that's higher than your board supports at your settings and you'll get lock ups. So as long as you overclock with your processor's stock (maximum) multiplier you'll be fine with Cn'Q.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Goyik
I have never used it, I just wanted to give it a try, because I'm having some heat problems, so I headed to it looking for a possible solution, I would appreciate if you share with me some valid technical reasons for not using cool & quite while overclocking.

Please elaborate on heat problems. Is it that the indicated temp is high, or do you have instability?

 

[Goyik]

Icepik/egglot, thats the kinda posts everybody love to read, exact and directly to the point.
I'm not overclocking by lowering my multiplier, so i think i can use cool & quiet safely.
My heat problems, more than problems these are doubts, because few days ago, noted crazy behavior in the readings of temps and fan speeds in my comp, i think was caused by heat, i took off the cover of the case and now everything seems to be OK.
About the driver yesterday i downloaded from AMD, didn't work. Today downloaded another one from a link in a forum, looks different, its a packed exe so the real version is not available until i install it, when i get home, i'll try.

 

[cyberknight]

I just raised my FSB to 220 and left the multiplier. And CnQ works just as fine as when I didn't o/c my CPU.

*You may need to flash the BIOS for CnQ to work properly. There's really no reason not to use the latest BIOS anyways.
*Download the Cool'n'Quiet drivers from the AMD website and install them
*Make sure your in your BIOS under "Power Management" your K8 Cool'n'Quiet Support is set to either Auto or On
*Go to your Power settings (right click your desktop, Properties, then click on the Screen Saver Tab, and then click on "Power") and set it to "Minimal Power Management

You having your HTT set to 3x (I believe default is 4x) may interfere with CnQ, I'm not sure.

I notice you are using the Soltek mobo, I too have that mobo. There's a known issue that the CPU temps are reported inaccurately. At least mine are like that. It never seems to rise over 42 degrees and never goes below 38 degrees. And this was with a stock HSF or the XP-90. And for some reason, when the CPU voltage is lower, my temp readings jump up 10 degrees for some strange reason. (When CnQ is on max, it lowers the multiplier to 5x and lowers the CPU voltage to 1.09V). So I dunno, I just live with it, not a huge deal. I'm confident my CPU ain't overheating even if it does read 50 degrees with CnQ on for some weird reason.

 

[mamisano]

I also have a problem getting Q-n-C to work on my K8T Neo-Fis2r with Sempron 3100

 

[Goyik]

Cyberknight, I have'nt flashed my BIOS because I don't have a floppy drive, I'll go to local store next saturday to get one, and flash it inmediatly. The other 3 steps (driver, BIOS option and power setting) are already done. Last night rised my HTT to 4x and my FSB to 239, couldn't get 240, because the system reboots and says "Your system is now running in safe mode" or something like that. So, stayed at 239, ran Superpi and make all calculation one by one, with no errors, played CODUO about 2 hours with no errors, i think I'm stable now, days ago had to lower htt to 3x to get stability, still CnQ is not working.
I'm triying bit by bit, I'm new in overclocking, and got my new PC only 2 weeks ago (cheap, not much money to spend, so don't wana risk it), I updated from a Pentium III 500 +4 years old, biiiiiiigggggg difference!!!.