Understanding Scaling Current Frequency

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 120 views

Introduction

Are you experiencing a low scaling current frequency (~399 MHz) on your Kubuntu 24.04 system when the charger is plugged in? This issue can be frustrating, especially if you're looking to optimize your system's performance. In this article, we'll delve into the possible causes of this problem and provide you with a step-by-step guide to resolve it.

Understanding Scaling Current Frequency

Before we dive into the solution, let's understand what scaling current frequency is. The scaling current frequency, also known as the current frequency, is the current operating frequency of the CPU. It's a critical parameter that affects the system's performance, power consumption, and heat generation. The kernel measures the scaling current frequency using the /sys/bus/cpu/devices/cpu*/cpufreq/scaling_cur_freq file.

Symptoms and Possible Causes

If you're experiencing a low scaling current frequency (~399 MHz) when the charger is plugged in, you may notice the following symptoms:

Slow system performance: Your system may take longer to respond to commands, and applications may take longer to launch.
Increased power consumption: A low scaling current frequency can lead to increased power consumption, which can result in higher electricity bills and a shorter battery life.
Heat generation: A low scaling current frequency can also lead to increased heat generation, which can damage your system's components.

Possible causes of a low scaling current frequency include:

Insufficient power supply: If your system's power supply is insufficient, it may not be able to provide the required power to the CPU, resulting in a low scaling current frequency.
Overheating: If your system is overheating, it may throttle the CPU to prevent damage, resulting in a low scaling current frequency.
CPU governor issues: The CPU governor is responsible for managing the CPU's frequency and voltage. If there are issues with the CPU governor, it may not be able to adjust the frequency correctly, resulting in a low scaling current frequency.
BIOS settings: Your system's BIOS settings may be configured to limit the CPU's frequency, resulting in a low scaling current frequency.

Troubleshooting Steps

To troubleshoot the issue, follow these steps:

Step 1: Check the Power Supply

Check if your system's power supply is sufficient to provide the required power to the CPU. You can use a power meter to measure the power consumption of your system.

Step 2: Check the CPU Governor

Check if the CPU governor is working correctly. You can use the cpufreq-info command to check the CPU governor's status.

cpufreq-info -c 0

This command will display the CPU governor's status, including the current frequency and the maximum frequency.

Step 3: Check the BIOS Settings

Check your system's BIOS settings to see if they are configured to limit the CPU's frequency. You can enter the BIOS settings by pressing the F2 key during boot.

Step 4: Check for Overheating

Check if your system is overheating. You can use the sensors command to check the system's temperature.

sensors

This command will display the system's temperature, including the CPU temperature and the motherboard temperature.

Step 5: Update the Kernel

Update the kernel to the latest version. You can use the apt-get command to update the kernel.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install linux-generic

Step 6: Reboot the System

Reboot the system to apply the changes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a low scaling current frequency (~399 MHz) when the charger is plugged in can be caused by a variety of factors, including insufficient power supply, overheating, CPU governor issues, and BIOS settings. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue.

Additional Resources

For more information on scaling current frequency and CPU governors, refer to the following resources:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the scaling current frequency?

A: The scaling current frequency is the current operating frequency of the CPU.

Q: Why is my scaling current frequency low?

A: There are several possible reasons for a low scaling current frequency, including insufficient power supply, overheating, CPU governor issues, and BIOS settings.

Q: How can I troubleshoot the issue?

A: To troubleshoot the issue, follow the steps outlined in this article, including checking the power supply, CPU governor, BIOS settings, and system temperature.

Q: How can I update the kernel?

A: To update the kernel, use the apt-get command to update the kernel.

Q: How can I reboot the system?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the scaling current frequency?

A: The scaling current frequency is the current operating frequency of the CPU. It's a critical parameter that affects the system's performance, power consumption, and heat generation.

Q: Why is my scaling current frequency low?

A: There are several possible reasons for a low scaling current frequency, including:

Insufficient power supply: If your system's power supply is insufficient, it may not be able to provide the required power to the CPU, resulting in a low scaling current frequency.
Overheating: If your system is overheating, it may throttle the CPU to prevent damage, resulting in a low scaling current frequency.
CPU governor issues: The CPU governor is responsible for managing the CPU's frequency and voltage. If there are issues with the CPU governor, it may not be able to adjust the frequency correctly, resulting in a low scaling current frequency.
BIOS settings: Your system's BIOS settings may be configured to limit the CPU's frequency, resulting in a low scaling current frequency.

Q: How can I troubleshoot the issue?

A: To troubleshoot the issue, follow these steps:

Check the power supply: Check if your system's power supply is sufficient to provide the required power to the CPU. You can use a power meter to measure the power consumption of your system.
Check the CPU governor: Check if the CPU governor is working correctly. You can use the cpufreq-info command to check the CPU governor's status.
Check the BIOS settings: Check your system's BIOS settings to see if they are configured to limit the CPU's frequency. You can enter the BIOS settings by pressing the F2 key during boot.
Check for overheating: Check if your system is overheating. You can use the sensors command to check the system's temperature.
Update the kernel: Update the kernel to the latest version. You can use the apt-get command to update the kernel.
Reboot the system: Reboot the system to apply the changes.

Q: How can I update the kernel?

A: To update the kernel, use the apt-get command to update the kernel.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install linux-generic

Q: How can I reboot the system?

A: To reboot the system, use the sudo reboot command.

Q: What are the possible causes of a low scaling current frequency?

A: The possible causes of a low scaling current frequency include:

Insufficient power supply: If your system's power supply is insufficient, it may not be able to provide the required power to the CPU, resulting in a low scaling current frequency.
Overheating: If your system is overheating, it may throttle the CPU to prevent damage, resulting in a low scaling current frequency.
CPU governor issues: The CPU governor is responsible for managing the CPU's frequency and voltage. If there are issues with the CPU governor, it may not be able to adjust the frequency correctly, resulting in a low scaling current frequency.
BIOS settings: Your system's BIOS settings may be configured to limit the CPU's frequency, resulting in a low scaling current frequency.

Q: How can I check the system's temperature?

A: To check the system's temperature, use the sensors command.

sensors

This command will display the system's temperature, including the CPU temperature and the motherboard temperature.

Q: How can I check the CPU governor's status?

A: To check the CPU governor's status, use the cpufreq-info command.

cpufreq-info -c 0

This command will display the CPU governor's status, including the current frequency and the maximum frequency.

Q: How can I enter the BIOS settings?

A: To enter the BIOS settings, press the F2 key during boot.

Q: What is the purpose of the CPU governor?

A: The CPU governor is responsible for managing the CPU's frequency and voltage. It's a critical component that affects the system's performance, power consumption, and heat generation.

Q: How can I update the BIOS settings?

A: To update the BIOS settings, follow these steps:

Enter the BIOS settings: Press the F2 key during boot to enter the BIOS settings.
Navigate to the CPU settings: Use the arrow keys to navigate to the CPU settings.
Update the CPU settings: Update the CPU settings as needed.
Save and exit: Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings.

Conclusion

Additional Resources

For more information on scaling current frequency and CPU governors, refer to the following resources:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the scaling current frequency?

A: The scaling current frequency is the current operating frequency of the CPU.

Q: Why is my scaling current frequency low?

A: There are several possible reasons for a low scaling current frequency, including insufficient power supply, overheating, CPU governor issues, and BIOS settings.

Q: How can I troubleshoot the issue?

A: To troubleshoot the issue, follow the steps outlined in this article, including checking the power supply, CPU governor, BIOS settings, and system temperature.

Q: How can I update the kernel?

A: To update the kernel, use the apt-get command to update the kernel.

Q: How can I reboot the system?

A: To reboot the system, use the sudo reboot command.