[mythtv-users] OT: How can I disable Thermal Throttling, on a Pentium4

[Keith Pyle]

  On 10/26/10 20:48, mythtv-users-request at mythtv.org wrote:
> On Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:35:02, Brian Wood wrote:
>
> >  On Tuesday, October 26, 2010 02:47:51 pm Kevin Ross wrote:
>> >  On 10/26/2010 01:45 PM, Anthony Giggins wrote:
>>> >  >  on the same lines as the AMD Cool&  Quiet thread, I seem the remote is
>>> >  >  slow to respond which I can only put down to this, anyone have any
>>> >  >  ideas howto disable this, theres nothing in the BIOS to turn it off:(
>>> >  >  
>>> >  >  CPU1: Temperature above threshold, cpu clock throttled (total events =
>>> >  >  4924376)
>>> >  >  CPU0: Temperature above threshold, cpu clock throttled (total events =
>>> >  >  4924376)
>>> >  >  CPU1: Temperature/speed normal
>>> >  >  CPU0: Temperature/speed normal
>>> >  >  CPU1: Temperature above threshold, cpu clock throttled (total events =
>>> >  >  4924382)
>>> >  >  CPU0: Temperature above threshold, cpu clock throttled (total events =
>>> >  >  4924382)
>>> >  >  CPU1: Temperature/speed normal
>>> >  >  CPU0: Temperature/speed normal
>>> >  >  
>>> >  >  Cheers,
>>> >  >  
>>> >  >  Anthony
>> >  
>> >  This appears to be a different problem.  This looks like your CPU is
>> >  overheating.
> That, or the threshold is set too low.
>
> But I agree it sounds like the system is doing what it is supposed to do, slowing the clock to protect the CPU from over-
> heating.
>
> Check the usual suspects, make sure the heatsink is well bonded to the CPU (thermal grease is properly applied), make sure
> the CPU fan is running, there are no serious obstructions to airflow in the case etc.
>
If you have lm_sensors installed and configured, run the sensors command 
to display your CPU temperatures both when the CPU is behaving normally 
and throttled.  This should give you an idea of the temperatures and the 
change.

You didn't say which Pentium 4 you have (there were many versions).  
Assuming a Prescott class design, the maximum T(c) is probably between 
69 and 73 C (taken from table 27 of Intel's datasheet "Intel Pentium 4 
Processor on 90 nm Process").  Intel's site has a good stock of 
datasheets and you can find the limits for your CPU with a little searching.

Brian's suggestions are good.  If you haven't cleaned the computer 
recently, take it outside, open the covers, and use dry compressed air 
to blow dust out of the CPU heatsink (and off of other components).  
Dust bunnies love to nest inside nice warm computers.

Keith