Service keeps enabling discrete GPU, causing higher power drain instead of saving it

[noodlejetski]

hello there,
I've started using using auto-cpufreq on my laptop (MSI Bravo 15 B5DD) and I've noticed that whenever it's enabled and doing its thing, the LED that indicates which GPU is currently used is constantly switching between orange (discrete GPU) and white (integrated GPU), with the former being active for the majority of time. it reflects on the battery life when unplugged, with Plasma's battery widget actually estimating shorter remaining battery life when running auto-cpufreq in the --live option, and significantly extending the estimation when stopping it. I've observed the same behaviour with it running as a daemon.

the laptop model is MSI Bravo 15 B5DD with AMD Ryzen 5600H CPU and AMD Radeon RX 5500M dGPU, running EndeavourOS (Arch-based) with KDE Plasma.
I've attached my auto-cpufreq.conf below the system information, although the only thing I've changed compared to the example file from the readme is the governor when plugged in (schedutil instead of performance), which as far as I understand shouldn't have any effect on the behaviour when unplugged, anyway. I've also tried changing turbo to never and restarting the service, and the same issue persisted.

I'll be happy to provide any other required information, just might need a little bit of hand holding here and there :)

System information:

Using  settings defined in /etc/auto-cpufreq.conf file

Note: You can quit monitor mode by pressing "ctrl+c"

------------------------ auto-cpufreq running ------------------------------

ERROR: auto-cpufreq is running in daemon mode.

Make sure to stop the deamon before running with --live or --monitor mode
[nj@bravo15 ~]$ sudo auto-cpufreq --debug

Using settings defined in /etc/auto-cpufreq.conf file

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Linux distro: EndeavourOS rolling rolling
Linux kernel: 5.14.16-arch1-1
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H with Radeon Graphics
Cores: 12
Architecture: x86_64
Driver: acpi-cpufreq

------------------------------ Current CPU stats ------------------------------

CPU max frequency: 3300 MHz
CPU min frequency: 1200 MHz

Core    Usage   Temperature     Frequency
CPU0:     5.0%     31 °C     1200 MHz
CPU1:     0.0%     31 °C     1200 MHz
CPU2:     7.2%     31 °C     1200 MHz
CPU3:     0.0%     31 °C     1200 MHz
CPU4:     8.0%     31 °C     1198 MHz
CPU5:     3.0%     31 °C     1200 MHz
CPU6:     2.0%     31 °C     1200 MHz
CPU7:     0.0%     31 °C     1200 MHz
CPU8:     4.0%     31 °C     1200 MHz
CPU9:     1.0%     31 °C     1200 MHz
CPU10:   33.0%     31 °C     1200 MHz
CPU11:    0.0%     31 °C     1198 MHz

auto-cpufreq version:
fatal: not a git repository (or any of the parent directories): .git
CalledProcessError(128, ['git', 'describe', '--always'])

Python: 3.9.7
psutil package: 5.8.0
platform package: 1.0.8
click package: 8.0.3
/bin/sh: line 1: pip3: command not found
distro package

Computer type: Notebook
Battery is: discharging

auto-cpufreq system resource consumption:
cpu usage: 0.0 %
memory use: 0.22 %

Total CPU usage: 0.8 %
Total system load: 1.09
Average temp. of all cores: 31.0 °C 

Currently using: powersave governor
Currently turbo boost is: off

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---

/etc/auto-cpufreq.conf:

# settings for when connected to a power source
[charger]
# see available governors by running: cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_governors
# preferred governor.
governor = schedutil

# turbo boost setting. possible values: always, auto, never
turbo = auto

# settings for when using battery power
[battery]
# see available governors by running: cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_governors
# preferred governor
governor = powersave

# turbo boost setting. possible values: always, auto, never
turbo = auto

[AdnanHodzic]

What if you don't use /etc/auto-cpufreq.conf (which is optional anyways), what happens then as I didn't understand if you tried that.

Also please make sure to have the latest 1.7.2 release.

[noodlejetski]

okay, I've updated to 1.7.2 and the same behaviour persists. some additional details that I've noticed:

1. removing the .conf file doesn't change anything with regard to this particular behaviour;
2. even when the service/daemon is disabled and I just run the program with the --monitor parameter, the dGPU indicator still lights up and the battery estimated time drops significantly until I stop it;
3. the indicator in question correlates with the --monitor/--stats/--live output. the dGPU turns on as soon as the "Current CPU stats" section is displayed, and turns off after the "auto-cpufreq refresh in:" countdown finishes.
4. as a probably unrelated bonus, running neofetch also briefly makes the dGPU indicator light up when it's about to display the GPU information, unless I specifically make it not check for it.

[AdnanHodzic]

Just released v1.9.2 which adds ability to change power governor used by default with auto-cpufreq from balanced to performance using power_helper.py script. Curious to hear if you still have same problem if you switch to performance governor?

[ghost]

Sorry to comment on this after more than a year, but I am having the same issue, and I wanted to know if OP ever found a fix for this.

[AdnanHodzic]

Can you confirm if this is related to: #398

[TinBlock50]

I didn't notice problem #398. However, the problem of the active GPU is also present on my ASUS G14 2022 with the Ryzen 6800HS and RX 6700S. No idea if this info helps, but if the auto-cpufreq is off and the CPU-X graphics card page is open, the GPU will also be activated.

As a small idea from a user with no programming experience. Does the auto-cpufreq service access the graphics card info somewhere?

If you still need information, please write what and how I can retrieve it.

[TinBlock50]

I just checked my laptop for problem #398. it doesn't look that bad but the battery performance is greatly reduced.

On battery:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Linux distro: Fedora Linux 36 Workstation Edition
Linux kernel: 5.18.9-200.fc36.x86_64
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS with Radeon Graphics
Cores: 16
Architecture: x86_64
Driver: amd-pstate

------------------------------ Current CPU stats ------------------------------

CPU max frequency: 4785 MHz
CPU min frequency: 400 MHz

Core	Usage	Temperature	Frequency
CPU0:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU1:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU2:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU3:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU4:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU5:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU6:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU7:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU8:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU9:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU10:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU11:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU12:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU13:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU14:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz
CPU15:	100.0%     58 °C     1073 MHz

---------------------------- CPU frequency scaling ----------------------------

Battery is: discharging

Setting to use: "powersave" governor

Total CPU usage: 100.0 %
Total system load: 13.85
Average temp. of all cores: 58.38 °C 

High CPU load
setting turbo boost: on

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

		"auto-cpufreq" is about to refresh ...
		Executed on: July 06 (Wednesday) - 18:34:37

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On power adapter:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Linux distro: Fedora Linux 36 Workstation Edition
Linux kernel: 5.18.9-200.fc36.x86_64
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS with Radeon Graphics
Cores: 16
Architecture: x86_64
Driver: amd-pstate

------------------------------ Current CPU stats ------------------------------

CPU max frequency: 4785 MHz
CPU min frequency: 400 MHz

Core	Usage	Temperature	Frequency
CPU0:	100.0%     80 °C     3654 MHz
CPU1:	100.0%     80 °C     3654 MHz
CPU2:	100.0%     80 °C     3654 MHz
CPU3:	100.0%     80 °C     3654 MHz
CPU4:	100.0%     80 °C     3654 MHz
CPU5:	100.0%     80 °C     3654 MHz
CPU6:	100.0%     80 °C     3654 MHz
CPU7:	100.0%     80 °C     3654 MHz
CPU8:	100.0%     80 °C     3655 MHz
CPU9:	100.0%     80 °C     3655 MHz
CPU10:	100.0%     80 °C     3655 MHz
CPU11:	100.0%     80 °C     3655 MHz
CPU12:	100.0%     80 °C     3655 MHz
CPU13:	100.0%     80 °C     3655 MHz
CPU14:	100.0%     80 °C     3655 MHz
CPU15:	100.0%     80 °C     3655 MHz

---------------------------- CPU frequency scaling ----------------------------

Battery is: charging

Setting to use: "performance" governor

Total CPU usage: 56.2 %
Total system load: 15.48
Average temp. of all cores: 80.00 °C 

High system load
setting turbo boost: on

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

		"auto-cpufreq" is about to refresh ...
		Executed on: July 06 (Wednesday) - 18:44:15

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the first second on the power adapter:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Linux distro: Fedora Linux 36 Workstation Edition
Linux kernel: 5.18.9-200.fc36.x86_64
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS with Radeon Graphics
Cores: 16
Architecture: x86_64
Driver: amd-pstate

------------------------------ Current CPU stats ------------------------------

CPU max frequency: 4785 MHz
CPU min frequency: 400 MHz

Core	Usage	Temperature	Frequency
CPU0:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU1:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU2:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU3:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU4:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU5:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU6:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU7:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU8:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU9:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU10:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU11:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU12:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU13:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU14:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz
CPU15:	100.0%     83 °C     4227 MHz

---------------------------- CPU frequency scaling ----------------------------

Battery is: charging

Setting to use: "performance" governor

Total CPU usage: 100.0 %
Total system load: 4.47
Average temp. of all cores: 82.75 °C 

High CPU load
setting turbo boost: on

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

		"auto-cpufreq" is about to refresh ...
		Executed on: July 06 (Wednesday) - 18:43:17

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[AdnanHodzic]

Was this mentioned in #216 as it could simply be mentioned as part of documentation?

If there are any changes that could be made please give it a try and contribute to the project and you will be credited for your work as part of future release.

In meantime closing the issue due to inactivity.