Cpufreq behaving somewhat erratically

Question

Ever since the kernel update from about 2-3 weeks ago, I've been having poor performance through cpufreq.  With some operations that are very CPU intensive, the speed won't budge above 800mhz (it's lowest setting).  For example, with Youtube videos, they seem to slow down because the CPU won't switch to full speed.  It's getting pretty annoying, because I have to type:
sudo cpufreq-set -g performance
...every time I want more speed now.  After I'm done with maximum speed, I have to switch back down to:
sudo cpufreq-set -g ondemand
Before this kernel update (can't for sure say which one as there have been more updates since then), things were working beautifully.  The CPU would adjust at a moment's notice up to 1.7ghz (max speed) and then back down again after it was done.  It very rarely goes up to max speed anymore.  Seems like when Shaman is tidying up, the CPU likes to turn up but other than that...
I'm running this kernel:
$ uname -a
Linux arch 2.6.28-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Sun Jan 25 09:43:53 UTC 2009 x86_64 AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor TK-53 AuthenticAMD GNU/Linux
I also haven't changed anything in BIOS and there doesn't seem to be much to change anyway, CPU-wise.  I'm loading the same modules in /etc/rc.conf as well (powernow-k8 cpufreq_ondemand).
Anyone else having similar problems?

Answer 1

In my case I'm not specifying which core to set the governor so both get affected (Turion X2) and things have been working as expected here. I've just tried and even if I select just one core to set the governor both get affected.
$ cpufreq-info
cpufrequtils 005: cpufreq-info (C) Dominik Brodowski 2004-2006
Report errors and bugs to [email protected], please.
analyzing CPU 0:
driver: powernow-k8
CPUs which need to switch frequency at the same time: 0 1
hardware limits: 800 MHz - 2.20 GHz
available frequency steps: 2.20 GHz, 2.00 GHz, 1.80 GHz, 1.60 GHz, 800 MHz
available cpufreq governors: powersave, ondemand, performance
current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 2.20 GHz.
The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
within this range.
current CPU frequency is 800 MHz.
analyzing CPU 1:
driver: powernow-k8
CPUs which need to switch frequency at the same time: 0 1
hardware limits: 800 MHz - 2.20 GHz
available frequency steps: 2.20 GHz, 2.00 GHz, 1.80 GHz, 1.60 GHz, 800 MHz
available cpufreq governors: powersave, ondemand, performance
current policy: frequency should be within 800 MHz and 2.20 GHz.
The governor "ondemand" may decide which speed to use
within this range.
current CPU frequency is 800 MHz.
$ uname -a
Linux archlinux 2.6.28-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed Feb 18 21:27:38 UTC 2009 i686 AMD Turion(tm) 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-64 AuthenticAMD GNU/Linux
$ lsmod | grep cpu
cpufreq_powersave 3456 0
cpufreq_ondemand 8972 1
freq_table 5632 2 cpufreq_ondemand,powernow_k8
$ lsmod | grep power
cpufreq_powersave 3456 0
powernow_k8 15364 1
freq_table 5632 2 cpufreq_ondemand,powernow_k8
processor 41388 2 thermal,powernow_k8
$ cat /etc/conf.d/cpufreq
#configuration for cpufreq control
# valid governors:
# ondemand, performance, powersave,
# conservative, userspace
governor="ondemand"
# valid suffixes: Hz, kHz (default), MHz, GHz, THz
#min_freq="800MHz"
#max_freq="1.6GHz"
I'm loading the modules: powernow-k8 cpufreq_ondemand and starting cpufreq (backgrounded) and all seems to work as it always has ...