Maximum CPU Frequency

Khadas VIM3 has dual-core cortex-A53 (little core) and quad-core cortex-A73 (big core).
Khadas VIM3L has quad-core cortex-A55.

  • Little Cores, cortex-A53: CPU0 & CPU1.
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2
$ # cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpufreq/policy0/related_cpus
0 1
  • Big cores, cortex-A73: CPU2, CPU3, CPU4 & CPU5.
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$ # cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpufreq/policy2/related_cpus
2 3 4 5
  • cortex-A55: CPU0, CPU1, CPU2 & CPU3.
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$ # cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpufreq/policy0/related_cpus
0 1 2 3
From release V0.9.3-20200814, we can setup the maximum CPU frequency.
Only for Linux 4.9.
There are 2 ways to setup the cpu frequency:
  • Setup via configuration file
  • Setup via desktop application (Only for desktop image)

You can edit /boot/env.txt to setup the maximux CPU frequency.

For VIM3:

  • max_freq_a53 - maximum CPU frequency of little cores, default value is 1800MHz
  • max_freq_a73 - maximum CPU frequency of big cores, default value is 2208MHz

For VIM3L:

  • max_freq_a55 - maximum CPU frequency of little cores, default value is 1908MHz

You can edit max_freq_* node to change the maximum CPU frequency.

Note

You need to reboot the board after change the frequency.

  • You can access Applications->CPU Frequency Setting to setup the maximux CPU frequency.

Overclocking

Note

There are several overclocking frequencies for you to setup, but there is NO GUARANTEE that all VIM3/VIM3L boards are stable with those frequencies, and a FAN is needed!!!

Frequencies List

  • VIM3 Little Cores Frequencies List
Frequency (MHz) ENV Node
500 500
667 667
1000 1000
1200 1200
1398 1398
1512 1512
1608 1608
1704 1704
1800 1800 (Default)
1908 1908 (Overclocking)
2016 2016 (Overclocking)
2100 2100 (Overclocking)
2208 2208 (Overclocking)
  • VIM3 Big Cores Frequencies List
Frequency (MHz) ENV Node
500 500
667 667
1000 1000
1200 1200
1398 1398
1512 1512
1608 1608
1704 1704
1800 1800
1908 1908
2016 2016
2100 2100
2208 2208 (Default)
2304 2304 (Overclocking)
2400 2400 (Overclocking)
  • VIM3L Frequencies List
Frequency (MHz) ENV Node
500 500
667 667
1000 1000
1200 1200
1398 1398
1512 1512
1608 1608
1704 1704
1800 1800
1908 1908 (Default)
2016 2016 (Overclocking)
2100 2100 (Overclocking)
2208 2208 (Overclocking)

Check CPU Frequency

You can use command cpufreq-info to get the CPU frequency.

For example, get CPU0 & CPU3 frequency:

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khadas@Khadas:~$ cpufreq-info -c 0 -f
1800000
khadas@Khadas:~$ cpufreq-info -c 3 -f
2208000