Rating (CPU)

Support knowledgebase (cep_rating)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: All versions

Symptom:

Linux hangs during the boot process on a Pentium clone system with messages containing pain expressions like Aiee or references to interrupt-handling, bus access INT or similar.

Cause:

The Pentium clone's CPU has not been manufactured by Intel. For competitive reasons, many compatible CPU manufacturers do not use the real clock speed, but the so-called rating, i.e. the clock speed of an original Intel since, according to the competitor, its CPU's performance is the same as that of Intel. However, Intel's clock speed is usually higher than the one actually used by the competitor. The CPU is not suitable for the specified clock speed and at some stage it will no longer work (at the latest, when working intensively with 32-bit code). These errors might not be visible under Windows. The pseudo clock speed is often known as PR (Pentium Rating).

Solution:

Set the actual clock speed that has to be used. Possible sources of the right clock speed might be the specifications of the board manufacturer, who usually include a list of compatible CPUs, the documentation of the CPU manufacturer, and the manufacturer's web pages. Using the right clock speed results not only in a higher system stability, but also in a longer life span.
See also:
o General hardware problems

Keywords: CPU, CLOCK SPEED, RATING, MHZ, HARDWARE, KERNEL, PANIC, SEGMENTATION, FAULT, INTERRUPT, KILLING, AIEE, OUCH

Categories: Hardware

SDB-cep_rating, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 19. Jun 2002
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 19. Jun 2002 by ip (sdb_gen 1.40.0)