Re: [GOLDMINE!!!] Athlon optimisation bug (was Re: Duron kernel crash)

Dwayne C. Litzenberger (dlitz@dlitz.net)
Wed, 12 Sep 2001 21:44:30 -0600


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On Tue, Sep 11, 2001 at 12:21:22PM +0100, Jonathan Morton wrote:
> >Today I updated the BIOS of my motherboard, a ABIT KT7A (VIA Apollo KT13=
3A
> >chipset). The kernel I had (2.4.9) started crashing on boot with an
> >invalid page fault, usually right after starting init. I tryed a i686
> >kernel and noticed it works OK, so I recompiled my crashy kernel only
> >switching the processor type and it also worked. changed it back to
> >Athlon/K7/Duron and it starts crashing.
> >
> >Anyone else experiencing this?
>=20
> BINGO!
>=20
> This problem is known about, but this is the first report we've had=20
> of it on a Duron (as opposed to Athlon), and you've successfully=20
> tracked it down to the updated BIOS.
>=20
> We need the versions of your old and new BIOSes, as accurately as you=20
> can make it.

I don't have time to do a full oops trace right now (I've never done one
before, so it would take some time, and I am somewhat busy with school work
right now), but I will confirm that I have an AMD Thunderbird 1200MHz with
a KT133A board, and it works fine with CONFIG_MK6 set, but CONFIG_MK7 craps
out with an oops soon after init starts. I'm running kernel 2.4.8
(including the stock emu10k1 drivers) patched with the Debian FreeS/WAN
patch (though those are modules, and are not actually being loaded).

My BIOS code is the newest available from my motherboard manufacturer (the
board is a Future Power FP-KT133A, whose specs are at:
http://www.futurepowerusa.com/products/FP-kt133.htm )

I suppose if anyone's really interested, I can allocate some time to report
more on this problem. Ask away!

Anyway, here's my current /proc/cpuinfo:

processor : 0
vendor_id : AuthenticAMD
cpu family : 6
model : 4
model name : AMD Athlon(tm) Processor
stepping : 2
cpu MHz : 1200.017
cache size : 256 KB
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 1
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 sep mtrr pge mca cmov =
pat pse36 mmx fxsr syscall mmxext 3dnowext 3dnow
bogomips : 2392.06

And lspci -vv:

00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8363/8365 [KT133/KM133] (rev =
03)
Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Steppi=
ng- SERR- FastB2B-
Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=3Dmedium >TAbort- <TAbort=
- <MAbort+ >SERR- <PERR-
Latency: 0
Region 0: Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=3D64M]
Capabilities: [a0] AGP version 2.0
Status: RQ=3D15 SBA+ 64bit- FW- Rate=3Dx1,x2
Command: RQ=3D0 SBA- AGP- 64bit- FW- Rate=3D<none>
Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=3D0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3col=
d-)
Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=3D0 DScale=3D0 PME-

00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8363/8365 [KT133/KM133 AGP] (p=
rog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Steppi=
ng- SERR- FastB2B-
Status: Cap+ 66Mhz+ UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=3Dmedium >TAbort- <TAbort=
- <MAbort+ >SERR- <PERR-
Latency: 0
Bus: primary=3D00, secondary=3D01, subordinate=3D01, sec-latency=3D0
Memory behind bridge: d6000000-d7ffffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: d4000000-d5ffffff
BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR- NoISA+ VGA+ MAbort- >Reset- FastB2B-
Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2- AuxCurrent=3D0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3col=
d-)
Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=3D0 DScale=3D0 PME-

00:07.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super South] (r=
ev 40)
Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686/A PCI to ISA Bridge
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Steppi=
ng+ SERR- FastB2B-
Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=3Dmedium >TAbort- <TAbort=
- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
Latency: 0
Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=3D0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3col=
d-)
Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=3D0 DScale=3D0 PME-

00:07.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. Bus Master IDE (rev 06) (prog=
-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. Bus Master IDE
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Steppi=
ng- SERR- FastB2B-
Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=3Dmedium >TAbort- <TAbort=
- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
Latency: 64
Region 4: I/O ports at d000 [size=3D16]
Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=3D0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3col=
d-)
Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=3D0 DScale=3D0 PME-

00:07.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. UHCI USB (rev 16) (prog-if 0=
0 [UHCI])
Subsystem: Unknown device 0925:1234
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Steppi=
ng- SERR- FastB2B-
Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=3Dmedium >TAbort- <TAbort=
- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
Latency: 32, cache line size 08
Interrupt: pin D routed to IRQ 11
Region 4: I/O ports at d400 [size=3D32]
Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=3D0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3col=
d-)
Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=3D0 DScale=3D0 PME-

00:07.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. UHCI USB (rev 16) (prog-if 0=
0 [UHCI])
Subsystem: Unknown device 0925:1234
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Steppi=
ng- SERR- FastB2B-
Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=3Dmedium >TAbort- <TAbort=
- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
Latency: 32, cache line size 08
Interrupt: pin D routed to IRQ 11
Region 4: I/O ports at d800 [size=3D32]
Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=3D0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3col=
d-)
Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=3D0 DScale=3D0 PME-

00:07.4 Bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super ACPI] (rev 40)
Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super ACPI]
Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Steppi=
ng- SERR- FastB2B-
Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=3Dmedium >TAbort- <TAbort=
- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
Capabilities: [68] Power Management version 2
Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=3D0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3col=
d-)
Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=3D0 DScale=3D0 PME-

00:0a.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10000 (rev 0=
7)
Subsystem: Creative Labs: Unknown device 8061
Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Steppi=
ng- SERR- FastB2B-
Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=3Dmedium >TAbort- <TAbort=
- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
Latency: 32 (500ns min, 5000ns max)
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 5
Region 0: I/O ports at dc00 [size=3D32]
Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 1
Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=3D0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3col=
d-)
Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=3D0 DScale=3D0 PME-

00:0a.1 Input device controller: Creative Labs SB Live! (rev 07)
Subsystem: Creative Labs Gameport Joystick
Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Steppi=
ng- SERR- FastB2B-
Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=3Dmedium >TAbort- <TAbort=
- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
Latency: 32
Region 0: I/O ports at e000 [size=3D8]
Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 1
Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=3D0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3col=
d-)
Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=3D0 DScale=3D0 PME-

00:0b.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139 (rev =
10)
Subsystem: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RT8139
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Steppi=
ng- SERR- FastB2B-
Status: Cap- 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=3Dmedium >TAbort- <TAbort=
- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
Latency: 32 (8000ns min, 16000ns max)
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 11
Region 0: I/O ports at e400 [size=3D256]
Region 1: Memory at d9000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=3D256]
Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled] [size=3D64K]

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation Vanta [NV6] (rev 15) =
(prog-if 00 [VGA])
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Steppi=
ng- SERR- FastB2B-
Status: Cap+ 66Mhz+ UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=3Dmedium >TAbort- <TAbort=
- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
Latency: 248 (1250ns min, 250ns max)
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 10
Region 0: Memory at d6000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=3D16M]
Region 1: Memory at d4000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=3D32M]
Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled] [size=3D64K]
Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 1
Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=3D0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3col=
d-)
Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=3D0 DScale=3D0 PME-
Capabilities: [44] AGP version 2.0
Status: RQ=3D31 SBA- 64bit- FW- Rate=3Dx1,x2
Command: RQ=3D0 SBA- AGP- 64bit- FW- Rate=3D<none>

--=20
Dwayne C. Litzenberger - dlitz@dlitz.net

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