Overclocking Pi4 with recalbox 7

[Kilam]

@LapinFou Hi guys, I don't understand how you access the config.txt file under recalbox. on my sd card i only have recalbox install and not raspberry pi OS. How to access the config.txt file if you don't have Rasbian?

[Zing]

@Kilam To edit the config.txt file, you must connect via SSH:

• https://recalbox.gitbook.io/documentation/v/francais/tutoriels/systeme/modification/editer-le-fichier-config.txt

To login via SSH:

• https://recalbox.gitbook.io/documentation/v/francais/tutoriels/systeme/acces/acces-root-via-terminal
• https://recalbox.gitbook.io/documentation/v/francais/tutoriels/systeme/acces/acces-reseau-via-winscp

To access a partition in write mode:

• https://recalbox.gitbook.io/documentation/v/francais/tutoriels/systeme/acces/acceder-a-une-partition-en-ecriture

[Kilam]

@Zing J'ai trouver le fichier config.txt mais a quel ligne je dois mettre :

over_voltage=6
arm_freq=2000
gpu_freq=750

[Zing]

@Kilam You need to put these 3 lines in the config.txt file to get the same result as other users.
Remembering that Overclocking is a procedure that forces the card, then it should not be done if your Rpi does not have a heatsink and cooler. And, of course, you must do this at your own risk, I cannot be held responsible if something goes wrong.
Read the whole topic and you will understand better (I don't have Rpi4, I can't help you fully, I only know what I read in this topic).

[Kilam]

@Zing Yes, I have a One M2 argon case.

I understood that it was necessary to put these 3 lines in the config.txt file

But where in the config file should these lines be inserted?

[Zing]

@Kilam As far as I know, there is no specific place within the config.txt file, the important thing is to add these lines.
All configuration lines are interpreted by the system, regardless of their order.
Put at the end of the file, with some identification before, as already mentioned by another user " # rpi4 overclocking" , for example (any line with the sign # in front is ignored, it is not read as a configuration).

[Kilam]

@Zing Thank you very much, how can I verify that the overclock is active?

[Zing]

@Kilam Well, you need to test some heavy games and see if you noticed a difference ...
You overclocked for some reason, probably some game that you wanted to perform better, the test is:
play and see if it improved ...

[LapinFou]

Dreamcast games (ex: crazy Taxi) are good benchmarks.

[sergioad]

@LapinFou Enough to play PSP and Dreamcast fighting games (Super Street Fighter II X, Street Fighter Zero 3 Saikyo-ryu Dojo for Matching Service, Street Fighter III Third Strike, Marvel Vs. Capcom, Soul Calibur, Capcom Vs. SNK, Capcom Vs. SNK 2, Guilty Gear X, Project Justice and Vampure Chronicle for Dreamcast, Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX, Darkstalkers Chronicle, Fate/Unlimited Codes and BlazBlue Continiuum Shift Extend for PSP) no problem plus Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 only struggling in the flashy team hypersthe first time you use them, the only game still struggles in my pi I tested is Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus, each hit you do everything slows down

[Kruton]

@myjosito Just FYI: It should be possible to temporarily disable all overclocking by holding SHIFT key when Pi is booting according to official OC guide, no need to reinstall whole Recalbox.

→ https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/config-txt/overclocking.md

[myjosito]

@Kruton Thanks for the info. But that means that the Pi has to recognize the keyboard before it freezes ?!
Anyhow from october on I'm with my OC and happy with it. No more freeze, so I keep it as it is now.
My only pb is still the red led not turning off when I turn off the Pi. Really not a big issue, just keep pressing the button at the rear of the Argon for 5 sec, ans that's it

[sergioad]

Just reporting: Raspberry pi 4 8 GB

arm_freq=1950
gpu_freq=700
over_voltage=8

Runs extremely well

arm_freq=2147
gpu_freq=700
over_voltage=9

"Works" but rather badly, everything is choppy and horribly slow, tons of audio chopping

I think in 30 hours I will try over voltage 10 or 11

[LapinFou]

@sergioad Do you really need this high voltage ?
I'm running those parameters without any issue:

over_voltage=6
arm_freq=2000
gpu_freq=750

Temperature after hours of game is about 50°C.

Increasing a lot the voltage will create a premature aging and/or could damage your board.

[sergioad]

@LapinFou apparently the 8 GB model uses more energy, usually people using Raspberry OS use over voltage 8 for 2147 MHz CPU and 700 MHz GPU but in Recalbox it fails

[LapinFou]

@sergioad Good point. Indeed I'm running a 4GB version.
Thanks for the tips.

EDIT: Why not trying to O/C the GPU at 750MHz ?

[sergioad]

@LapinFou I will, thanks for the tip

[Kruton]

I am observing really strange behavior when I am applying overclock in Recalbox using Pi 4 4GB and looks like @sergioad report confirms my findings.

If I set values below in config.txt

arm_freq=2000
gpu_freq=750
over_voltage=6

then I am getting correct cpu clock when checking back using terminal and framerate especially in PSP games is noticeably better

# vcgencmd measure_clock arm
frequency(48)=2000531200

But if I set maximum allowed Pi 4 OC like this

arm_freq=2147
gpu_freq=750
over_voltage=6

then I am getting only 600 MHz when checking back using terminal, that is significantly lower cpu clock than stock value and it confirms @sergioad report. Emulation is slow like hell in this case. I am using Pi Case 40 from Cooler Master and temps are below 60°C all time and boosting over_voltage is not helping at all.

# vcgencmd measure_clock arm
frequency(48)=600169920

I tried to update to last stable eeprom released 2020-09-03, then applied maximum OC using same method in newly installed Raspberry Pi OS and it was working like charm. Reported clocks were correct and stable. I was testing stability using synthetic load (sysbench) on all 4 cores and temperature did not exceed 65°C after 20 mins of continuous stress testing.

When I returned back to MicroSD card with Recalbox, then I got same strange behavior when applying max. OC. It looks like overclocking in Recalbox still have some issues and needs some tuning by devs.

But overall I am really satisfied with this OS. UX is on totally different (better) level compared to for example RetroPie.

[sergioad]

@Kruton I totally agree, Recalbox is superior in UX, easier to manage and overall amazing, and apparently not even a 2100 overclock is safe from this strange behavior, could you confirm?

BTW the pi case 40 is amazing is not it? I also added the small heatsinks from my kit

[Kruton]

@sergioad Yes, I can confirm arm_freq=2100 is not viable too. measure_clock arm is reporting same strange frequency of 600 MHz as 2147 MHz OC for me.

Pi Case 40 is amazing. Totally passive and well build solution. It has slick power button from factory. Can throw it into my backpack without worries that something broke and play during brakes at work, during party at my friends palace... Just love it, worth of every penny.