cpufreq with powernowd ok?

[Trio3b]

Compaq presario CQ50 w/2011.6 fully updated. CPU scaling reports 8 steps

 Tried Texstar's cpu scaling thread but no joy. Also read AndrzejL's "Oh no, not anothe cpu ...." thread and checked with:
 
 "cpufreq-set -g ondemand/powersave/etc"  various settings but cpufreq-info still showed cpu running flat out so figured the driver or CPU would not support stepping.

Readup on p4-clockmod only supporting performance and pwersave. Also noticed in KDE power settings (panel applet) that ONLY "performance" was available when AC plugged in and "none" when on battery so installed powersave and guidance-power-manager and the "performance" setting  and some other options dissappeared in the power applet in panel. What ?

Anyway, removed those packages and reset /etc/sysconfig/cpufreq file to default and ran across powernowd. Installed and all seems to be OK. As I launch apps, the cpu does scale from 750mhz all the way to 1.75 and 2.00 gHz. I think it might miss a few steps but otherwise OK. Also many options that were not available nor functional in KDE panel power applet are now available. Mainly the ability to shutdown on battery "critical" which I am going to try tomorrow. ( Did not work before)

Now I run across another thread stating powernowd no longer maintained and preferred method is "ondemand" governor.

Am I OK running this Intel processor with powernowd?

Any thoughts appreciated.

[UPDATE]: cpufreq-info currently shows:

[user02@compaq01 etc]$ cpufreq-info
cpufrequtils 008: cpufreq-info (C) Dominik Brodowski 2004-2009
Report errors and bugs to cpufreq@vger.kernel.org, please.
analyzing CPU 0:
  driver: p4-clockmod
  CPUs which run at the same hardware frequency: 0
  CPUs which need to have their frequency coordinated by software: 0
  maximum transition latency: 10.00 ms.
  hardware limits: 250 MHz - 2.00 GHz
  available frequency steps: 250 MHz, 500 MHz, 750 MHz, 1.00 GHz, 1.25 GHz, 1.50 GHz, 1.75 GHz, 2.00 GHz
  available cpufreq governors: ondemand, conservative, powersave, userspace, performance
  current policy: frequency should be within 750 MHz and 2.00 GHz.
                  The governor "userspace" may decide which speed to use
                  within this range.
  current CPU frequency is 750 MHz.

So obviously something is working. When I launch OO it kicks up to 1.25gHz and opening FF and or Neverball it kicks up to 2.0 ghZ.  Maybe leave well enough alone. Just don't want to be missing something. BTW, battery notifications work but shutdown on "battery critical" does not. lid switch does work and battery monitor seems accurate. Will now see if I get longer battery life.


Thanks

[Trio3b]

Finally able to track down this Intel(R) 575 on Intel site and it apparently does not support speedstep (scaling). Sticker on lappy says Celeron but hdwr info does not ID it as anything but Intel(R) 575 . Some threads claim p4_clockmod driver is capable of speedstep so don't know what is accurate.

cpufreq-info does show various available frequencies but processor only runs at powersave or performance (2.0gHz) speed and it has to be set via CL as "ondemand" governor not working. Even setting via KDE power management does nothing. The power profiles are shown as available but selecting them does nothing for clockspeed, only dimming display. 

If it does not support scaling then one would think that it could only run flat out but it does indeed run at 500-750mhz, but again has to be set via CL. Laptop slows to a crawl. Have removed powernowd and can deal with heat using cooling pad.