`arm_freq` in config.txt on Raspberry Pi 3 model B

Question

I would like to know if it is safe to edit the config.txt file on a Retropie image to change the arm_freq=800 to arm_freq=1200 since it will be running on a R-pi 3 model B?

The Pi 3 starts at 1200 MHz (1.2 GHz) so there would be no reason to make this change. — Patrick Cook, Apr 01 '16 at 17:39
The reason I would make the change is because in the config.txt file it says it's set to 700 MHz by default — Kenneth Spear, Apr 01 '16 at 17:54
Take a look at this question: http://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/questions/1219/how-do-i-determine-the-current-mhz Also note that the file says 700 but when used on the RPi Zero, it still runs at 1 Ghz. — Patrick Cook, Apr 01 '16 at 17:57
The Pi 3 runs at 1.2GHz by default, it cannot be overclocked, but I imagine it could be under-clocked. Although I would not recommend this if you are using RetroPie. — Darth Vader, Apr 02 '16 at 11:54

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 01 '16 at 21:11

The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B starts at 1.2Ghz regardless of what /boot/config.txt says. Here are the results of my clock speed files on my Pi 3 with config.txt not edited from a fresh card:

sudo cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/cpuinfo_max_freq
1200000

When not under load:

sudo cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/cpuinfo_cur_freq
600000

When playing music with mpg321:

sudo cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/cpuinfo_cur_freq
1200000

You do not need to change /boot/config.txt if you want your Pi 3 running at 1.2Ghz, if you want to overclock it, that is a whole different question. Hope this helps.

`arm_freq` in config.txt on Raspberry Pi 3 model B

1 Answers1