Dell Inspiron 600m runs at only 600 MHz even on AC power
My four-year-old Dell Inspiron 600m notebook PC should run at 1.5 GHz when on AC power. However, recently I've discovered that the processor is running only at 600 MHz. Sometimes it boots up at this speed. Other times, it will boot up to 1.5 GHz, but later slow down to 600 MHz, and no matter what I do after that, I can't get it to step up back up to full speed.
I've noticed that when I see it step down from 1.5 GHz to 600 MHz, the CPU load always goes to 100%, even if nothing significant is running. Process Explorer shows the load split among numerous programs, including Explorer.exe, Svchost.exe, etc. No one process seems to be absorbing an unusual amount of CPU time. I'm not sure if the CPU load is as a result of the decreased processing capability of the CPU, or rather the cause of it somehow--I suspect the former.
System information:
- Pentium-M CPU
- 2 GB RAM
- BIOS rev. A17
- Windows XP Professional SP2
- SpeedStep enabled in BIOS
I am measuring the CPU speed with Speedswitch XP v. 1.52. I have Speedswitch configured for "Max. Performance" on AC power.
What I've tried so far:
- Flashed the BIOS to rev. A17 (it was on A11)
- Verified SpeedStep enabled in BIOS (disabling it forces machine to always run at 600 MHz)
- Booting Windows into Safe Mode - launched Speedswitch and watched CPU step down from 1.5 GHz to 600 MHz after about 2-3 minutes. So it doesn't appear to be a driver-related problem.
- Monitoring CPU temps with I8kfanGUI - temps usually run 43-55 degrees C, peak of 68 under very heavy activity when CPU at 1.5 GHz, but nothing that should cause automatic throttling
- Monitored TM2 throttling with ThrottleWatch. I captured a log in ThrottleWatch (attached) that showed the processor speed stepping down at the same time the CPU load went to 100%; TM2 Throttling remained at 0% the entire time. So it's not a temperature problem.
- Tried installing Windows XP Hotfix R56673 ("Microsoft SpeedStep fix for WinXP addresses the following Microsoft issue (Q330512): The Processor Performance State Is Not Restored to the Maximum State If the CPU Runs at 100 Percent.") from the Dell website. This hotfix was incorporated into XP SP2, so as expected the hotfix would not install on my system.
I've spent lots of time trolling Google for solutions. I've found many people who describe the same or similar problem, but nobody with a solution (at least one I haven't tried).
Please help before I throw the bleeping computer against the wall! :)
ThrottleWatch-Journal.txt
I've noticed that when I see it step down from 1.5 GHz to 600 MHz, the CPU load always goes to 100%, even if nothing significant is running. Process Explorer shows the load split among numerous programs, including Explorer.exe, Svchost.exe, etc. No one process seems to be absorbing an unusual amount of CPU time. I'm not sure if the CPU load is as a result of the decreased processing capability of the CPU, or rather the cause of it somehow--I suspect the former.
System information:
- Pentium-M CPU
- 2 GB RAM
- BIOS rev. A17
- Windows XP Professional SP2
- SpeedStep enabled in BIOS
I am measuring the CPU speed with Speedswitch XP v. 1.52. I have Speedswitch configured for "Max. Performance" on AC power.
What I've tried so far:
- Flashed the BIOS to rev. A17 (it was on A11)
- Verified SpeedStep enabled in BIOS (disabling it forces machine to always run at 600 MHz)
- Booting Windows into Safe Mode - launched Speedswitch and watched CPU step down from 1.5 GHz to 600 MHz after about 2-3 minutes. So it doesn't appear to be a driver-related problem.
- Monitoring CPU temps with I8kfanGUI - temps usually run 43-55 degrees C, peak of 68 under very heavy activity when CPU at 1.5 GHz, but nothing that should cause automatic throttling
- Monitored TM2 throttling with ThrottleWatch. I captured a log in ThrottleWatch (attached) that showed the processor speed stepping down at the same time the CPU load went to 100%; TM2 Throttling remained at 0% the entire time. So it's not a temperature problem.
- Tried installing Windows XP Hotfix R56673 ("Microsoft SpeedStep fix for WinXP addresses the following Microsoft issue (Q330512): The Processor Performance State Is Not Restored to the Maximum State If the CPU Runs at 100 Percent.") from the Dell website. This hotfix was incorporated into XP SP2, so as expected the hotfix would not install on my system.
I've spent lots of time trolling Google for solutions. I've found many people who describe the same or similar problem, but nobody with a solution (at least one I haven't tried).
Please help before I throw the bleeping computer against the wall! :)
ThrottleWatch-Journal.txt
ASKER
I used some canned air to blow out the fan vents - not much came out, so I don't think that was the problem. (And I8kfanGUI didn't show an overheating problem anyway.)
But the battery idea was something I hadn't tried. I disconnected the charger, removed the battery and followed a procedure I'd seen somewhere of holding down the power button for 30 seconds to reset the power circuitry. Then I ran on AC only (no battery) for a while, and the CPU stayed at 1.5 GHz.
Then I powered down, replaced the battery, and booted back up. It's been several hours now without any problems - still humming along at 1.5 GHz. Yeah!
If all is still OK by tomorrow, I'll consider this issue resolved and award you the points.
Meanwhile...do you have any idea what might have caused the problem and why removing the battery for a while might have fixed it?
But the battery idea was something I hadn't tried. I disconnected the charger, removed the battery and followed a procedure I'd seen somewhere of holding down the power button for 30 seconds to reset the power circuitry. Then I ran on AC only (no battery) for a while, and the CPU stayed at 1.5 GHz.
Then I powered down, replaced the battery, and booted back up. It's been several hours now without any problems - still humming along at 1.5 GHz. Yeah!
If all is still OK by tomorrow, I'll consider this issue resolved and award you the points.
Meanwhile...do you have any idea what might have caused the problem and why removing the battery for a while might have fixed it?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Computer ran all night and was still at 1.5 GHz this morning...for the first time in a month!
I can't believe how many hours I spent looking for a software or hardware problem, and it turned out to be something as simple (and obscure?) as removing and then replacing the battery. Wow. Thanks for your help - it probably saved me the cost of a new laptop and endless frustration on the phone with Dell.
BTW, I do often run the machine on battery, usually to a full discharge, so I keep the battery in when it's on AC to ensure it's fully charged and ready to go at all times.
I can't believe how many hours I spent looking for a software or hardware problem, and it turned out to be something as simple (and obscure?) as removing and then replacing the battery. Wow. Thanks for your help - it probably saved me the cost of a new laptop and endless frustration on the phone with Dell.
BTW, I do often run the machine on battery, usually to a full discharge, so I keep the battery in when it's on AC to ensure it's fully charged and ready to go at all times.
ASKER
Thanks again!
You are most welcome. Good thing I bought a laptop too :)
dust in the fans vents causing heat
thermal jel is drying out on the processor chip
PSU fluctuating?
Do you have the battery inserted while on AC?
It's best practise to remove the battery while on AC.