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Intel's Speedstep stuck underclock 1.6GHz @ 800MHz!
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:26 pm
by JAB Creations
A client of mine has a laptop with a Core 2 Duo @ 1.6GHz that is stuck at 800MHz. It does temporarily jump to 1.6GHz but it doesn't last long and it's so slow the audio stutters no matter what I do. I downloaded some program from a German guy's website, tried getting OC apps to work (none detect the i945GM chipset I think offhand), attempted to user the Acer software...then uninstalled and attempted to repeat everything and absolutely no luck. No, there is hardly anything at all in the bios let alone speed/energy/battery/etc related. Since it's a laptop the warranty is of course long expired. Nothing I do seems to force the CPU to run at it's normal frequency. The thing is it's plugged in 99% of the time it's on/he's using it! It's only unplugged when he brings it in to his mobile office (he's a taxi driver) or back in to his house. SMART status reads ok for the hard drive, decent temps, etc. The system is clean, he's a regular client and I take good care of
all my clients. His system runs only what he uses and it's pretty clean. I'm sure I've forgotten to mention one or two other things I've tried short of reinstalling XP. Thoughts please?

Re: Intel's Speedstep stuck underclock 1.6GHz @ 800MHz!
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:46 am
by josh
JAB Creations wrote: I'm sure I've forgotten to mention one or two other things I've tried short of reinstalling XP. Thoughts please?

That's your problem. Try running a bootable diagnostic tool, or simply look at the chipset detected in the bios. This is most likely a bios or OS issue, unless the physical chip your friend got was not what was advertised.
Re: Intel's Speedstep stuck underclock 1.6GHz @ 800MHz!
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:48 am
by JAB Creations
The issue just started of late all of a sudden. He doesn't want to spend the money for reinstalling XP but that's the only thing I can think of right now. Like I said there are exceptionally few options in the bios and they don't relate to the issue at all. The battery does seem to lose charge and regain it very quickly so the best conclusion I have come to thus far is that the maximum charge has been reduced because he plugs and unplugs it so much that it's reduced the total capacity much quicker then normal...and if 100% charge is below the threshold of the original's low battery level then it could be why the system slows down...but removing the battery altogether doesn't change anything!

Re: Intel's Speedstep stuck underclock 1.6GHz @ 800MHz!
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 2:38 pm
by Benjamin
Try a live CD. (ubuntu). I'm assuming you have played around in the BIOS as well as the Power Saver software that runs on XP?
Re: Intel's Speedstep stuck underclock 1.6GHz @ 800MHz!
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:44 pm
by JAB Creations
I disabled all the power options so that it never shuts the screen off, hibernates, standby, etc.
I'll reiterate a third time, there is nothing in the bios and I even looked for a bios update without any luck. His laptop is an Acer Aspire 9410.
I could try a live Ubuntu DVD (they boot from DVD any way) though I wouldn't be sure what to do with it really. What is the Linux equivalent to CPUz in example?
Re: Intel's Speedstep stuck underclock 1.6GHz @ 800MHz!
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:09 pm
by s.dot
Hmmm you may have over looked this or I'm just a tool, but on my old laptop there was a battery management tool. Something like different modes I could set (performance, energy saver, etc).
Re: Intel's Speedstep stuck underclock 1.6GHz @ 800MHz!
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:18 pm
by JAB Creations
scottayy wrote:Hmmm you may have over looked this or I'm just a tool, but on my old laptop there was a battery management tool. Something like different modes I could set (performance, energy saver, etc).
There was and it wasn't doing anything. Some software by Acer that replaced much of XP's controls. I tweaked with the software going in to every nook and cranny without any success. Uninstalled it and still no success.
Re: Intel's Speedstep stuck underclock 1.6GHz @ 800MHz!
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:26 am
by josh
I recommend having an exorcism performed on the notebook
Re: Intel's Speedstep stuck underclock 1.6GHz @ 800MHz!
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:23 pm
by JAB Creations
Yeah, I figured reinstalling the Microsoft demons from scratch would help. He doesn't feel like doing that right now because he doesn't want to spend the money.
Re: Intel's Speedstep stuck underclock 1.6GHz @ 800MHz!
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:41 pm
by josh
What kind of CPU does the bios say the machine has.
Re: Intel's Speedstep stuck underclock 1.6GHz @ 800MHz!
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:51 pm
by JAB Creations
Intel Core 2 Duo @ 1.6GHz stuck @ 800MHz. The bios is some priority bios not sure but it has exceptionally few options and I absolutely assure you that none of those few options relate beyond boot device and save or don't save and exit.
Re: Intel's Speedstep stuck underclock 1.6GHz @ 800MHz!
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:23 pm
by josh
Try flashing the bios ROM and get back to us, it could just be bad software.
Re: Intel's Speedstep stuck underclock 1.6GHz @ 800MHz!
Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:13 pm
by JAB Creations
I talked with the client recently and he has been thinking about getting a new laptop. I wouldn't exactly say he takes the best care of his laptop. Of course if he gets a new laptop it'll come with Vista and not enough memory (a RAM disk). I don't look forward to dealing with Vista with one of my most frequent clients.

I told him if I reinstalled XP and it didn't correct the issue I'd only charge him for my time ($20 an hour for one hour which is minimal though like I said he's a frequent client). Any way thanks for all the suggestions.