vista x64 sp1 causes cpu frequncy to stay at 44% when unplugged

ontheray · 04-14-2009, 10:46 PM

Okay, so I when I use my laptop unplugged, it worked fine on balanced mode (or high performance). Once I installed SP1, it wont go past 44% maximum cpu frequency. I have a gateway t-1620 and am using vista home premium x64. On another machine with vista x32 (acer laptop), the cpu frequency still goes to the max. Is there any way to fix this? Is there a program to manually override this?

I am considering going back to vista x32, but I don't feel like going through the whole installation process to see if it is a x64 problem.

**TriggerFinger** · 04-14-2009, 11:56 PM

I am not sure if this is applicable but check BIOS for SpeedStep setting (if intel), I am not sure if (T1620 is AMD?) there is an equivalent for AMD.

ontheray · 04-15-2009, 09:49 AM

I don't know if this is the right place to post or not, but I posted elsewhere and got little response.

Here is my update:

Girlfriends computer: Acer Extensa , dual core pentium

My computer: dual core AMD Turion 64

I never paid attention before, but when Vista got saturated I got fed up with the OEM OS and decided to try x64 instead of x86. My girlfriends computer does not top out at 44% when unplugged. I thought it might be due to a different motherboard, but could it be more likely the processor?

I have now found out that both 64 and 32 bit vista did the same thing to my machine after sp1. Would sp1 change a bios setting? Remember, it is only when unplugged. When plugged in, it still varies the frequency to meet demand.

I will look for the speed step, but what I remember from the bios is that there is little to change. Is the speedstep feature something to do with battery power versus plug power?

I will finish installing updates and see if that might possibly fix the problem.

Bottom line: this machine has other problems (starts typing backwards sometimes, cursor jumping on its own). My warranty is expired, and gateway would not have helped out anyway, they would have said it is a windows issue. I think the main problem is that not enough of these machines are sold for gateway or microsoft to care to fix the problem. If it were a dell computer, enough people would complain and something would then happen.

It is possible they did this to extend battery life, but why is it not happening on my other computer? I is really frustrating me, to the point where I AM going to learn BASH commands and run Wine or some other windows emulator. I only even need this crap because everywhere in school they use this stupid Microsoft Orifice 2007.

grr...

ontheray · 04-15-2009, 10:00 AM

All updates were done, and still no progress. I shall check my bios as a last resort. I think the only solution if I use Vista is to not install sp1.
It is only an issue when there is a high processor demand and the machine is unplugged.
Is there some software I can use to bypass windows control of my cpu frequency?

I also don't understand why it does this, when the power setting are set to 100 % maximum speed at both plugged in and battery states...

Vista is the most frustrating peice of crap I've ever used.

**TriggerFinger** · 04-15-2009, 12:14 PM

Check this document out: http://www.vista4beginners.com/power-management

ontheray · 04-15-2009, 03:21 PM

Thanks for that. I will check the bios. I already looked at these options. I have "balanced" mode between "power saving" and "high performance".

In the settings, there is cpu min and max frequency for both plugged in and unplugged. Although the settings stayed the same, and unplugged max is at 100% , the problem does not occur until sp1 install in both x64 and x86.

I now suspect it is the AMD factor, as my girlfriends cpu is Intel. Perhaps sp1 requires me to update the bios? I will let you know what else I find out.

Thank you for pointing me out in the right direction.

This has been a frustrating problem, and Vista makes me feel so ignorant about computers!!

ontheray · 04-16-2009, 12:21 PM

It is just as I remembered, I have the most washed down bios ever in terms of number of options. I shall look for an bios update.

ontheray · 04-25-2009, 05:43 PM

I updated my bios to the latest version, and there is still no option for cool n quiet. I wonder if there is a non gateway version of the bios, this bios sucks!!!!

I used pc wizard 2008 and did not find out much. Sandra 2009 gave me more info on the mainboard, however it seems to have a propriety bios from gateway.

Can anyone help me find the non propriety bios?

04-14-2009, 10:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
ontheray Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 36 OS: vista	vista x64 sp1 causes cpu frequncy to stay at 44% when unplugged Okay, so I when I use my laptop unplugged, it worked fine on balanced mode (or high performance). Once I installed SP1, it wont go past 44% maximum cpu frequency. I have a gateway t-1620 and am using vista home premium x64. On another machine with vista x32 (acer laptop), the cpu frequency still goes to the max. Is there any way to fix this? Is there a program to manually override this? I am considering going back to vista x32, but I don't feel like going through the whole installation process to see if it is a x64 problem.

04-14-2009, 11:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,846 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: vista x64 sp1 causes cpu frequncy to stay at 44% when unplugged I am not sure if this is applicable but check BIOS for SpeedStep setting (if intel), I am not sure if (T1620 is AMD?) there is an equivalent for AMD. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

04-15-2009, 09:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
ontheray Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 36 OS: vista	Re: vista x64 sp1 causes cpu frequncy to stay at 44% when unplugged I don't know if this is the right place to post or not, but I posted elsewhere and got little response. Here is my update: Girlfriends computer: Acer Extensa , dual core pentium My computer: dual core AMD Turion 64 I never paid attention before, but when Vista got saturated I got fed up with the OEM OS and decided to try x64 instead of x86. My girlfriends computer does not top out at 44% when unplugged. I thought it might be due to a different motherboard, but could it be more likely the processor? I have now found out that both 64 and 32 bit vista did the same thing to my machine after sp1. Would sp1 change a bios setting? Remember, it is only when unplugged. When plugged in, it still varies the frequency to meet demand. I will look for the speed step, but what I remember from the bios is that there is little to change. Is the speedstep feature something to do with battery power versus plug power? I will finish installing updates and see if that might possibly fix the problem. Bottom line: this machine has other problems (starts typing backwards sometimes, cursor jumping on its own). My warranty is expired, and gateway would not have helped out anyway, they would have said it is a windows issue. I think the main problem is that not enough of these machines are sold for gateway or microsoft to care to fix the problem. If it were a dell computer, enough people would complain and something would then happen. It is possible they did this to extend battery life, but why is it not happening on my other computer? I is really frustrating me, to the point where I AM going to learn BASH commands and run Wine or some other windows emulator. I only even need this crap because everywhere in school they use this stupid Microsoft Orifice 2007. grr...

04-15-2009, 10:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
ontheray Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 36 OS: vista	Re: vista x64 sp1 causes cpu frequncy to stay at 44% when unplugged All updates were done, and still no progress. I shall check my bios as a last resort. I think the only solution if I use Vista is to not install sp1. It is only an issue when there is a high processor demand and the machine is unplugged. Is there some software I can use to bypass windows control of my cpu frequency? I also don't understand why it does this, when the power setting are set to 100 % maximum speed at both plugged in and battery states... Vista is the most frustrating peice of crap I've ever used.

04-15-2009, 12:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,846 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: vista x64 sp1 causes cpu frequncy to stay at 44% when unplugged Check this document out: http://www.vista4beginners.com/power-management __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

04-15-2009, 03:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
ontheray Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 36 OS: vista	Re: vista x64 sp1 causes cpu frequncy to stay at 44% when unplugged Thanks for that. I will check the bios. I already looked at these options. I have "balanced" mode between "power saving" and "high performance". In the settings, there is cpu min and max frequency for both plugged in and unplugged. Although the settings stayed the same, and unplugged max is at 100% , the problem does not occur until sp1 install in both x64 and x86. I now suspect it is the AMD factor, as my girlfriends cpu is Intel. Perhaps sp1 requires me to update the bios? I will let you know what else I find out. Thank you for pointing me out in the right direction. This has been a frustrating problem, and Vista makes me feel so ignorant about computers!! Last edited by ontheray; 04-15-2009 at 03:35 PM.

04-16-2009, 12:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
ontheray Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 36 OS: vista	Re: vista x64 sp1 causes cpu frequncy to stay at 44% when unplugged It is just as I remembered, I have the most washed down bios ever in terms of number of options. I shall look for an bios update.

04-25-2009, 05:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
ontheray Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 36 OS: vista	Re: vista x64 sp1 causes cpu frequncy to stay at 44% when unplugged I updated my bios to the latest version, and there is still no option for cool n quiet. I wonder if there is a non gateway version of the bios, this bios sucks!!!! I used pc wizard 2008 and did not find out much. Sandra 2009 gave me more info on the mainboard, however it seems to have a propriety bios from gateway. Can anyone help me find the non propriety bios?