3790 Speed Stepping Issue & Fix

So, what's next for you? You still have a laptop that can run Doom3 on battery for longer than any other. You also have a laptop that can, with a quick reboot and BIOS mod, run programs that demand much less than Doom3 for 5 hours. AND, you have a WSXGA.
Is it a stupid way to design this thing? Absolutely. Should you have to change BIOS settings each time you want to switch from mundane tasks to FRAG-FEST? Nope. But, is it a deal-breaker? For me, no. IMO, no laptop is going to be perfect (at least I haven't found one yet). But this is as near to perfect for me that I'm going to see in awhile. I admire your resolve, compuatic, and I'm sorry this issue is enough to push you to return your 3790. Good luck in finding the notebook you need and keep us posted, please!

There is nothing impossible for Draw. Go Draw go.
Seriously, those clevo/sager techies and engineers should think again when designing their next lappy. This CPU weirdo is just one of the things they could have avoided with slightly more careful and thoughtful planning.

Quick question (and I may show just how ignorant of computers I am by asking this): could a BIOS update fix this? Could one download a fix for this, should someone at Sager be so inclined to design it? Just curious.

Okay, then. Here's what we need to do. Everyone who now has a 3790 and everyone who has ordered one from PCT and directly from Sager needs to email and then call Sager with a request for a BIOS revision. Let's get a concerted, orchestrated effort going here to fix this problem. I'm emailing as we speak, er, type, er whatever.

I was refering to the whole layout of this laptop starting with port placemnet and the 12-cell battery-sticking-out idea. But even this cpu problem seems to be intentionally introduced for I guess this is the inly way for them to provide their customers with relatively acceptable battery life.
This is a gaming laptop so imagine what it would be if people could play games on battery - this would last what half a level or something like that if the cpu were allowed to trottle up to full speed.

Does it make that much difference? I'm sorry I don't knowm uch about computers but does it matter thta much if you run the cpu at 600mhz and 2k mhz? will it make processing faster? or even games? can't you controll it in a program?

wow looks like Sager is already on top of things look at the new post by Luke on the first thread http://notebookforums.com/showthread...061#post410061

Sweet. I hope this restores faith in sager.

Obi,

The quick answer is yes. However, it is more likely that this unit was engineered this way to overcome a problem with normal up/down stepping. Such a decision, IMHO, was not accomplished lightly; but rather, as an avenue to salvage a larger number of units that had already been constructed.

Sent to PCT and Sager:
What follows is a copy of the email I just sent to Sager technical support.



Friends at Sager,
We need a BIOS revision to fix the power managment issues with the 3790. As it stands, while on DC power, my CPU cannot throttle-up to greater than 600mhz to better accomodate demanding software. Need another option besides the default 2ghz while on AC and 600mhz while on DC. I don't want to have to run at a constant 2ghz while on DC power either (which is the other option). How about a BIOS revision to include throttling up from 600mhz to 2ghz while on DC when the demand for increased power exists? This would maximize versatility while also maximizing battery life. The absence of this option is a major flaw with this BIOS. You will be receiving multiple calls and emails from others like me who are asking for a revision or will be asking for a refund. I love my 3790, but, please, correct this oversight ASAP!!
Sincerely,
Matt Lockwood



To Luke, Adam, Laura, Tom, and everyone else @ PCT:

If you've been reading the forum lately, you'll see a thread started by computiac which addresses this issue re: the BIOS for the Sager 3790. All of us who have received this notebook as well as the many more who have yet to receive this notebook are calling and emailing Sager to request a BIOS revision with more DC power management options. If there is any way possible a representative from PCT might also address this issue with Sager, we, your customers, would greatly appreciate it. This laptop's major selling point to those of us who purchased it was it's blend of power and portability. Unfortunately, do to awkward BIOS options, this blend was more perceived than realized. Please help us remedy this issue. Your voice, added to ours, would be a tremendous boost to morale.

Much Thanks,
Matt

Of course, while I was doing this, Luke responded with his advice. I'll try that and let you guys know right away.

Thanks, G.

G,
You would be able to answer this for me. Will having the BIOS settings to Maximum Performance Always (ie, locking the CPU frequency at maximum settings of, in this case, 2.0ghz) take its toll on my cpu? Will it place it under undue strain? Will it shorten its life?
Thanks!

P.S. -- Followed the Luke's advice without any change in frequency noted on mobmeter.

If I remember right, the mobmeter didn't accurately measure the frequency for the 3790.

That's what Drawmonster posted, as well. So, I downloaded CPU-Z (recommended by the one and only Draw) but was unable to locate an option for "realtime" assesment of CPU frequency "on the fly". In other words, I was unable to verify that, as the Sager guy in Luke's post suggested, the actual frequency would drop to 600mhz when opening and using less-demanding programs like Windows Media Player. Any other suggestions?

Ik8fangui may work.

I8k is designed for Inspiron8K systems... and was written back when they used P4Ms... I doubt it would work

I guess that counts that one out. Hmmm. It sounded like a great program. Anyway I would test the battery out again after Luke's advice and see if your getting 5+ hours of battery life.

Update: messed around with speedswitch some more. Was able to view a real-time rendered graph of CPU load and CPU speed. Interestingly, the load would frequently jump up to 50% max when opening progams such as WMP; but, the speed stayed at a steady 30-40%. Damn, I wish I knew more about computers.