PROBLEM:
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Solution to Pentium-M 1.x processor stuck at 600 MHz or something similar even when using AC power. The CPU frequency does not change whether you are on battery or AC power.
I have seen numerous such threads and various explanations and solutions offered. There is no need to install any other program like SpeedSwitchXP or tinker around with your BIOS settings or download some patches etc.
EXPLANATION:
-----------------
As most of you will know this is due to Intel SpeedStep technology that helps you in power management and maximizing your battery life. The biggest problem is that in Windows XP there is no clear explanation of the Power Saving mode and the exact functioning in various modes. Typical settings and their explanation is provided below:
Home/Office Desk : This scheme is suited to most home or desktop computers that are left plugged in all the time.
Portable/Laptop : This scheme is designed for extended battery life for portable computers on the road.
Presentation : This scheme keeps the monitor on for doing presentations.
Always On : This scheme keeps the computer running so that it can be accessed from the network. Use this scheme if you do not have network wakeup hardware.
Minimal Power Management : This scheme keeps the computer on and optimizes it for high performance.
Max Battery : This scheme is extremely aggressive for saving power.
What these do not talk about is the CPU "Throttle Mode" of the processor under each scheme. The various throttle modes are:
MODE DESCRIPTION
---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
None:-- Always runs at the highest performance - maximum frequency
Adaptive:-- CPU frequency depends on the demand - can vary from minimum to maximum.
Constant:-- Always runs at the lowest performance to conserve battery
Degrade:-- Starts at lowest performance state, and then starts reducing performance further as the battery gets lower - this is used to maximize the battery life.
The CPU throttle modes used under various power schemes are:
Power scheme ---------------------- AC ---------- Battery
Home/Office Desktop --------------- None ---------- Adaptive
Portable/Laptop --------------------- Adaptive ------- Adaptive
Minimal Power Management ---------- Adaptive ------ Adaptive
Maximize Battery Life ---------------- Adaptive ------ Degrade
Presentation ------------------------ Adaptive ------ Degrade
Always On----------------------------- None -------- None
Once you look at the table above, you will immediately realize where the problem is. Most of us by default keep our notebook under the "Portable/Laptop" power scheme. Here, unless there is a demand on the CPU, the CPU will typically run at the lowest performance state, even in the AC mode!!! So, even with power chord plugged in, you will show your CPU running at 600 MHz (or something similar). What it also tells us this is that we do not really need all that CPU power for most of our typical usage!
I find that for typical LAPTOP users the HOME/OFFICE DESKTOP scheme might be the best. You will get the maximum CPU power when on AC power and increase your battery life when on battery power. Once you have understood the throttling modes and their meaning then it is easy to chose the most suitable power scheme for yourself. You can select other settings (Turn monitor off, Turn Hard disk off, System Standby) according to your needs. As you can see, that looking at the power schemes, you have no idea of what each of the power schemes means for your CPU performance.
Known bugs: in a small number of cases, there is a possibility that the CPU frequency reported might be incorrect.
SUMMARY:
------------------
To get your laptop to run at maximum CPU capacity when on AC power and conserve battery when on battery power, do the following:
Control Panel > Power Options > Power Schemes Tab. Select the "Home / Office Desk" power scheme. You can fiddle around with the other options according to your needs.
Hopefully this will reduce those long threads and user discomfort at seeing their high end CPUs running at low frequencies even when on AC Power.
====================================================================
Acer Extensa 3002 WLMi - P-M 1.6 GHz Dothan; 1 GB PC2700 RAM; 60 GB HD
15.4" WXGA; Bluethooth; 8 Cell Batery; Win XP Home
-----------------
Solution to Pentium-M 1.x processor stuck at 600 MHz or something similar even when using AC power. The CPU frequency does not change whether you are on battery or AC power.
I have seen numerous such threads and various explanations and solutions offered. There is no need to install any other program like SpeedSwitchXP or tinker around with your BIOS settings or download some patches etc.
EXPLANATION:
-----------------
As most of you will know this is due to Intel SpeedStep technology that helps you in power management and maximizing your battery life. The biggest problem is that in Windows XP there is no clear explanation of the Power Saving mode and the exact functioning in various modes. Typical settings and their explanation is provided below:
Home/Office Desk : This scheme is suited to most home or desktop computers that are left plugged in all the time.
Portable/Laptop : This scheme is designed for extended battery life for portable computers on the road.
Presentation : This scheme keeps the monitor on for doing presentations.
Always On : This scheme keeps the computer running so that it can be accessed from the network. Use this scheme if you do not have network wakeup hardware.
Minimal Power Management : This scheme keeps the computer on and optimizes it for high performance.
Max Battery : This scheme is extremely aggressive for saving power.
What these do not talk about is the CPU "Throttle Mode" of the processor under each scheme. The various throttle modes are:
MODE DESCRIPTION
---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
None:-- Always runs at the highest performance - maximum frequency
Adaptive:-- CPU frequency depends on the demand - can vary from minimum to maximum.
Constant:-- Always runs at the lowest performance to conserve battery
Degrade:-- Starts at lowest performance state, and then starts reducing performance further as the battery gets lower - this is used to maximize the battery life.
The CPU throttle modes used under various power schemes are:
Power scheme ---------------------- AC ---------- Battery
Home/Office Desktop --------------- None ---------- Adaptive
Portable/Laptop --------------------- Adaptive ------- Adaptive
Minimal Power Management ---------- Adaptive ------ Adaptive
Maximize Battery Life ---------------- Adaptive ------ Degrade
Presentation ------------------------ Adaptive ------ Degrade
Always On----------------------------- None -------- None
Once you look at the table above, you will immediately realize where the problem is. Most of us by default keep our notebook under the "Portable/Laptop" power scheme. Here, unless there is a demand on the CPU, the CPU will typically run at the lowest performance state, even in the AC mode!!! So, even with power chord plugged in, you will show your CPU running at 600 MHz (or something similar). What it also tells us this is that we do not really need all that CPU power for most of our typical usage!
I find that for typical LAPTOP users the HOME/OFFICE DESKTOP scheme might be the best. You will get the maximum CPU power when on AC power and increase your battery life when on battery power. Once you have understood the throttling modes and their meaning then it is easy to chose the most suitable power scheme for yourself. You can select other settings (Turn monitor off, Turn Hard disk off, System Standby) according to your needs. As you can see, that looking at the power schemes, you have no idea of what each of the power schemes means for your CPU performance.
Known bugs: in a small number of cases, there is a possibility that the CPU frequency reported might be incorrect.
SUMMARY:
------------------
To get your laptop to run at maximum CPU capacity when on AC power and conserve battery when on battery power, do the following:
Control Panel > Power Options > Power Schemes Tab. Select the "Home / Office Desk" power scheme. You can fiddle around with the other options according to your needs.
Hopefully this will reduce those long threads and user discomfort at seeing their high end CPUs running at low frequencies even when on AC Power.
====================================================================
Acer Extensa 3002 WLMi - P-M 1.6 GHz Dothan; 1 GB PC2700 RAM; 60 GB HD
15.4" WXGA; Bluethooth; 8 Cell Batery; Win XP Home
