New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

9300 Speedstep Issue

post #1 of 38
4/21/05 at 10:53pm
Thread Starter 
Howdy! Thanks to the great reviews on this site, I just picked up a new 9300. I got the 1.86 processor, 1920x1200 screen, 1gb RAM, and the fast HD. Ordered it 4/10, est. delivery 4/28, actual delivery 4/20.

I'm having a problem with the "speedstep" feature, I'll go into details here:

I ordered the computer with XP Home, because I have a copy of XP Pro to use, and didn't want to pay the extra $60. So, when the computer arrived, I went straight to work formatting the HD and installing XP Pro. I had to get all the drivers from the Dell website, glad I have a USB drive and another computer, because the network card didn't work without the driver... Updated to SP2, etc etc, then decided to run some benchmarks.

But, even with the power mode set to "Home/Office Desk", and on AC power, I don't think I'm getting more than 800mhz:


I ran the Sandra cpu arithmetic benchmark, and got:


Sandra CPU info:


I even installed SpeedswitchXP, but couldn't get it to go over 800mhz either:


I flashed my bios to A02, but that didn't help either.

Any ideas? Any help is appreciated!
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 38
4/21/05 at 10:58pm
Try changing your control panel\power options\schemes to Home/Office Desk
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 38
4/21/05 at 11:01pm
Make sure your speedstep is enabled in the BIOS. When you disable it, it will cap at 800 mhz.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 38
4/21/05 at 11:04pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the speedy replies. The power mode is already set to Home/Office Desk, and I checked in the BIOS, speedstep is enabled.

I forgot to post the Intel Processor Identification results:


I just read somewhere else on this forum that the order in which the dell drivers are installed is important. Maybe I'll try reinstalling them in that order when I get home.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 38
4/21/05 at 11:05pm
I'm new to laptops, but assuming you have the AC adapter plugged in, won't these uber laptops automatically and by default go at full throttle when they need to and PERHAPS throttle down when you don't need the power?
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 38
4/21/05 at 11:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vally
I'm new to laptops, but assuming you have the AC adapter plugged in, won't these uber laptops automatically and by default go at full throttle when they need to and PERHAPS throttle down when you don't need the power?
Yes, that's why I use the "Home/Office Desk" power scheme, it seems that with that scheme Windows will not throttle the CPU, mine is constantly at 100% even at idling mode, but once I unplug the AC Adaptor, it throttles to 800MHz immediately, and thanks to undervolting, everything runs much cooler, quieter and last an additional 30mins or so.

Reply
Reply
post #7 of 38
4/21/05 at 11:41pm
DennyT,
Are you using Quickset, Dell's proprietary power management system? I find using window's power management is overridden by Quickset.

Also it takes some toggling between Maximum Performance and Maximum battery modes to get your 9300 to run at optimal processor speeds.

Pk20

ps: now that I think of it, I cant see the quickset system tray icon on your screenshots so I imagine that you havent installed it. That might just be the source of your troubles...
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 38
4/21/05 at 11:46pm
My first instinct is saying the CPU is defective. They probally didnt set the multipliers correctly at the factory.
That CPUID utility from Intel, automatically runs the processor at full speed for identifaction purposes.

Try 2 things.

First Disable the BIOS Speedstep and tell what happens, that will force the processor at the hardware level to its maxinum multipler. (I am willing to bet the processor will max out at 800Mhz)

Also
Post a CPU-Z screenshot, both with the processor unloaded and the processor loaded with a program like Prime 95.

Thanks, hope we can get this fixed.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 38
4/22/05 at 12:29am
Another thing you can try is get RightMark CPU Clock Utility and check what the highest multiplyer is under 'Management' and 'P-State', that should be the highest that your CPU supports.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 38
4/22/05 at 12:33am
change it to Always On. That'll fix 'er.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 38
4/22/05 at 1:05am
Actually, if you disable speedstep in the BIOS, the CPU will be locked at its LOWEST multiplier (6x or 800mhz).
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 38
4/22/05 at 1:58am
Maybe Try reseating the Processor it could be a faulty connection just try that you never know.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 38
4/22/05 at 2:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stomper
Actually, if you disable speedstep in the BIOS, the CPU will be locked at its LOWEST multiplier (6x or 800mhz).
I disagree.

This processor somehow is lowering its multiplier below 6x because of the 333Mhz screenshot. This processor should not be able to go that low.
Every processor I have had with speedstep, defaults to the maxinum clock speed with speedstep disabled.

I still beilieve either the Processor or Montheboard are faulty.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 38
4/22/05 at 2:20am
The bios screen actually says when speedstep is disabled, the processor will stay at its lowest multiplier, not the highest. I tested this on my laptop, too. When I disabled speedstep in the bios, my proc stayed at 800mhz even at 100% cpu load.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 38
4/22/05 at 2:27am
Thread Starter 
OK, more info:

In the BIOS screen, it says "Min speed 800, max speed 18xx, current speed 18xx". It also says what Stomper is talking about, disabling speedstep puts it on the lowest setting. I tried it both ways, never more than 800 mhz.

Here are more screenshots:
Loaded:


Unloaded:


In Rightmark, the maximal multiplier was 6x, but I was able to change it to 14x. That didn't have any noticeable effects on processor speed, though.

I tried re-running the dell driver installers, but no help.

Perhaps tomorrow I'll throw the winxp disc back in and "repair installation", which should wipe the drivers and SP2, then do the drivers in the proper order, then call Dell if it's still <800mhz.

Other than the speedstep thing, man this laptop is sweet. Heck, I could almost live with it at 800mhz...
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 38
4/22/05 at 2:55am
Ok yes you are correct disabling Speedstep on the 9300's defaults to the slowest speed.

I remember the older Pentium4-M's the opposite was true.



Ok a coulpe of more things to try before Im going to say for certian that the CPU is faulty.

Try updating the BIOS.

Here is the link for the I9300.
Bios Revision A02

This basiclly can be one of 2 things, either the windows driver isnt telling the processor to change its multipliers somehow, or the processor isnt chainging them because its defective.

If a fresh install of WinXP and a Bios update doesnt fix this problem, I am willing to bet the CPU is the culprit.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 38
4/22/05 at 10:42am
Have you tried simply to remove the Speedswitch program completely from the machine, and use the power setting "Always on"? (with machine plugged in,of course).
(to avoid misunderstanding, I am a great fan of the mentioned program!).
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 38
4/22/05 at 12:24pm
If the highest multiplier is 14x, then just set maximal FID to 14x, change the AC profile to maximal and apply, this should force your CPU multiplier up to 14.
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 38
4/22/05 at 12:36pm
I think RightMark is just going to read what your chipset/CPU is and provide you with the appropriate setting lists for that combo.

It looks like something is limiting your multiplier.

Did you hit "Detect Maximum Speed" on SpeedSwitchXP?
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 38
4/22/05 at 2:37pm
Thread Starter 
OK, did a clean install of XP Pro SP1, already have the A02 bios on it (updated that yesterday). Installed the Dell drivers in the order:
-Notebook System Software
-Chipset Drivers
-Video Card Drivers (Dell Display, then nVidia)
-The rest (network, wireless, modem)
-No Dell Quickset

Right now, with power set to "Always On" and AC plugged in, it's showing 781 or 332 MHz in the "My Computer / Properties" screen, it varies each time I boot it up.

When I tried changing stuff with Rightmark last night, it didn't have any effect. Reported speed stayed the same, even with the 14x multiplier.

I guess I'll install SP2, and the CPU utilities again, and if it's no better this time, I'm calling Dell
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home