Problem with my laptop and SpeedStep

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SlavicSavage

Junior Member
Jan 29, 2004
9
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My laptop, a Dell Inspiron 8600 with a 1.4ghz pentium m, wont go above 600 mhz. In the bios it says thats what the processor is running at, but when i get into windows, plugged in or not, and regardless of what i run the power settings at, it never goes above this. i've tested it with the intel processor id utility, as well as a speedswitch applet, and the processor wont ever run faster then .6 ghz. i've updated the bios, the chipset drivers, and then all my drivers and nothing works. is this a hardware issue of a software issue? and how do i solve it.

if anyone can give me some help, even if it involves taking the computer apart and messing with jumpers or something, i'll do it because its easier than dealing with apu trying to get dell tech support to help me. if you need more info let me know. im running xp SP2. i cant do much on my computer, programs run okay, but open really sluggishly, and when i try and watch any kind of video or play games the computer stutters and skips so i'd really like to get this fixed.

thanks
 
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SlavicSavage

Junior Member
Jan 29, 2004
9
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I dont see any way to do that theres processor options in the bios but it wont let me get to any of them, and i dont see anything about speedstep
 
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SlavicSavage

Junior Member
Jan 29, 2004
9
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I found the option, in power management, and it was turned on. i turned it off, rebooted, then turned it back on to see if that fixed it and it didnt. what im starting to think happened is that the computer overheated so the bios set the CPU clock all the way down to 600mhz and since you cant change it in the dell bios its now stuck there, otherwise why would the bios say i have a 600mhz pentium m 1.4?
 
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redbeard1

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2001
3,006
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XP automatically uses speedstep if Laptop/Portable is chosen in the power settings. Changing it to Always On should fix it, if there isn't something else wrong.
 
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SlavicSavage

Junior Member
Jan 29, 2004
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something else is defenately wrong. the processor is actually underclocked to 600mhz, its not the speedstep thats doing it. the speed will fluctuate between 100-600mhz but never goes above 600, regardless of power settings or whether its plugged in or not. the intel cpuid program tells me its clocked at .6 ghz too, as does some benchmarking utility i used. anything i can do to reset the clock speed on the processor? a reset switch on the motherboard maybe? or a dip switch to manually set the mhz like the olden days? or anyone know how i can mess with my bios settings? dell locks them so users cant mess with them
 
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SlavicSavage

Junior Member
Jan 29, 2004
9
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the frequency is 600mhz and it never goes above that, the temp is 85.5c the discharge rate is 14.35w and the hdd#0 is at 29c. my computer seems to have perminently underclocked itself at 600mhz even though it recognizes its a 1.4ghz processor, how do i fix this?! i hate dell i cant change any of the settings in the bios for the processor
 
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TheCanuck

Senior member
Apr 28, 2003
373
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85.5C is way too hot. Is that temperature after the laptop has been running for a while, load or after a cold boot? Is your fan going at least at that temperature? I've got a P4-M and the temperature idles at 33-35C and maxes out at 60C. Other Pentium-Ms that I've seen usually idle around 40-45C, but don't go above 60C.

How old is the laptop / can you use your warranty? If not, then you could try blowing out the heatsink with compressed air (can sometimes get plugged with dust and screw up the cooling). The other option would be to take the heatsink off, remove the thermal pad and put on some arctic silver...but I'd only do that if you're comfortable taking apart a laptop.
 
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SlavicSavage

Junior Member
Jan 29, 2004
9
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both programs say the cpu temp is 85c, which is obviosly the cause of the problem. the computer has the processor running in safe mode because of how hot the chip is running. what i find strange though is that the temp never fluctuates from 85c whether i turn the fans down to their slowest or have them on high, which by the way the computer never leaves even after booting for the first time for hours in a house thats about 64 degrees. how could it almost instantly be all the way up to 85? could a heat sensor have become damage or unseated or something and its causing these problems? anyone know how i could find out or fix it myself, this def seems like a hardware issue and i'd rather not have to spend hours on the phone with apu trying to explain to him that the problem isnt speedstep and so on so that i can wait 3 weeks after mailing it to dell to let them fix it.
 
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TheCanuck

Senior member
Apr 28, 2003
373
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SlavicSavage

Junior Member
Jan 29, 2004
9
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I've tried Sp1, Sp2, on both xp pro and home doing various formats, and updating the system software. neither helps, i've disabled and then reenabled speedstep in the bios now twice too. when i disable it the frequency goes down to 95mhz and when i enable it its up at 600. Seems like the processor is perpetually stuck in heat guard mode running down at 600mhz because it thinks its 85c all the time and doesnt want to damage itself, even if its not really running at that temp.
 
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TheCanuck

Senior member
Apr 28, 2003
373
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Yeah it definitely sounds like either the processor is overheating or the temperature sensor/diode is messed up. If you've done a proper Dell System restore (i.e. reinstalled the factory software) and it's still doing it then I would call up Dell and tell them everything about the temperature problem etc. They should either fix it or give you a new laptop right away.
 
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LiLithTecH

Diamond Member
Jul 28, 2002
3,105
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Do you hear the Cooling Fan come on?

If so, you may want to try clearing the CMOS.
You can do this by removing the CMOS Battery (Dell calls it 'RESERVE BATTERY').
It is located under the battery. Look for a latch and remove that , then unplug
the CMOS battery. Leave it out for atleast 10 minutes.

You will have to reset the TIME and DATE (and any other special settings you may have had).
 
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