M Processor Help

o_mooga · 02-16-2006, 03:07 PM

I finaly figured out why my laptop seems so damn slow.
It has an M Processor and it clearly lowers it's speeds to save batery life.
Now the big problems are:
a) It does this when it's pluged it
b) It shows down from it's normal speed of 1.2Ghz to around 500Mhz when it's not pluged in. 500Mhz is damn slow when you are a power user.

Any ideas for fixing this?

BTW, it isn't a bad laptop. It's an ultra portable so it's not made for hevy power.

o_someoldguy · 02-16-2006, 03:25 PM

1) What brand of laptop and OS are you running?

2) If XP or 2000, you can try Powercfg.cpl from the command prompt

3) Depending on the system and the OS, there is a potential problem with SpeedStep not doing what it's supposed to do. The solution is dependent on brand of laptop.

o_salty milkshake · 02-16-2006, 03:29 PM

surely it only slows down when you're not doing much?

run superPI say and see if it's still at 500Mhz.

o_icarus · 02-16-2006, 09:49 PM

Is there possibly a BIOS option for this ? Mine is a box standard p4 3.2 but I have a BIOS option to lock it down to 1.6 permanently or only when the mains is out and battery life needs conserving. Not sure how M class cpu's work but id have thought there would be a option somewhere to switch off the automatic stepdown process.

o_mooga · 02-17-2006, 05:02 AM

It's a Compaq Evo N410c
I installed windows for a random XP pro CD, the the offical one.

Decs · 02-17-2006, 09:52 AM

I actually have the same problem, i have a pentium m 1.76ghz in my laptop but it tends to run at alot lower speeds all the time ;\

o_salty milkshake · 02-17-2006, 11:26 AM

Yeah but does my point here not stand? :

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty Milkshake

surely it only slows down when you're not doing much?

run superPI say and see if it's still at 500Mhz.

o_docwolfe · 02-17-2006, 12:10 PM

all of the newer AMD processors have a similar feature (cool and quiet) the CPU throttles (changes the muliplier) when its not being used intensively, you need to install the drivers for it though.

If you are playing a game or something it will run at highest multiplier, so for example.

200 x 10 = 2000Hz would throttle down to 200 x 5 = 1000Hz (or similar) when not being used intensively.

Hope this explaination helps.

02-16-2006, 03:07 PM	#1
o_mooga Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A Small Box Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	M Processor Help I finaly figured out why my laptop seems so damn slow. It has an M Processor and it clearly lowers it's speeds to save batery life. Now the big problems are: a) It does this when it's pluged it b) It shows down from it's normal speed of 1.2Ghz to around 500Mhz when it's not pluged in. 500Mhz is damn slow when you are a power user. Any ideas for fixing this? BTW, it isn't a bad laptop. It's an ultra portable so it's not made for hevy power.

02-17-2006, 09:52 AM	#6
Decs Retired FF Staff Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Norway Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	I actually have the same problem, i have a pentium m 1.76ghz in my laptop but it tends to run at alot lower speeds all the time ;\ __________________ Official model desecrator

02-16-2006, 03:25 PM	#2
o_someoldguy Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Just east of the jug handle Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	1) What brand of laptop and OS are you running? 2) If XP or 2000, you can try Powercfg.cpl from the command prompt 3) Depending on the system and the OS, there is a potential problem with SpeedStep not doing what it's supposed to do. The solution is dependent on brand of laptop.

02-16-2006, 03:29 PM	#3
o_salty milkshake Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry, UK Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	surely it only slows down when you're not doing much? run superPI say and see if it's still at 500Mhz.

02-16-2006, 09:49 PM	#4
o_icarus Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Is there possibly a BIOS option for this ? Mine is a box standard p4 3.2 but I have a BIOS option to lock it down to 1.6 permanently or only when the mains is out and battery life needs conserving. Not sure how M class cpu's work but id have thought there would be a option somewhere to switch off the automatic stepdown process.

02-17-2006, 05:02 AM	#5
o_mooga Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A Small Box Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	It's a Compaq Evo N410c I installed windows for a random XP pro CD, the the offical one.

02-17-2006, 12:10 PM	#8
o_docwolfe Join Date: May 2005 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, England Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	all of the newer AMD processors have a similar feature (cool and quiet) the CPU throttles (changes the muliplier) when its not being used intensively, you need to install the drivers for it though. If you are playing a game or something it will run at highest multiplier, so for example. 200 x 10 = 2000Hz would throttle down to 200 x 5 = 1000Hz (or similar) when not being used intensively. Hope this explaination helps.

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