CPU Multiplier

OK, I was not really sure where to put this, and it is not exactly an overclocking problem...but my CPU multiplier has gone from 15 to 6 about a week ago. I have NO IDEA what caused this, nor do I know how to change it back. I have not changed any settings on my computer, or installed any new programs or messed with it in any way for a while, at least a few weeks before this started happenning. I have a Dell XPS Gen-2 Laptop with a Pentium M 2.00 Ghz CPU, but which is now running at 797 Mhz.

System Bus clock is set at 533 Mhz
System clock is 133 Mhz

Any other imformation about my PC or CPU I can get if it will help.

And...since it is a laptop, I am not allowed to change ANY of the CPU fields in the BIOS. It just wont let me. Thank you for your help.
Any ideas???

 

That might be the power saving feature of your laptop. Does it do that on battery power and while using AC power? If it only does it on battery power, it is scaling down to save power. You might try a program called SpeedSwitchXP, or play around with the power settings on your computer.

E

 

Oh, sorry....you don't know the history of this posting, I forgot to put it down here. I originally posted this somewhere else on this site, and they referred me over to this spot. Anyway...it is definatley NOT a power-saving thing. It is doing this all of the time. My laptop is and always has been set to the "always on". And it is 99 percent of the time plugged in, as I don't have a desktop and am using this as replacement. Thank you for your help

 

dont the XPS come with free tech support and a big @$$ warranty? maybe call em up if u still have access to it, possibly get them to fix it or they can help diagnose the problem. im stumped though...maybe u can update ur BIOS and it will reset to stock settings?

also, isnt the XPS's BIOS unlocked? as in it has overclocking options? because their new XPSs advertise how well they can overclock with their new cooling

 

Wow, I am stumpted on this one. This is a long shot, but if I use my Dell laptop with a generic A/C adapter, it will only run at 500MHz (it is a 1.5GHHz). Maybe you could borrow another power cord. I am with Viper on this, sounds like warranty time, if you have it.

You should have some kind of options in your BIOS. The Dell BIOS on mine is tricky, you have to hunt to find how to navigate it... just got into my BIOS Alt-p changes the pages- on page 6 of the BIOS it shows Intel SpeedStep Enabled ('Setting this feild to disabled places the system in the lowest performance state available and prevents the INtel SpeedStep or native OS driver from adjusting the system performance')

Again, couple of long shots, but who knows.

Good luck.

E

 

Alright....Thanks for the ideas, I did try another power cord, even though I have been using this one since the beginning, and Yea that Intel Speedstep thing is enabled. I even set all the fields back to their factory defaults and nothin'. Sigh*

Oh yea, just for your info, the XPS Laptops do NOT allow you to overclock through the BIOS, IDK about the desktops.

I suppose it is time to go to my closet and dig out that warrenty I really hope is still valid. (I did not buy this comp from Dell.com) If you have any other Ideas, I would appreciate it.

 

Sorry I can't help you with this problem. Looks hardware related. I hope that warranty is still good!

Good luck.

E

 

You want speedstep technology disabled, not enabled. Try disabling it in BIOS and see if that helps. Did you update BIOS? If not, try that too.

 

I have to disagree with you there Walter34. Unless the XPS laptop is different from the Inspiron I am running. If I disable it I have a nice 598 MHz laptop. With it enabled, I can use SpeedSwitch to make it run at 1.5GHz. It is set up as a Folding machine, so I gots to max the stuff where I can! I had a lot of trouble initially getting the laptop setup, that is why I recommend the SpeedSwitch and such.

Just my .02 Dell seems to have a weird BIOS!

E

 

What am I missing here? Doesn't Speedstep tech. lower processor performance in times of low activity in order to save power, hence the potential culprit for his problem? You utilize it and I never have, as I never had a need, so my interpretation may be off. That is why, hewever, I suggested it be disabled- whatever means are used to save energy (lower bus, voltage, or whatever means) would be disabled too. I guess essentially what I was thinking was- doesn't speedstep sacrifice performance in order to save power.

 

On a desktop system, I agree with you. On my Dell, as I posted above, disabling it puts it at a low setting. (the lowest). I tried it tonight. Like I posted, 580Hhz vs 1.49GHz on my Dell laptop (Inspiron 600m). The BIOS even states that, I tried it to see if SpeedSwitch could overcome it. No, did not work.

I agree with you in theory, on my desktop computers, that stuff is disabled. On the Dell laptop I have, it is the opposite. Unusual stuff, but I am assuming the XPS is like mine and for some reason is dropping down to the lower setting. Possibly a power problem, or a setting, or just a bad board is causing the problems rmyere is experiencing.

Odd as heck. I do not like the Dell BIOS, but then again use what you have. And I am using a program, SpeedSwitch on the laptop to make it fold at 100% 24/7.

E

 

Ok Fred. Makes sense. I have a Celeron laptop that doesn't have the technology and my desktop machines always have it disabled.

 

Yeah, apparently on my Dell laptop, the same thing is happenning with speedstep disabled, it puts it into the lowest power setting....Of course mine is ALREADY at that, but that is at least what the BIOS says that it does when disabled.

Just out of curiosity, why was your BIOS hard to access, Fred??? Could you not get into it easily, or was it just hard to navigate??? I am really wondering, because mine was actually pretty easy to get around.

Anyway, I also just had one more idea.....From my knowledge, if a fan is not turning, the processor will run slower because it can't be cooled....even if it is NOT actually too hot. Could it possibly be that my CPU heatsink fan is not turning....or is and is not recognized somehow??? Basically, I am asking if there is any program or app out there that moniters fans???

Thanks

 

The bios on mine is not very hard, it is just different from the ones I am used to. Plus, it is only showing on about one third of the screen. I am used to a bios that has some a main menu screen. Have to use AltP to change screens... Just not used to it, not a big deal.

http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

That program should at least monitor the temp of the CPU. You should be able to tell if the fan is running or not. You might just need to clean the dust bunnies out of it. Mine gets pretty rough with the mutt in the house, I take it to work and clean it out every couple of months.

E

 

The program Fred recommended, called Everest, is a great one. I use it, but I also use speedfan. That is a good one too and you can display temps in the tray.

 

Hey sorry I have not responded in a while...I got everest, but can't find (is it in there) if it is monitering the fans....Does it do that? If not, is there any other program that has that feature...I am really looking to see if the fans are working in my computer. Thanks.

 

From the main Everest page, click on computer, then sensor. Software will only monitor fans that have the correct type of plug, and the fans have to be plugged into the motherboard or a fan controller. The easiest way to see if they are working is to pop off the side panel and check them visually.

E

 

Yeah I get nothing but core temperatures from there...that's alright. And I don't want to open up my laptop and void the warranty. Anyway, thanks again for the help. I'm gonna try and call up the Dell Support people and see what they have to say.

 

Sorry about that, I forgot you have a laptop! You can usually see if the fan is running by looking at the bottom of the laptop while it is running.

E