SpeedStep Issue: How do I permanently shut off Speedstep?

Question

Ok. After combing thru the Community Bulletin Boards for days and finding no answer, I will now post MY problem.

I have a Inspiron 8500, 2.5GHz, 1GB RAM. When I first got it, the first thing I did was I installed Everquest (an online roleplaying fantasy game in first person). For the first 10 minutes of playing it, my god, it was awesome. This was my new desktop replacement and it was just flying. Then, as I'm running thru a forest, poof....I start crawling like a snail. Very slowly. I first thought I was being attacked. When I found out I wasn't, I exited out and went to my desktop. I opened up Photoshop and to my surprise it was taking a LOT longer than expected. Felt like I was running it on my old computer again. I talked to a friend of mine and he told me about his Inspiron 8200 and a technology called "SpeedStep".

So here's what I've done in a nutshell:

1. Changed Power Management to "Always On" (as it's the first thing out of anyone's mouth when someone yells "I want full speed all the time")
2. Installed SpeedSwitchXP and changed it to "Max Performance".
3. Checked the BIOS, tried disable, but a warning in the BIOS says if you disable it, it will ONLY run at 1.2GHz and not 2.5GHz.
4. Flashed the BIOS to the latest version.
5. Installed the Intel/Dell SpeedStep Patches.
6. Added a new Power Management User and changed it to "Always On".

After doing EVERYTHING above. I turn on Everquest...run around a bit, and lo and behold....poof....I start running slow again. Now, Everquest is a very CPU intensive program. It takes up almost 600MB of my memory just to play, and CPU is always running at 99% when I'm playing it, but the damned thing keeps throttling back to 1.2GHz as I'm playing. I hate it. I bought this laptop as a desktop replacement. I threw away my pride and called Dell Customer Service (I wouldn't curse anyone by telling them to call these people, because they are ENTIRELY unhelpful. Either you can't hear them because their microphone is across the room, or they have EXTREME Indian accents, and don't ask them to speak up, or they'll get p.i.s.s.e.d and start talking technical to confuse you and get you off the phone.)

I'm extremely disappointed with (Award-Winning? not in a million years) Dell Customer Service and I think many of you share the same feelings. I come here tonight to see if anyone has any EXACT walkthroughs on what to do to make my processor ALWAYS stay at 2.5GHz, no matter what. I don't care if I am on batteries...I don't care if my house is burning...I don't care if my dog is eating my leg because of malnutrition, I want my Everquest and I want it at full speed.

HELP ME PEOPLE.

2.5GHz ALL THE TIME, NO THROTTLING DOWN MY SPEED!!

If you decide to reply to this, please be as specific as possible in what to do. I've downloaded all the patches, I've updated to the latest BIOS flash...I've done EVERYTHING I have found in these community bulletin boards.

Thank you for your assistance in advance.

Sincerely, a troubled Dell Customer

Message Edited by Crystallized on 02-18-2004 02:30 AM

Message Edited by Crystallized on 02-18-2004 02:35 AM

godim · Answer

If you go to control panel -> power management and select "always on" or "desktop" speedstep is switched off.

However! There are some people who have overheating issues on their laptops. Especially the fact that only after some time in the game the slowdown occurs lets me suspect overheating.

If a P4 cpu detects overheating, it throtles itself down to 1200 Mhz in order to prevent damage.

The best way to check this is to download fangui (search the forum for the link) this program allows you to check temperatures inside the computer. Install it and exit the game when the slowdown occurs. If CPU temp is > 70°C the processor core is most likely too hot and is in "throtled down" speed.

If this is happening clean the fans and heatsink on your pc. For this do another search on this forum as some people had the same problem as you. P4 are from nature very hot cpu's and are knwon to cause heat problems in all laptops that use them.

Hope this helps

mattcowger · Answer

Sounds to me like the machine may be deciding that its getting to hot, and throttling down to protect itself....not something you can prevent.

Crystallized · Answer

Nope, still doing it.  The laptop continuously runs around 110-130F.   I used the FANGUI to run the fans at high speed, but it still does it.  Anyone else?  There has to be a software fix or tweak somewhere that fixes it.

Fat Cat · Answer

Check the output from your AC adapter. If it is too low, the 8500 will step down to 1.2GHz and stay there. If you haven't disbled the bootup warning for low wattage AC adapters (in the BIOS setup) you'll get a warning message on bootup telling you the system has detected a low wattage adapter. Get a new adapter and you should be back at full speed (for a while - Dell AC adapters don't seem to have a long working life).

If you don't want to keep buying AC adapters, check out SpeedSwitchXP (http://www.diefer.de/speedswitchxp/). I run this at Max Performance on AC or Battery instead of the Dynamic Switching mode and I get 2.4GHz even on battery.

Message Edited by Fat Cat on 02-29-2004 11:23 PM

Crystallized · Answer

As I've stated above:

2. Installed SpeedSwitchXP and changed it to "Max Performance".

I've done it already. Thanks for the input on the AC Adapters, but mine is fine. I have two friends each with an 8500 and I've tried theirs and I still have the power being knocked down to 1.2GHz. Someone has to have the answer out there. My d.a.m.n laptop keeps throttling down!

Can I get a moderator to answer me please?

Crystallized · Answer

Anyone else?

Locked Topics – Laptops General

SpeedStep Issue: How do I permanently shut off Speedstep?

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