What program are you using to check the speed of the processor? XP used to incorrectly read the processor speed so you might think that its always running at half speed when it isn't. Not sure if there is a fix or not. I remember reading about it on the Microsoft website somewhere. Try downloading the Intel Frequency ID utility and checking the processor speed under heavy load (eg rendering a file in Roxio or gameplaying). Or try wcpuid http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA002374/src/download.html, alternatively you can use speedswitchXP which I eventually resorted to in order to a little more control of the power options. It also measure cpu speed.
This is how I think speedswitch works. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. After you install speedswitch it should then add a new option in the XP power management options drop down menu. I don't remember if speeswitchxp actually makes its power scheme the new power scheme in XP or whether you have to manually do it.
Goto control panel, power management and you should see the usual options in the list such as, Home/Office, maximum battery, laptop, etc plus a new option of speedswitch.
Make sure you select the speedswitch option and XP will then use the power scheme you select in the speedswitch menu. If you haven't done this it won't matter what options you select in the speedswitch menu xp will still use the home/office, or laptop option that is selected in the control panel menu.
Dynamic switching works well on my 5150 on AC and DC.
I think the problem is simpler than that. In OPTIONS under SpeedSwitchXP, choose the General tab, and there is a box which governs CPU speed calculation. You can either choose "Ask Windows About Speed", or "Realtime Speed Calculation".
Choose the Realtime Speed Calculation.
And, to make sure that your computer is using SpeedSwitchXP's power options, there is another box to check there (in the General tab), which is "Check Power Scheme Integrity". That checks to make sure that SpeedSwitchXP governs your power setting. I have mine set to 15mins.
Thank you for your answers. I found a solution. I simply upgraded the bios to A25 and after that I installed dell quickset which can be set up on that way that pc is constantly working on 3.06 GHz, which I wanted in the first place. I am glad that problem is fixed, now let's move on....
If you are running Windows XP on a laptop, there is a possibility that you are not getting the maximum performance out of the processor. In recent processor chips, Intel have added a technology called "Speed Step". This technology allows the operating system to slow down the processor to conserve power. With Windows 2000, this requires the installation of a separate application. However with Windows XP the technology is built in. Microsoft have been a little conservative with their implementation of this technology. As it is configured, out of the box, you will not get the maximum performance out of your machine. Windows will always hold back a little. So how do you get the full performance back?
1. Start, Settings Control Panel, Power Options or Right click the desktop, choose properties, then screensaver and click the power button. 2. Change the Power Scheme to Home/Office Desk. Adjust the settings as appropriate.
This setting change tells Windows XP to treat your machine as if it is a desktop. However, this effectively disables the power management functionality of the processor. Therefore if you are using the machine on batteries, the power will not last as long as you are used to. Therefore you might want to change the settings back, so that Windows XP can manage the processor again. "
mikeanc
3 Posts
0
October 27th, 2003 22:00
What program are you using to check the speed of the processor? XP used to incorrectly read the processor speed so you might think that its always running at half speed when it isn't. Not sure if there is a fix or not. I remember reading about it on the Microsoft website somewhere. Try downloading the Intel Frequency ID utility and checking the processor speed under heavy load (eg rendering a file in Roxio or gameplaying). Or try wcpuid http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA002374/src/download.html, alternatively you can use speedswitchXP which I eventually resorted to in order to a little more control of the power options. It also measure cpu speed.
Good luck.
jabs
6 Posts
0
October 28th, 2003 00:00
mikeanc
3 Posts
0
October 29th, 2003 23:00
This is how I think speedswitch works. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. After you install speedswitch it should then add a new option in the XP power management options drop down menu. I don't remember if speeswitchxp actually makes its power scheme the new power scheme in XP or whether you have to manually do it.
Goto control panel, power management and you should see the usual options in the list such as, Home/Office, maximum battery, laptop, etc plus a new option of speedswitch.
Make sure you select the speedswitch option and XP will then use the power scheme you select in the speedswitch menu. If you haven't done this it won't matter what options you select in the speedswitch menu xp will still use the home/office, or laptop option that is selected in the control panel menu.
Dynamic switching works well on my 5150 on AC and DC.
Message Edited by mikeanc on 10-29-2003 07:59 PM
purplelegionnai
5 Posts
0
October 31st, 2003 10:00
I think the problem is simpler than that. In OPTIONS under SpeedSwitchXP, choose the General tab, and there is a box which governs CPU speed calculation. You can either choose "Ask Windows About Speed", or "Realtime Speed Calculation".
Choose the Realtime Speed Calculation.
And, to make sure that your computer is using SpeedSwitchXP's power options, there is another box to check there (in the General tab), which is "Check Power Scheme Integrity". That checks to make sure that SpeedSwitchXP governs your power setting. I have mine set to 15mins.
Hope that helps.
Regards,
PurpleLegionnaire
jabs
6 Posts
0
October 31st, 2003 22:00
kivawolf
7 Posts
0
November 13th, 2003 14:00
speedswitchxp doesnt remember my seting, every time i reboot, it is default setting again!
how can i fix that ?
Thank
Message Edited by kivawolf on 11-13-2003 10:33 AM
bluetracker
2 Intern
•
369 Posts
0
November 15th, 2003 11:00
kivawolf,
From the page at http://www.amset.info/windows/winxp-quikies.asp
The bold text may be your problem?
"Get Maximum Performance on a Laptop
If you are running Windows XP on a laptop, there is a possibility that you are not getting the maximum performance out of the processor.
In recent processor chips, Intel have added a technology called "Speed Step". This technology allows the operating system to slow down the processor to conserve power. With Windows 2000, this requires the installation of a separate application. However with Windows XP the technology is built in.
Microsoft have been a little conservative with their implementation of this technology. As it is configured, out of the box, you will not get the maximum performance out of your machine. Windows will always hold back a little. So how do you get the full performance back?
1. Start, Settings Control Panel, Power Options or Right click the desktop, choose properties, then screensaver and click the power button.
2. Change the Power Scheme to Home/Office Desk. Adjust the settings as appropriate.
This setting change tells Windows XP to treat your machine as if it is a desktop. However, this effectively disables the power management functionality of the processor. Therefore if you are using the machine on batteries, the power will not last as long as you are used to. Therefore you might want to change the settings back, so that Windows XP can manage the processor again. "