UNSOLVED

S.Zarkoff

updated

3 years ago

0

2813

November 18th, 2020 12:00

Vostro 5401 slow on battery

i've purchased 5401 i5 version - the laptop works fine when connected to power. I can control the modes and make in quiet and slow or noisy and fast. But not on battery - as soon as my cable is disconnected laptop ignores the OS settings and forces to quet low speed mode. The only way to make it usable again is to plug the cable.

Latest bios installed, tried resetting to factory and bios defaults etc.

Same behavior in Windows and Ubuntu (pre-installed) - so looks like it is BIOS bug... 

 

  • DELL-Cares

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    Posted November 18th, 2020 13:00

    Thank you! We have received the required details. We will work towards a resolution. In the meantime, you may also receive assistance or suggestions from the community members.


    #IWork4Dell

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  • Jon61

    2 Intern

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    Posted November 22nd, 2020 09:00

    Hello Dell Cares,

    Instead of always giving your canned replies why dont you provide some solutions to your customers instead of the customers helping other customers.

    Your dell support is lousy it does not even exist.

     

  • DELL-Cares

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    Posted November 23rd, 2020 01:00

    Hi There,

    As per the diagnosis, we've identified that the system hardware is working fine. For the issue to be resolved, as we have limited support for Ubuntu Operating system, you may check on the open source platform

    https://dell.to/2J2KNP3


    #IWork4Dell

    For all non-technical issues that require your private data, we must communicate via a private Direct Message
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  • 1821

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    Posted November 24th, 2020 04:00

    Hardware does not give errors - but it works terrible. When disconnecting the battery it works OK almost until 70-75% of capacity and then dramatically slows down. No overheat or errors - but it becomes unsable, like I do not have 10Gen anymore but returned to the era of Pentium II.  Even if I reboot , even reboot different OS - no matter Windows, pre-installed Ubuntu or some live-usb - it continues to run slow. Until I plug the cable in. Or - charge battery almost to 100%. 

    As I do not have any error message - it does not overheat, does not report any issue - seems that it is a feature that Dell implemented intentionally. And it is not in OS - I boot several OS's with the same results. SO it is either hardware or BIOS (my BIOS is latest) - and for me it makes absolutely unusable as I use laptop most on battery.   I still hope for some fixes in BIOS but looks like i need new PC.

  • 1814

    0

    Posted November 24th, 2020 09:00

    Looks like it is not a feature but a bug. FInally i set up several runs on Ubintu with Unigine tropics benchmark loading GPU. The test run was simple - charge 100%, run benchmark, unplug power.

    Then the rhings go weird. Up to 75% of battery it runs full speed as set by ubuntu. But on 75% speed drops about 4 times, CPU get 400-500Mhz, Gpu 150-300 ( even below the minimum 300 set by OS). Barely moving. And this goes till 45% of battery when - unbelievable - the speed returns back, CPU and GPU come to the normal frequencies and things continue fine. Maybe there are some more magical numbers back and forth but after 40% I plugged the power in, charged to 100% and the cycle of 75-45 was repeated again.

    So hopefully in the next releases of BIOS this buggy 75-45 region will be fixed

     

  • DELL-Cares

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    Posted November 26th, 2020 01:00

    Hi There,

    Have you tried to flash previous version of the BIOS and checked if that makes any difference?


    #IWork4Dell

    For all non-technical issues that require your private data, we must communicate via a private Direct Message
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  • DELL-Cares

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    Posted November 30th, 2020 22:00

    Hello. We are waiting for your revert. Do write to us at your convenience for further assistance, until then we shall archive the case.


    #IWork4Dell

    For all non-technical issues that require your private data, we must communicate via a private Direct Message
    Dell Partner GEM Program
    , Out of Warranty Support Options, BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certificate, Get a copy of your Dell invoice

  • ria33

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    Posted September 11th, 2022 15:00

    I can confirm this is still an issue with the latest BIOS v1.16.0.

  • ria33

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    Posted September 26th, 2022 14:00

    I unplugged both the main and CMOS batteries for a bit and it seems to be working fine now. No more throttling between 75% and 45% battery.

  • ria33

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    Posted October 9th, 2022 10:00

    The throttling issues are back after a full charge cycle. This probably needs to be fixed in a BIOS revision.