Dell Lattitude C610 CPU settings keep changing???

Question

I recently purchased a Dell Lattitude C610 from Ebay.   Here are the specs.   I paid for XP Pro to be installed at the local computer store. since it came with a pirated version. Anyway the Operating System is legal now.   It has a 40 gig hard drive,  768 RAM  1200 CPU yada yada yada (smiles) :smileyhappy:.   The CPU registers differently from one restart to the next. Some times it will be at the 1.2Ghz it is supposed to be, at other times it reads 797 Mhz, and at other times like right now as I write this it says 526 Mhz. This is really wierd!!!:smileysad:     I am unable to make udjustments in Bios. When I get to the page that shows the CPU settings the only thing I can change is the clock, and calendar on that page.   Has anyone seen a problem like this? What is causing this fluctuation, and what can I do to make it stay at 1.2 Ghz?   I am glad there are people out there that know more about things like this than I do, and that there are people nice enough to lend a hand. Thank you in advance for your time and energy to answer this post.:smileyhappy:   Kind Regards,   David   Message Edited by theloudcry on 02-05-2006 02:23 AM Message Edited by theloudcry on 02-05-2006 02:25 AM Message Edited by theloudcry on 02-05-2006 02:26 AM

puterfixer · Answer

The laptop features Intel SpeedStep technology for the Intel Pentium III Mobile processor. This means that the processor uses lower voltage and is able to lower its frequency below its maximum rated speed, to reduce power consumption and heat. There is no point in keeping the CPU at its maximum speed if it's not doing anything (stays idle) because that will only eat up the batteries. When you run an application that requires more CPU power, the processor will jump in fast gear and use its top speed. Otherwise, most situations, like moving the mouse around and displaying a text document, can be handled with a lower frequency without any impact on performance. What you have experienced is normal, this is how the Mobile processor works, unlike a fixed-speed processor for desktop systems.

Ed C · Answer

Although the CPU in the C610 does use speedstep to lower the MHz I have never seen any go below 799/800 with a 1200MHz CPU and 750MHz with a 1000MHz CPU. I have no idea why yours is dropping to the 500+ range.

Kareem_Kamel · Answer

I have got the same problem with my pc it is D600 Pentium M 1.5GHz / 600 MHz, with windows XP SP2 running.   And the same problem appear to me, the CPU speed changes automatically (without any power interruptoin) from 1.5 GHz to 600 MHz, which cause the cmputer to be deadly working. this specially happen when i am playing games (fifa, quake,...) or when i am scanning antivrus, defragmenting,....   So I dont know exactly the problem. If anyone can help

Ed C · Answer

Your problem is when you are playing a game the CPU get HOT and because of that it SLOWS DOWN to cool itself off and NOT FRY.

Kareem_Kamel · Answer

But I was using another computer (the same model) before that and i was not facing this problem. And I am always in an airconditioned rooom, as well some computers with me in the same rooom is getting hotter from the bottom than mine.This means that CPU might be faulty or is not well ventillated.   So is there to control this CPU temprature ?, or any way around coz this is making me mad  :smileymad:   Thanks

puterfixer · Answer

Well, the C610 at least has a slight problem with its temperature-controlled fans; for some reason, Dell designed the BIOS to turn on the fans only when the CPU gets *really* hot. To have more control over the temperature levels that turn on/off the fans, you can install a third party application called i8kfangui, you can get it here:

http://www.diefer.de/i8kfan/

There's a newer version coming out, i9kfangui, available here:

http://mckenziedev.com/fproducts.htm

Another more generic application to monitor and control a PC's fans, supporting Dell laptops among other motherboards, is SpeedFan:

http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

With it, you can download a pre-defined profile for Dell Latitude C610 from the Support section:

http://www.almico.com/forummotherboards.php?man=257

Either of these solutions should make your laptop fans switch on faster and keep your processor cooler, hopefully without it going in protection mode at a lower speed. Also, make sure the laptop is on a flat surface, with a bit of venting space underneath (that's what the tall rubber feet are for), not on a soft cloth or on a bed.

Art · Answer

All of the above and also plan to do a monthly cleaning with household vacuum cleaner and dry compressed air
(or use the aerosol canned 'air' sold for the purpose). Slightest amount of dust and lint drawn in by the
fans will greatly add to the heat problem.

One more utility from the same folks who started 'FanGUI' is SpeedswitchXP that gives you complete control
of CPU Speeds on WinXP and also includes the BEST Power Management Profile control.

http://www.diefer.de/speedswitchxp/index.html

Just click on the link above:)

Message Edited by Art on 02-16-2006 11:15 PM

Kareem_Kamel · Answer

After installing both i8fangui and speedswitchXP softwares, my computer worked fine but after I restarted and i begin to use Quake Arena III the same problem appeared again and the CPU speed switches again from 1.5GHz to 600 MHz.   Today I have tried the new version of fangui 'i9fangui' I hope it stops the speed from switching back to 600 MHz   I have changed the speedswitchXP configurations to maximum performance.   My computer configurations are: Dell D600 (A16 BIOS) Pentium M 1.5GHz / 600MHz Windows XP SP2   So any other help regarding this automatic switch ?

Ed C · Answer

What you are seeing is a FEATURE of the CPU, Chipset and the BIOS. It is happening because the CPU, and more then likely the RAM and GPU (Graphics card), is getting hot and slowing down to reduce the heat output. There really is nothing you can do about it except to try and COOL the CPU and the whole notebook better.

Ed C · Answer

I don't think so. It is part of the whole makeup of the notebook so IF it gets HOT it slows the CPU down so you don't burn up the unit.

Kareem_Kamel · Answer

when first installed these 2 softwares i mentioned b4 (i8fanugui and speedswitchXP) it was running good, even i can see the temp of the CPU goes to 85 (or more) celsius degree and the CPU is not slowing down to 600 MHz.

But later on the CPU is automatically changed, even at 75 degree now i upgraded to i9fangui software, I ll check it but it seems for me now that since the morning it is constant on 1.5 GHz but later on i ll do more processing on it (like Quake ;) )

I have one question, there is no way around to disable this automatic switching ? even i installed windows 2000 ?

thnx

Art · Answer

Just do a BenchMark test of your choice with CPU Speed set on Max Performance
and then same BenchMark with it set on Dynamic Switching.

i9FanGui will give you the option to force your fans to Maximum Speed, make
sure airflow is not blocked and clean out the 'dust-bunnies'.

puterfixer · Answer

Maybe that's where your problem is: don't expect a laptop to be good at gaming. It was not designed to be a portable powerful gaming rig, but the opposite - minimum power consumption, minimum processor speed to get your work done away from the office. Be glad it has self-protection otherwise it would have only lasted one game.

Kareem_Kamel · Answer

the strange thing is that I was using another laptop (but the same model as mine) and I havenot seen this problem occurring in it, I mean I can play these games for hours and nothing happen. So may be the cooling system of the processor is not good, or it might needs to use a blower.

Locked Topics – Laptops General

Was this post helpful?