The system will adjust speed as needed - that is normal. It is not designed to run at 1.6 GHz all the time, so as long as you're seeing the speed at 1.6 at times, it's running as designed. If, however, it's locked at 600 MHz, there's likely something wrong with the system board.

If it is not supposed to run at 1.6 all the time, then this seems to me like fraud on Dell's part, which I can hardly believe. You must be wrong.

There is an adaptive mode, where the CPU speed is adjusted according to load - but in the case where you select 'always on' in the power settings, it is supposed to run continually at the high rate. Am I wrong in this understanding?

When running at 597MHz my applications are maxing out the CPU at 100% - I am running things like QuickBooks through the automation interface and USPS Worldship, plus running the business software which interacts with our websites at the same time. At 1.6GHz everything runs perfectly, at 600Mhz it is causing us to despair it is so slow. I'm going to order a new desktop this weekend. But we have a busy week ahead. We've got to fix this problem.

It isn't Dell's design; it's Intel's, and no, the system is not designed to run at 1.6 GHz all the time; no mobile system made in the last 10 years or so, is designed to run at full speed, all the time.



http://www.intel.com/support/processors/mobile/pm/sb/cs-007981.htm

If it's shifting between 600 MHz and 1.6 GHz while in use, it sounds like you've got a faulty power jack that's sending the "on battery" signal to the CPU.

Message Edited by ejn63 on 11-21-2007 06:55 PM

Well these are interesting hypotheses which dont't seem to fit the facts.

1. I have a latitude 620 and 630 which I have been comparing too (built in the last 10 years) and when setup correctly, continuously run at full CPU cycles without ever changing. Furthermore, your link to the Intel information shows two Intel modes, and if you were to look further at the Windows XP literature you would see how this operating system deals with this. If you are at all familiar with speedswitchXP you will find how the XP operating system can be overriden to drive the CPU. (They also have a nifty utlity to drive the fans too). However I have only resorted to using this because the machine is flaky when driven by XP.

2. I will investigate further by using a different power source (and jack) to see if this makes any difference. But I find the hypothesis suspect, because I believe that if the computer thought it was on battery power, then it would put up the battery indicator on the status line (which it is not doing). [Incidentally I have removed the batteries completely and it still switches into the lower power/CPU settings.]

Is there any other thought on this subject?

Message Edited by DavidCasper on 11-21-2007 04:22 PM

OK. Thanks for your help. I have changed the power source and will monitor the cycles over the next couple of hours, so wish me luck. If this fixes it, I will stop using SpeedSwitchXP to control the CPU state and let Microsoft handle the interface. Otherwise the Inspiron is headed for the compactor - it is no use to me as it is. (It used to work fine).

However, for my edification, perhaps you could clarify something. I understand the implications for battery lifetime. That's obvious. What I don't understand is why running at full power would affect lifetime of other components, except for a heating issue. Overheating can do all kinds of nasty things to components and even the circuit boards themselves. But if there is good airflow and nothing overheats, why would running at full power damage anything. It boggles my mind how running at full power could damage the hard drive. So can you clarify your assertions please?

1. It is indeed possible, at a cost, to override the power management and force the system to run at full speed, all the time. The cost of course is battery runtime and shortened component lifespan - the system is not designed to run at full speed all the time, and you will shorten the life of the hard drive, mainboard, etc. by doing so. Some people are willing to accept that consequence.

If you've set the system to run that way and it's not, you've a hardware problem.

2. Try another adapter - if it works, you're all set. The plug is on the adapter - the jack is on the mainboard, so if it's the jack, as opposed to the plug, you'll see no difference - in which case, you'll either need to have a new jack soldered onto the mainboard, or to replace the mainboard with a new one.

The #1 enemy of any drive is excess heat - the hotter the system runs, the shorter the life of the drive.

Notebooks are not designed to dissipate the heat that arises from running at full speed all the time, any more than they're designed for 24X7 operation - they're designed (to varying degrees of success) to cope with the heat produced to some average standard of operation - run a system flat-out all the time and the same thing that happens to your car, were you to run it at redline all the time - will happen. Just as your engine, transmission and other components won't handle being run flat out all the time, neither will your notebook.

You may want to consider the value of a replacement vs. the cost of a new system - the boards run about $400.

Dell Spare Parts 1-800-449-3355 ext 7269937

Well alas the change of power supply and its plug made no difference. So I guess the only answer now is to try and buy a new motherboard assembly from Dell. I wonder how you do that?

Message Edited by DavidCasper on 11-22-2007 01:34 PM