ASUS G73JH Problem - Very slow after using battery

Hi all,

Loving the G73JH but I have a problem I wanted to raise and hopefully get some feedback.

Essentially, I am finding that my G73JH is becoming REALLY REALLY SLOW every now and again. I have tried to find a precipitant or pattern, and the only association I seem to find so far is that it tends to happen after I use the battery for while and then return to AC power, or if I change the power mode from high performance to a lower performance mode (and then go back to high performance again).

The problem I see is that:
- whole computer becomes really, really slow, and there is even a huge lag on the keyboard input (seems to be a little under a second)
- the CPU seems to be 'stuck' at 1.6GHz according to the preinstalled Win7 sidebar gadget (whereas previously it would happily use its speedboost function)
- most of the 8 cores seem to be going crazy (although using task manager doesn't show what is causing the massive increase in CPU use)
- CPU utilisation goes up to ~75% even though I am only surfing the internet

Importantly, the machine was doing it after I received it, but also continues to do it since I have done a fresh install of Win7 Pro (with manual install of ASUS software). If it persists doing this problem, my next step will probably be to reinstall Win7 and see if it still does it BEFORE I install all the ASUS software. I certainly wonder if any of those drivers/software might be causing problems.

Now, I have a number of queries:
(1) has anyone else experienced this, and have you been able to fix it somehow?
(2) is there any better software that might show me what is causing the massive utilisation of all cores? Task manager just doesnt seem to indicate which process is the culprit
(3) To me, it seems as though the computer is stuck in some form of power saving mode. Is limiting the cPU to 1.6GHz part of the standard power saving modes?
(4) Is there anything in bios that might be doing this?

I look forward to any help you can provide.

Cheers !

 

Parked cores?

Didn't ziddy post a new driver for the intel chip somewhere? That might help. Hopefully one of those will get the ball rolling for you.

 

I notice this problem with mine also. After returning to AC power, Turbo Boost no longer activates and the CPU stays at 1.6Ghz (it also seems slower than it normally is at 1.6GHz). It goes back to normal after I restart the computer.

I'm running a clean install without Power4Gear and am using "High performance" mode on both AC and battery.

 

I get it too.

I just reboot.

Don't really notice any pattern except that it is completely "RANDOM".

Doesn't seem to happen if I boot with AC plugged in though...so it may have something to do with "changing modes", etc...

Would love to know if anyone finds a solution or if they identify the problem.

 

Well it sounds like I'm not the only one with this problem.

I am looking into the parked cores issue, but I don't think it is this because my Sidebar Gadget (from memory) seems to show ALL cores straining themselves (as represented by %utilisation) when I try to do simple things like move a window around the screen. At present I am charging my system so that I can try to reproduce the problem and I will specifically check to see whether the cores are marked as 'parked' though.

I agree that it certainly 'feels' much slower than 1.6GHz even though that is what is indicated on the sidebar.

I am presently wondering if the 'fixes' for the parked cores issues will help but I'm tempted to try it (unless there are any pitfalls to applying the suggested fix from the Ziddy post).

I was also wondering if it might have been software related to any of the ASUS software that has been installed? I did a fresh reinstall followed by installing most of the ASUS s/w - has anyone done a clean Win7 install and NOT installed the ASUS s/w but still having this issue?

 

Sounds to me like problems with Power4Gear switching power profiles.

 

I think it might be related to the power4 gear as well. Has anyone tried the lappy without it? I've run into the problem whenever I plug in my a/c during battery operation. Sometimes it occurs without even that.

 

With my fresh install of Win7 Pro, I installed most of the ASUS software, however I did not install the Power4Gear software. Despite leaving this out, my G73JH is still demonstrating the problem described.

I really hoped it was something as easy as this though.

 

I'm having the same issue as well... it is extremely annoying for me being a first time laptop user. I understand the low battery life... but when the performance gets slower and starts lagging slower than my 6 year old desktop... that sucks.

Has anyone called Asus about it yet?

 

I wish we could figure out a fix...it happens so randomly.

I use the little Intel gadget at the top in the right sidebar...when that stalls on 1.6GHz, I know it is time to reboot.

However, on a side note, it is happening less and less for me lately.

 

u need to install the intel turbo boost driver from intel website or asus site.. that's why turbo boost might not be working and causing problems...

 

The core parking thing should have nothing to do with this. A correctly functioning CPU will unpark and park cores as needed. If you really run into some game or other software that actually stutters in speed because it's suspected that cores don't unpark fast enough, then maybe try the fix.

As mentioned, the Intel Turbo Boost Technology Drivers should be installed, and there's really no reason IMO not to keep Power4Gear installed, and it may be necessary for TT. All these will work together to provide ACPI support so you can tune power settings for the G73-specific hardware, either through the Windows 7 power management interface or the Power4Gear interface (the advanced settings UI will be the same for both).

 

There is no turbo boost driver at either site unfortunately.

Happened again to me tonight, while doing a BACKUP....

Machine took 14 minutes to get to 19%, then took 15 to get to 20%....everything was laggy as usual.

According to HWiNFO32, all 4 cores were at 490 MHz. and hardly moving. Usually they are moving all over the place and are at about 2000-2800 MHz.

 

I have also noticed that this NEVER seems to happen if plugged in for a boot and then staying plugged in.

I have also noticed that it NEVER seems to happen immediately after a boot.

For me, lately, since I have paid attention, it seems to happen when the battery level hits about 40%.

 

Should be in the "Others" section under the "Downloads" tab here.

What software are you using that's pegging all 4 cores?

 

That should be configurable in the power plan profiles if you have all the power management stuff installed.

I personally just use high performance plan and make sure CPU set to stay at 100% whether AC or battery power. If I was traveling and needing battery life maybe I'd tune one of the more "green" settings.

 

It is just that there is nothing about 40% in there for me....

I have it on High Performance as well for both...but it still happens.

Weird.

It is HWiNFO32 that shows what all 4 cores are doing.

Next time the issue happens I will post 2 screen shots showing the difference in the cores.

Any ideas?

 

Is there any point in "REINSTALLING" that driver if I already have the same version installed stock?

 

I wouldn't think so.


Really sounds like power management issue since it happens when indirectly switching power plans.

You still have Power4Gear installed or did you remove it?

When you see 2-2.8GHz readings jumping around, is that just sitting idle or with active software running?

Also, are you still using the Turbo Boost Monitor gadget? At idle does that show 1.6GHz?


(I wish I had my G73 back - I can't even look to see/remember what I'm talking about )

 

Answers in quote below.

 

I'm not going to untangle the quotes from your reply, but there are two parts -- the Turbo Monitor and the Turbo Driver. Just thinking out loud, but if you update one, shouldn't you update the other?

 

I did a full re-format and didn't install the Intel Turbo Boost thing. Also, I have my settings for high performance when plugged in and running off the battery and this issue still happens to me.

 

So, should we install the Turbo Boost Driver?

 

i have same problem. But i event cant install the turbo boost drivers...
Recive error msg that my computer doesnt match min requirments.

 

Apparently, this driver that is recently being discussed IS NOT really the Turbo Boost Technology Driver...it is in fact the Intel Media Graphics Accelerator which does not apply to the ATI 5870 card.

Here is the link:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=3168&DwnldID=18804&lang=eng


This is what the download at ASUS is, even though it lists it as Intel Turbo Boost Technology Driver.


So, now what???

 

The Turbo is automatic in the i7. It's enabled through the bios and there is no way to change it in the OS.

If you install the Turbo Monitor, then it is enabled. It won't install if the Turbo is not enabled.

It's that simple

 

Here are the release notes:

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...ovNcPm&sig=AHIEtbRo9zgcwzFqUmW0kqR60N9meGp5HQ

 

Ok....but, what can fix the problem listed in this thread?

Many are having it, and we can't figure it out.

 

That's not true if we are using the same terminology. I don't have Turbo enabled in the BIOS and I have both the Turbo Boost driver and Turbo boost gadget (monitor) installed. No issues. In fact, maybe it's directly the opposite, don't have it enabled in BIOS and set it to Normal?

Also, as Rannd said, if he didn't install the "Turbo Thing", then the slowdowns would obviously not be directly related to their presents.

 

The Turbo for i7 is enabled through bios but you can't change it. The Turbo option you see in Bios is Asus Twin Turbo which is not the same.

If you have Power4Gear for example, enabling the Turbo in Bios you will notice enables the Asus Twin Turbo.

Like I said, the Intel Turbo is a feature of the i7 that is automatic. It's one of the things that makes the i7 an i7. All it means it that when you have something that doesn't require all 4 cores and needs a lot of juice, the i7 locks down to 2 or 1 core up to 2.8ghz.

So if you can install the Turbo Monitor and see the speeds fluctuating, then it's working.

 

When your computer slows down, check your ATi settings.

Make sure the Powerplay Settings are not set to battery, but set for performance.

 

Yeah I'm not sure what that BIOS setting does, as leaving it set to Normal lets the i7 do its thing just fine.

The Intel Turbo Boost Technology Driver is the link between power management and the specific CPU.

For those having the issue:

I'm lost as to who having the problem is on a stock install or has left some drivers/utilities out or uninstalled them, but I still say you should restore to factory install with all Asus stuff installed. There's no gain by removing the Asus power management stuff, and there very well could be problems doing so. Windows 7 power management is advanced and works with the vendor hardware drivers. Once on a stock install, check power management settings for selected plan and make sure all CPU settings are at 100% at all times, for both battery and AC power. There are G73 specific items added to the power management settings in the advanced section, provided the drivers are all properly installed - these need to be set to desired settings as well as the basic settings.

If all cores still drop to below 1.6GHz on a stock install with power management settings for CPU all at 100%, then something else is wrong.

 

My mistake. I thought you were referring to the Turbo option in BIOS you could see and change. Sorry for the confusion.

My brand new untouched since manufacturing X1 was, I believe, shipped with the Turbo BIOS setting set to 'Turbo'. When you reset the factory defaults in BIOS it changes to 'Normal'. That's were I've left it.

 

No no - I wasn't trying to correct or contradict your post...I just meant I agree leaving that BIOS setting set to normal should work just fine

I'm pretty sure mine was delivered set to Normal and I never changed it and everything worked as expected.

 

I was in the middle of editing the post to make it clearer as I didn't see page two until after. Oops!

 

I think there is lots of confusion going on here....


Here is my case...

- I have not removed anything having to do with Asus power stuff
- I am running factory stock A1 configuration
- When plugged in, everything works fine (turbo monitor gadget goes up and down and changes according to what I am running/doing) and speed of the computer blazes
- "Occasionally" when booting the system without AC - battery only - after a bit, the Turbo monitor stops going up and down. The laptop slows to a crawl. Even browsing the web is slow as is scrolling, mouse movement, etc... Everything gets laggy. The only things that fixes is a reboot.

According to HWiNFO32, when things are normal, all 4 cores are showing movement in the status bar (I will post a pic below). The cores show between 2000-2800 MHz CLOCK and a multiplier of 7x to 21x RATIO.

When the "glitch" happens, HWiNFO32 shows all 4 cores stuck at 490 or so MHz CLOCK and a multiplier of 7x RATIO.


Does that makes sense?

For me - this seems to happen anytime the battery sinks under 50% power, as far as I have noticed...but not always - but I have not had it happen enough to monitor (it has happened about 5-8x)... I didn't really pay attention at first, because things were new and I just rebooted. Wasn't sure of what was causing it...

I will monitor it from here on in.

 

My A1 was slowing dow multiplier to 1x so cpu speed was 133mhz!!!
And it was 'locked' no matter was i tried to run/start.
I checked all settings in power managers and all are set to 100%, problem still happens.
Noticed that hibernating system halps to restore multiplier back to normal.
I cant install intel turo boost drivers or monitor app.

Did someone upgraded bios to version 206?

 

Also, I have Power4Gear set to High Performance for both Battery and AC....the only difference is I lowered the screen brightness to like 40% for battery and have it go to sleep and turn off quicker (in minutes).

 

Now im having same symptoms but it changed from 490 to 994mhz on all 4 cores.

 

Don't mean to LOL..... but this is weird... LOL

 

Adding my name to the list of people experiencing this issue. Once I plug the laptop back in to AC power, the laptop does not resume at the performance that my power profiles dictates; the only way to get it back up and running at normal speeds is to do a restart.

 

yes, this is very weird....
like computer when battery is ending lowering cpu multiplier to keep computer longer... but permanently.

did anyone tried to contact asus about this?

 

Ok, happened to me again and I have a screen shot of the HWiNFO32 results (below)...

It happened EXACTLY when the battery level hit 30% on the nose. Caught that since this time I was looking for it.

 

Yep! Got exactly the same thing.

 

Yeah, contact ASUS. I have to test this myself but I've gone below 30% on battery, plugged it in and then played some games without noticing any issues.

 

Oh ok,

For me that only happens when I reach 5% battery. Maybe contact Asus for that one. But I don't think has to do with the Intel Turbo not working as you said when plugged normal it's working.

 

Im am waiting till windows message that battery is very low. then i connect ac and its getting slow. I made test when it was more then 12% and problem did not shown up.

 

With TT On i have 996 with Off its 930Mhz.

 

Honestly, no idea what could be the cause here.

Like I said before, only a reboot fixes it.

For me - seems like it only happens if:

1) I boot up using battery power only.

2) Battery is above 30% when booting.

3) Battery drains to 30% - then it starts.

4) Plugging in AC at that point has no effect except for applying the Power4Gear changes (such as increasing my screen brightness, etc...).


I will say however, that this could be why some people have experienced OTHER PROBLEMS. They may have not noticed that this is happening, and then are getting issues like keyboard lag, etc... which is definitely a resulting symptom, etc...

I would love some GENIUS theories here...!

Don't feel like contacting ASUS as it seems from other's reports, it is like talking to someone who has no clue what you are saying, nor what a G73 is half of the time.

 

I am wondering if this is strictly a POWER4GEAR issue.

I am now changing to BALANCED MODE (not a power4gear setting), a built in setting, and will report as to whether it happens or not here.

Is there any way to temporarily ensure that Power4Gear is disabled?