"Dual Core" ACPI/USB 2.0 issues with Fix!.

Edit, Ok seems MS just released a patch. =D So thought I would edit the 1st post to place it here. =)

Hey all.. I just heard something about this in another thread and I didnt even KNOW about this issue! Never was mentioned anywhere on Dell or anything I studied for the past week. Learned that using USB 2.0 has a power issue and if your on battery.. it will drain your power alot faster, this is caused by a MS driver bug it seems.

MS claims its working on a patch that was announced in Feb 2006, if its been done yet, I dont know.. not much data out there regarding this.

Article is here.
http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/01/28/toms_hardware_uncovers_power_drain_issue/

So only posting this because I know alot of new Dell dual core buyers including myself are coming here to learn more about the new dells and options etc.

So just making a post to let new people like myself know there is a issue and then to find out if it has been fixed or whats the REAL deal about this.

 

It was never publicized by Microsoft or Intel because Microsoft made it a confidential issue. This was actually found over a year ago (if memory serves) and Microsoft hasn't made a fix yet. I believe Intel has been working on a possible fix, and the proposed MS fix may or may not solve the ACPI issue.

Time will tell. Personally, I haven't noticed any problems.

 

Your title implies its a Core Duo issue when in fact it affects P-M's more than Core Duo's. AnandTech did a followup series of test after the TomsHardware article. Typical with Anand, his test was more through and enlighting.

A little hunting on your part will find the article . . . good read.

Hermit

 

I read some of it stating a patch devised helped restore some battery life, but caused instability, however it was that duo core had issues with it vs a core solo.

Either way.. makes me wonder.. but most of the time Ill be on AC anyways.

Only thing I need is a logitech rumblepad and maybe a zboard.. I dont think that will cause a power drain or?

 

I haven't noticed any major issues regarding battery life. Interestingly enough, I have noticed that the optical drive and smart card reader are recognized as 'USB devices'.

 

For those of you using dual core processors, you may want to install this patch from Microsoft.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=918005

 

Nice catch Warp! Rep points for you for posting the link. I didn't even see it in my update emails I receive from Micro$oft.

 

Agree, this needs to be stickyed. Mods?

 

The reference to dual core appears to have been dropped - it appears that the patch is for all processor types.

Harvey

 

Question is.. is this the patch that made a few things unstable?

Then again.. this looks current! =D

Someone may want to sticky this.

 

Mysticales,

I agree. I will sticky this for the time being so this won't get lost.

Thanks for all the info guys, I am sure more people will be greatful for the research done here.

Thanks,

USAFdude

 

Now this looks much more promising than that Registry change. I hope everything will work fine after the update of the USB driver.

Cheers,

 

has anyone installed this yet? has it made a difference?

 

I ask the same question. Does this patch fix the issue?

 

Does this effect Windows Media Center Edition too or just standard XP.

 

MCE is XP So yes, all

 

Found the following:

The patch fixes faster-than-usual battery drains arising from the CPU's inability to enter Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) processor idle sleep states as a result of the USB 2.0 driver leaving "the asynchronous scheduler component running continuously".

However, the patch doesn't prevent the USB host controller from finding itself unable to shut down when devices are removed from nested USB hubs, or when said controller is hooked up to USB 2.0 devices that make use of its periodic scheduler. Both instances can also cause the exceptional power drain, but neither are fixed by the patch.

And Microsoft also warns: "Various factors can affect the battery life of different portable computers that use different types of batteries. Therefore, you may not notice any improvement in battery life after you apply this update."

So looks like the issue is not completely solved...

 

Better then nothing at all.. makes you wonder if you should just not use 2.0 on DC..

Question is.. does this mean ANY USB device.. or just ones that utilize the 2.0?

Like a Gamepad.. would that drain battery too badly?

 

It says "Download the Update for Windows XP (KB918005) package..." on the MS link.

My question, is, is this download part of Windows update? I mean will my computer automatically download it and install it like it normally does for all other Windows updates? Or do I have to do it manually?

 

You have to download manually, since its not one of those critical security update

 

I just got an e1505 and I have this USB laptop cooler connected to it to keep it cool...
it only draws power from the usb port, it doesn't use it for connectivity (NO USB HUB).
Is this an issue with ALL usb devices or just one's the require drivers, and access to the computers OS, etc... ?

Thanks
-BassKozz

 

How do I know if my laptop processor has this issue? Is there any program to test it?

 

Whar problem??? I got my E1505 several weeks ago and connected the Seagate 2.5 USB 100 gig Hard drive run video rendering, load and save photos on it. A wirless mouse also connected to another USB port and a SanDisk Cruzer mini on another USB port all at the same time. No problem at all.

 

The issue to check for is battery life, how long something lasts with usb 2.0 devices plugged in.

 

why not just install the fix? is it gonna hurt even if you don't have the issue?

 

I don't always trust MS "Fixes"... sometimes they cause more problems then they resolve

 

hi,

i just applied the patch and it worked fine with me - my screensaver and APM features are finally working. i had problems with that before although i use a wired usb mouse and no other usb devices...

hope this helps...

tom

 

Hi Dudes,

Just an update. Unfortunately, my Laptop went back to not activating the screensaver and the APM features. If I leave it on with something, it always stays on, the monitor doesn not shut of and the selected screen saver does not come up. As I said: I do not have a wireless usb mouse. Just don't understand this and especially not, why it worked immediately after installing the here discussed patch and why it went back to its odd behaviour???

hope someone finally finds a solution...

cheers, tom

 

Tomshardware have tested this patch and it really works.
http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/06/09/evaluation_microsoft_power_drain_patch/

 

Nice, we now have some definitive evidence that this patch really works...
REP to you hood

 

does this patch show up on windows updates? i'm wondering if i already have it installed...

 

No you have to manually download and install it. The link is in the first post.

Dave

 

I have this patch installed on my c2d dell m1210.

it doesn't seem to fix the following scenario.

I have an usb hub connected to my mouse and keyboard.

My laptop idles at around 13 W after booting up without any usb devices attached.

I attach my usb hub (w keyboard and mouse), and then I disconnect it.

I can observe that my laptop now idles at around 16W. So it looks like if u plug in a usb hub, the asynchronous scheduler component starts to run. But after you unplug it, the asynchronous scheduler component doesn't stop.

 

Try this:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=60416

over 30,000 hits in this forum already.

-Gophn