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    E1705 (with T7200 2GHz) Always running at 2GHz

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by theoak, Nov 15, 2006.

  1. theoak

    theoak Notebook Consultant

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    My processor always seems to be running at 2GHz. I thought it was supposed to speed down? Where can I control that? I usually just surf wirelessly. Thanks ...
     
    theoak, Nov 15, 2006
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  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Do you see the battery icon in the task bar? Click, and select "Max Battery." Or go to Power Options in the Control Panel to do the same thing.

    Your current power scheme is probably "Always On," which prevents the notebook from underclocking.
     
    Greg, Nov 15, 2006
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  3. theoak

    theoak Notebook Consultant

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    Perfect. It is set to Portable/Laptop. I just needed to know where I could change the settings. I can fiddle with the different options from there and see what happens.

    Would surfing wirelessly cause the processor to go to max? One would think that I could surf with the processor running at half the speed. Especially considering I have two of them ...

    Thanks again.
     
    theoak, Nov 15, 2006
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  4. Starbuckorama

    Starbuckorama Newbie

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    i have a similar processor and surfing and little stuff isn't going to tax your comp.
    it's a speedstep setting/problem. unless you've got something relatively intense going on in the background...i think you'd notice that though. you can fiddle with speedstep as far as turning it on or off (sounds like it's off) in your bios. if it's off then turn it on and good times will be had by you again. if it's on...that's the /problem part. i can't help with that.

    good luck
     
    Starbuckorama, Nov 15, 2006
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  5. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    The CPU might ramp up for full speed when browsing, but only to for a moment to speed up loading a page or program. Then it should go down.

    I wouldn't recommend measuring the CPU speed just by right clicking on My Computer and then going to Properties. Check out CPU-Z to get more accurate readings (and in real time).

    If CPU-Z isn't showing any underclocking when you set the scheme to "Max Battery," check out the BIOS (as suggested). There should be an option to "Disable/Enable Speedstep" You want that enabled.
     
    Greg, Nov 15, 2006
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  6. Starbuckorama

    Starbuckorama Newbie

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    PS. i have the same comp as you pretty much, Dells power schemes don't effect speedstep, whereas apparently HP's schemes do.


    E1705 (with t7400). if you don't know how to get into your bios just restart and hold down f2 at the post screen (DELL logo screen)
     
    Starbuckorama, Nov 15, 2006
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  7. Mike7143

    Mike7143 Notebook Guru

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    does this work the other way around, say i want it at full all the time, i dont carry my e1705 around too much, will disabling the speed step keep it from going down?
     
    Mike7143, Nov 15, 2006
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  8. brown_fv

    brown_fv Notebook Consultant

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    running it on "max battery" setting should make it run at 1/2 speed
     
    brown_fv, Nov 15, 2006
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  9. Starbuckorama

    Starbuckorama Newbie

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    Mike, turning off speedstep should disable it from slowing down your processor.
     
    Starbuckorama, Nov 15, 2006
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  10. theoak

    theoak Notebook Consultant

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    CPU-Z did the trick. It is running at 1GHz. I8KFanGUI seems to always report 2GHz. That is what was throwing me off. Thanks all.t
     
    theoak, Nov 15, 2006
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  11. shinji257

    shinji257 Notebook Deity

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    Setting the i8kfangui to ask the bios or windows for the speed will work too. For some reason the automatic speed calculation is wrong.
     
    shinji257, Nov 15, 2006
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  12. Stephen M. Smith

    Stephen M. Smith Notebook Enthusiast

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    Are you sure about this? I've read and re-read the description in the BIOS for this feature and concluded that it says turning off speedstep will force your CPU to run at the *lowest* possible speed all the time. But I could be retarded...
     
    Stephen M. Smith, Nov 26, 2006
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