T61 CPU problem

Hi I just received my T61 a few days ago. The simple specs are as follows:

INTEL CORE2DUO PROC.T8100
160GB HDD,5400RPM
2GB PC2-5300 667MHZ
INTEL GMA 960 W/WWAN,AMT
INTEL GMA X3100 GM 965
DVD REC.8XMAXDUAL LAY UB-S
PC CARDSLOT EX CARDSLOT
INTELPRO/WL3945ABGUSCNLAAP

I'm getting a 4.4 for the CPU component on the Windows Experience Index in Windows Vista Business (32 bit). I have checked that a T8100 usually gets around a 4.9-5.1 score. The other components have reasonable ratings.
My old T2300 processor is getting a 4.6 which is pretty unreasonable.

Checking Vista's Performance and Reliability Monitor, I notice that the CPU's Maximum Frequency is at a CONSTANT 57% while my T2300 is at 100%. I believe it could have something to do with Intel Speedstep, but disabling it doesn't seem to change anything. Neither is setting the Power options scheme to min. 100% running state. CPU-Z says it's running at a 6x multiplier (~1197Mhz). I have ran another CPU benchmark program and its result is still slower than my T2300. CPU temperatures are going at 46-47C. All testing was done on AC.

The laptop came with Linux, but I formatted it away and installed Vista from scratch. I also limited the number of rubbish programs that would not be needed, so I doubt it has anything to do with spyware or viruses or any other forms of bloatware.

Any suggestions would be warmly welcomed. Thank you.

UPDATE: Disabled Intel Speedstep in the BIOS. Still the saming (running at ~1200Mhz)
All Power Management settings are at their maximum performance setting

 

Have you changed the performance profile to "High Performance?" That will allow you to get the full frequency of your CPU. My T8100 gets a 5.1 in Vista Ultimate x86.

-J.B.

 

try running RMclock and check the frequency

 

I guess also if you have any Lenovo power saving software too it should be set to maximum performance.

-J.B.

 

Yes the Vista setting is at High Performance.
RM Clock reports that it is running at 1256Mhz (~57% of 2.1Ghz) for BOTH cores.
Running an intensive program fully loads one core, but the speed is still throttled, and doesn't increase on the fly.

I had installed Lenovo Power Manager initially, but it crashed when I tried running it. So I uninstalled it. I believe its 'ghost' is still somewhere in the system causing this performance degrading. I'll try to find out if it could be Lenovo's Power Manager that is the root of the problem...

UPDATE: I reinstalled Power Manager. and have set it to Maximum Performance, but things are still the same even with that on.
Changing it to Maximum Battery Life, worsens it by throttling the CPU down to ~800Mhz (~38% of maximum 2.1Ghz)

 

An update: I disabled Intel Speedstep in the BIOS, and now I have 100% Maximum Frequency all the time in Performance and Reliability Monitor.

RM clock still indicates that I'm at 1250+Mhz, and the multiplier seems to be locked at 6x instead of 10x, and Vcore of 1.00V

 

go to profiles in RMclock and tick all boxes

 

I tried playing with the settings in Profiles, limiting it to just using the 10x multiplier (SuperFLM and 5. Normal) and it seems like it's working..
But that means that I need to run RMclock 24/7 just to get 2.1Ghz all the time?

 

Maybe there's a conflict with the software preloaded on your Thinkpad. If you refuse to use your RMClock 24/7 do a Vista/XP clean install

I have the same processor as yours and I have no problem with Intel Speedstep, the T8100 would ramp up to 2.1GHz when encoding mp3 songs in SonicStage or while playing a game. It's likely a software issue.

 

It is a Vista clean install (it came with Linux)
I believe it could be Thinkpad's power management driver that may be the issue...but uninstalling it would just make it get installed again after rebooting..

 

I just realized that my multiplier is fixed at 10x in RMclock, and I should have a multiplier of 10.5x to get 2.1Ghz...so the problem hasn't exactly been solved..

 

You can't assign half multipliers in RMClock. (Either 10x or 11x)

 

so basically I'm stuck with a 2Ghz CPU?
Are there any other software that could do a 10.5x?

And back to the root of the problem, what software problem could it be? The drivers were all downloaded off Lenovo's website.