X60 unable to run at full speed without battery

Hi guys, current owner of a X60 (T2400 @ 1.83GHz Duo Core) here.

I found out that when I am running on AC without the battery plugged in, the CPU will step down to 987MHz (from System Properties), never able to run at 1.83GHz full speed.

I have checked my power scheme settings, and I am running using "Power Source Optimized" scheme. No matter how I custom-define a scheme to go at maximum performance, I am never able to get the CPU running at maximum speed without its battery.

A technical support staff from IBM whom I emailed to tells me that the X60 "requires the battery to be in place to buffer the necessary power to the CPU in order for it to run at full speed". Hence it will not run at full speed without its battery, even on AC.

I am thinking that this is a load of bullcr*p. I have worked with older IBM models (not using Duo Core technology) and none of this happens. I also have friends who are using Duo Core laptops from other brands which do not exhibit this problem as well.

Is this considered normal?

 

Have you played with other super thin small form factor laptops doing this? The explaination sounds legit.

 

I haven't had the opportunity to work with other small form factors, but how does the explanation sound legit?

If the battery is required to "buffer" power to the CPU, doesn't that mean that the battery is being drained?

I had asked the technical support this same question, but they told me no.

It would seem like it is an inherent design issue that they put in the firmware of the laptop, to check for the presence of the battery before allowing it to run at full speed (for unknown reasons).

I just hope other users of the X60 would come in and let me know whether it is my system that is faulty, or whether it is a design issue by nature (which I will rest my case since nothing can be done).

 

I have found out some other issues with the X60, which when brought together, definitely seems very peculiar.

1.) When the battery is discharging, setting to "Maximum Performance" power scheme allows the CPU to operate at maximum speed (T2400 1.83GHz).

2.) When the battery has drained to a low level, e.g, 10%, turning on the AC results in the CPU speed being reduced to 987MHz during the charging process.

3.) When charging has been completed (100% capacity), fiddling around with the power schemes still results in the CPU running at 987MHz (even on Maximum Performance).

4.) A reboot is necessary for the notebook to operate back at 1.83GHz.

Are there any other X60 users around here to shed some light on this issue? Thanks in advance for any/all replies.

 

that is a really bad design.

i still have no belief in the new lenovo product. i wanted to buy a new T60/R60, but hearing T60 constant fan... unknown R... I passed... and now X can't run full speed without battery.. awesome.

 

I will give a call to IBM support and see what they have to say about this issue... thanks for all the replies meanwhile.

 

Update: This issue has finally been solved with the new BIOS v2.10:

• This BIOS contains a critical processor microcode update to improve system reliability. Lenovo highly recommends that you apply this BIOS update.
  
• (Fix) Upgraded to the latest microcode update for Intel Core 2 Duo processor.
  
• (Fix) The CPU clock may down during charging the battery. (EC)

 

Or it could've been like the HP I have now, where the charge jack on the mobo is all messed up, and the charger is no better, so if you're doing anything that makes cpu usage go above 50%, AC power cuts off because it can't keep up. Which is why I'm really frustrated I don't have my T60 yet...