New Samsung Q330, Q430 and Q530 notebooks

My reservations about sleep mode go back many years due to failure to wake up on occasions. That said, Windows 7 and current hardware drivers are usually well-behaved (graphics drivers are probably still the weakest link) and I do occasionally use sleep without any problems. However, I would never put a sleeping (as opposed to hibernating) computer in a bag - there's the risk of overheating should it wake up.

Regarding the system log, it may be easiest to wait until the next BSOD and then check the log on restarting. In the mean time, did you see what Google has to say about that error code? Kaspersky AV, Video / screensaver.

John

 

Here is something interesting. Checking the event log there are 4 daily warning entries in the following format.

Event 37: The speed of processor # in group # is being limited by system firmware

What is going on here?

 

Interesting but not unknown. See here and here. Do you know if those events occurred when you were running on battery?

John

 

I looked at this closer. As far as I know it was not running on battery. I rarely shutdown this laptop. When not in use it is in sleep mode. I cannot really see any consistent pattern from below. It is almost everyday that this occurs. Does anyone have any ideas why this is happening? There has to be some reason why this keeps happening. Here are the entries all Event 37:
8/12 4 warnings 6:41PM
8/11 " " 6:02PM
8/10 " " 7:34AM
8/9 " " 7:34AM
8/7 " " 5:50PM
8/4 " " 10:03PM
8/2 " " 12:03AM
7/31 " " 9:52AM
7/30 " " 9:52AM
7/29 " " 8:48AM
7/28 " " 5:44PM
7/26 " " 1:26PM
7/25 " " 7:07PM
7/24 " " 7:07PM
7/23 " " 9:27AM
7/22 " " 7:14AM
7/21 " " 7:09AM

 

Time to start looking for possible causes. Install and run HWmonitor. Let it run in the background and keep an eye on the maximum temperatures. If they are getting above around 95C then something may be throttling the CPU to control the temperature.

However, I don't think it is that. I've been looking in my own system log (Lenovo T420s) and see that I have a load of the same error messages. In fact, the earliest event in my log (which goes back to 11th May) is for 12th May and there's an occurence most days with a few gaps. So it's not a Samsung-specific bug but something that's either Windows or Intel.

John

 

Thanks John....I will keep you posted on the HWmonitor results. Your Lenovo has the same event 37 error message? See what you can find out so we can figure this one out. Thanks for your help!

 

One of the other T420s owners reported that they see the same warning, so perhaps it is much more widespread than Google would suggest (most people never look in their system logs).

John

 

As you suggested I have been monitoring the HWmonitor....not sure what some of these items are....here is part of the data that was saved. Interesting the PCH of 59C has a bracket [0x3B] which is the BSOB stop error code when the system crashes. I wonder why that PCH is running hotter than the others? I have noticed that PCH does NOT flucuate and stays on 59C all the time. The saved data from HWmonitor is setup & displayed differently than the application while running.

Here is what PCH means........ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platform_Controller_Hub

Hardware monitor Intel PCH
Temperature 4 59°C (138°F) [0x3B] (PCH)
Temperature 5 50°C (122°F) [0x32] (GMCH)

Hardware monitor ACPI
Temperature 0 51°C (123°F) [0xCAA] (TZ00)
Temperature 1 51°C (123°F) [0xCAA] (TZ01)

Hardware monitor Battery
Voltage 0 11.56 Volts [0x2D23] (Current Voltage)
Capacity 0 48840 mWh [0xBEC8] (Designed Capacity)
Capacity 1 46620 mWh [0xB61C] (Full Charge Capacity)
Capacity 2 35897 mWh [0x8C39] (Current Capacity)
Level 0 5 pc [0x5F] (Wear Level)
Level 1 77 pc [0x4C] (Charge Level)

 

0x3B is 59 in hexadecimal, so it occurs in many places.

The temperatures are fine so no valid cause for throttling.

I think the PCH is the northbridge (memory controller etc). If you have the previous generation of Intel CPU and chipset then this is in a separate chip which might have a passive heatsink but is not actively cooled, which is why it can run hotter than the CPU, at least under light usage.

I can't offer any explanation for the warning. I had another one (x 4) today at the same time as yesterday. I was using the computer and noticed nothing amiss.

John

 

Thanks for the info. I did not even think of hexadecimal. It is funny now you are watching the system log and see these warnings as well. It either has to be a win7 or intel issue. I have read in several areas that many people updated every driver including bios and still have this warning. This will still be a mystery but should have an explanation somewhere.

 

How does the samsung q530 compare to the hp probook 4530s? I am a student looking for a decent computer and wondering which one you would buy.

links:

probook: HP ProBook 4530s 15.6 Notebook PC at CircuitCity.com

q530: Samsung Q530-JA02 15.6 Black Notebook at CircuitCity.com

 

Has anybody found a 9 cell battery for the q430-11? Mine is unfortunately almost dead

 

Q430/Q530 Disassembly and assembly

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