Samsung NP300U1A laptop throttling from 1.3 GHz to 0.8 GHz as soon as it enters battery mode

I've noticed that whenever I unplug the charger, the processor immediately locks to 61% frequency regardless of the CPU load, which means the Sandy Bridge i3 that has a max of 1.3 GHz is stuck at 800 MHz.

If you want an idea how much that is annoying me, Firefox lags and freezes on occasions. Especially when it's loading a Facebook or Google page, possibly due to heavy amount of scripts or something.

Also, I'm fairly sure the dual core running at 800 MHz is bottlenecking my SSD.


I've set Windows to max performance and the minimal processor state to 100% and then to 50%, but nothing changed. I've looked into the BIOS and disabled a power saving feature, but that didn't do anything either.

I'm pretty sure the throttling is set by a locked/hidden BIOS setting.

Anyways, here's a screenshot of running Prime95 on battery. I unplugged the charger as soon as I launched Prime95, so notice how the CPU frequency drops as Prime95 kicks in. The fan hardly spun up:

 

Hello Loney,

It sounds like you may have accidentally enabled Silent Mode (Fn-F11). It will lock your CPU at a low speed in order to keep the system cool and hence the fans off (or slow). Press Fn-F1 to check in Settings (or Easy Settings if you use Win7) that Silent Mode is set to Off.

It is a very common issue. In fact, if you check other threads you will see discussions about it almost every day.

See this post and the links in it for descriptions of Samsung power management - which works a bit differently from how most users expect. In particular, would I not recommend using the High Performance profile, since it locks the CPU (and other components) at max speed constantly, even when it is not needed.

 

I don't understand. I don't have any of Samsung's software (or bloatware) installed. It's a fresh Windows 7 install on a SSD, so the only software that would affect the CPU power is Windows and the BIOS.

 

Make sure that you have installed the chipset driver and the Intel ME driver driver so Windows 7 can properly talk to the hardware and also install Samsung's Settings program which does a lot of background configuration.

John

 

Where do I download Samsung's Easy Settings software?

Also, I did install the chipset/ME drivers.

Again, the CPU stays at 1.3 GHz when plugged in, but as soon as it enters battery mode, it locks at 0.8 GHz.

 

You need to install Samsung's SW Update to get all the recent drivers and software.

Look for the version 2 of (Easy) Settings. It isn't offered for the older notebooks but you can use the Find Model function to look at what is offered for the newer notebooks. The Windows 7 Easy Settings installer is actually included in the Windows 8 Settings package (which has Win7 and Win 8 folders when you download it).

(Easy) Settings will install Samsung's own power plan. If that doesn't fix the problem then you need to look at the maximum and minimum CPU state settings in the power plan advanced settings.

John

 

Um, the Easy Setting froze up twice during installation. I did a hard-shut down when the first installation froze for 1 hour, and that ended up screwing up the registry and completely breaking system restore.

As of now, the second installation is frozen. I'm going to wait until next morning and hope it unfreezes.

 

It sounds like something has gone completely wrong with that installation. If your computer came with Win8 (meaning in UEFI/GPT mode) you may be running into issues with Win7 that have been plaguing some Samsung models.

I suggest re-install Win7 using the exact steps in this Windows install guide, including converting your disk to MBR and switching to Legacy BIOS mode, and using the driver guidance listed there -- including Easy Settings. Of course backup first, as also described in that guide.

There is also the thread linked below for more discussion of Easy Settings:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/729139-settings-easy-settings-what-you-need-know.html

 

Third installation, still causing the laptop to completely lock up. I'm lost.

 

The laptop originally came with Windows 7 Home Premium (then replaced with Enterprise when I swapped the HDD with a SSD), it's a 2011 model.


EDIT:

The only option available for my laptop model was "Settings", so I exported that one, and it came with a main installer along with two folders titled, "Win7" and "Win8", both having their own separate installer.

I thought I was installing Easy Settings by using the Win7 folder.

I'll post a picture of what I'm seeing tomorrow.

 

That's correct.

Maybe Version 2 is struggling to identify some of the hardware and configure itself properly since you have a 2011 notebook.

I suggest you try the older V1 Easy Settings which is effectively various Samsung software packages such as Easy Display Manager (needed for the Fn key controls) combined into one installer.

John

John

 

These are the options that were available:



For some reason there was only Windows 8 as an option before loading the menu of software. No mentions of Windows 7.

EDIT: Where can I get Easy Settings v1?

 

It looks like Samsung only ever issued the NP300U1A with Windows 8 so it can't be a 2011 model (the manufacturing month / year are usually on the label on the bottom). Or is that not your notebook model?

Anyway, rummage through SW Update's database for models ending in A, B or C (excluding the country code) and you should quickly find some with Windows 7 and Easy Settings. C models are likely to have a newer Easy Settings but still V1.

John

 

This is the laptop I have: Specs - Laptops NP300U1A | Samsung PCs

"OS: Windows® 7 Home Premium (64-bit)"


I checked the label under my laptop. It is that model, and there is an OS license sticker that also says Windows 7.

Either SW Update has a glitch, or Samsung stopped supporting my laptop and thus SW proposed the next-best option that happened to break all of my system restore points.

 

If your Recovery is still intact, it has the original System Software on it, including Easy Settings (you said the computer came with Win7 originally). If you load SW Update immediately after a clean install (before connecting to the internet) it will pick up those drivers.

And just to be sure: You are certain that UEFI hasn't accidentally been enabled in BIOS? If it has, you need to disable it, then convert your disk back to MBR and re-install Windows, as described in the guide I linked.

 

I don't have Recovery, because it was a fresh install on a SSD.

Is there another way for me to download Easy Settings?

 

Got it. Yes, as John said, find a model in SW Update that has it. Check my model NP700Z3A, I think it still has Easy Settings V1 under Win7. Otherwise I'm pretty sure it's in the download section for my model on Samsung.com (posted before they began only posting in SW Update).

That said, I am surprised if indeed V2 is incompatible with your model. I think it's something else. That's why I keep pushing you towards that install guide (which was written for, and has successfully been used on, many different Samsung models) and to check your UEFI settings (which have been known to cause problems with Easy Settings on older models). I could be wrong, of course

 

V1 Easy Settings also broke my system restore points.

I looked into my BIOS, and there were no mentions about an UEFI, and the legacy USB boot was enabled.

 

Legacy USB is a separate setting from UEFI. If you have a setting called UEFI Boot Support or similar (typically on the Advanced page) you want to make sure it's disabled. Newer models have it under SecureBoot on the Boot page (where in your case you want OS Mode selection=CSM OS).

Once again, after changing UEFI in BIOS you will have to convert your disk (to MBR for non-UEFI mode, which will wipe it) and re-install Windows.

But maybe your model doesn't have UEFI support at all. Which is good, no need to worry about it.

 

I've looked at my BIOS again. I don't see anything that mentions UEFI or SecureBoot.

 

Ok got. Maybe your model is from before they added any form of UEFI support, which indicates an earlier BIOS generation. And if so, maybe you really need to find the separate Easy Display Manager package as John mentioned.

 

I looked at the Easy Display Manager and there were no mentions about power plans, just hotkey controls. Or was there also something else I had to install with the EDM?

 

Oh that's right, you were looking for Silent Mode (not just Fn-keys). I believe that's Easy Speedup Manager, but I may be wrong. OTOH for that to be relevant would imply that Silent Mode has been on all this time, across several different re-installs. I am not sure that's even possible.

Just checking: You already tried resetting BIOS to default settings, right?

You could also try the deeper BIOS/CMOS reset: Disconnect charger, disconnect battery (either thorough battery disconnect hole in bottom or physically disconnect it), hold power button for a minute. Then reconnect battery (if you physically disconnected it), reconnect charger, power on, reset and verify BIOS settings. It's been known to work for some to clear odd behavior. One member claimed it bricked his computer - which I doubt, but no guarantees.