Intel speedstep on centrino doesn't work

RichBa5tard · 7th April 2005, 09:53

I've bought a new laptop, an acer aspire 1681.

It's based on the centrino platform, equiped with a Pentium M 1.5Ghz Dothan.

Everything works fine except the processor runs at the same voltage & speed (1.34v, 1.5Ghz) at all time, even when running on max battery power scheme.

I've tried changing settings to different power schemes (screen saver > power). The acer powermanagement scheme has processor speed below max. Intel freq ID tool says my processor is capable of multiple speeds, but it's currently running at maximum. What am I doing wrong?

Config:
Pentium 715 (dothan 1.5ghz)
855G chipset
Preinstalled Windows XP Home, SP2

Tried:
latest intel chipset drivers
latest acer powermanagement application
bios
windows update

Verified proc speed with:
Throttlewatch (cool app!)
wcpuid
cpu-z
intel frequency id tool

jmke · 7th April 2005, 11:17

is this any help?
http://www.bay-wolf.com/speedstep.htm

RichBa5tard · 7th April 2005, 12:42

Usefull link., thank you.

It states the speedstep driver is built into winxp, so I shouldn't install one. : /

It also states that if you want to check whether it's working, check with intel's freq id tool... which i did and it said it works.

Last option is to flash bios... but there's no new bios for the laptop.

Trying linux now...

Sidney · 7th April 2005, 15:52

Why does it run in battery mode?

RichBa5tard · 7th April 2005, 16:00

Because it's unplugged?

It does not seem to be a software problem. Linux fails to adjust the speed to. It claims it's adjusting the speed (just as windows), but the processor stays at maximum speed (superpi at 1.5Ghz = 42s, superpi at "600mhz" = 42s...).

Damn! Last hope is a biosflash.

Sidney · 7th April 2005, 16:13

I was trying to ask "How does it run in battery mode?" - fingers ahead of my brain

RichBa5tard · 7th April 2005, 16:22

Same problem in battery mode: utility claims cpuspeed is 'low', yet it still runs at full speed.

It's most likely not a simple software problem, as linux suffers from the same problem.

There's no new bios, but perhaps i can try an older one.

Sidney · 7th April 2005, 16:27

Acer ultility?
My old Toshiba uses proprietary utility; and my brother Centrino 2Ghz is the same.

RichBa5tard · 7th April 2005, 17:08

Acer utility replaces the built-in windows power management. Both have no effect on the processor speed (but both claim everyting is ok).

RichBa5tard · 7th April 2005, 17:36

Bios flash to older biosversion didn't help either. : /

Sucky Acer.

7th April 2005, 09:53	#1
RichBa5tard [M] Reviewer/HWBot ***** Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,344	Intel speedstep on centrino doesn't work I've bought a new laptop, an acer aspire 1681. It's based on the centrino platform, equiped with a Pentium M 1.5Ghz Dothan. Everything works fine except the processor runs at the same voltage & speed (1.34v, 1.5Ghz) at all time, even when running on max battery power scheme. I've tried changing settings to different power schemes (screen saver > power). The acer powermanagement scheme has processor speed below max. Intel freq ID tool says my processor is capable of multiple speeds, but it's currently running at maximum. What am I doing wrong? Config: Pentium 715 (dothan 1.5ghz) 855G chipset Preinstalled Windows XP Home, SP2 Tried: latest intel chipset drivers latest acer powermanagement application bios windows update Verified proc speed with: Throttlewatch (cool app!) wcpuid cpu-z intel frequency id tool __________________ HTPC (mac osx): Mac Mini \| Core Duo 1.6Ghz \| 2GB DDR2 \| 26\" TFT Development (mac osx): Macbook \| Core 2 2.0Ghz \| 4GB DDR2 \| 250GB HD Games (win xp): E2160 @ 2.4Ghz \| HD3850 OC \| Asrock 4coredual-vsta \| 2GB DDR2

7th April 2005, 11:17	#2
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,022	is this any help? http://www.bay-wolf.com/speedstep.htm __________________

7th April 2005, 12:42	#3
RichBa5tard [M] Reviewer/HWBot ***** Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,344	Usefull link., thank you. It states the speedstep driver is built into winxp, so I shouldn't install one. : / It also states that if you want to check whether it's working, check with intel's freq id tool... which i did and it said it works. Last option is to flash bios... but there's no new bios for the laptop. Trying linux now... __________________ HTPC (mac osx): Mac Mini \| Core Duo 1.6Ghz \| 2GB DDR2 \| 26\" TFT Development (mac osx): Macbook \| Core 2 2.0Ghz \| 4GB DDR2 \| 250GB HD Games (win xp): E2160 @ 2.4Ghz \| HD3850 OC \| Asrock 4coredual-vsta \| 2GB DDR2

7th April 2005, 15:52	#4
Sidney Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 15,738	Why does it run in battery mode? __________________ lazyman Opteron 165 (2) @2.85 1.42 vcore AMD Stock HSF + Chill Vent II

7th April 2005, 16:00	#5
RichBa5tard [M] Reviewer/HWBot ***** Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,344	Because it's unplugged? It does not seem to be a software problem. Linux fails to adjust the speed to. It claims it's adjusting the speed (just as windows), but the processor stays at maximum speed (superpi at 1.5Ghz = 42s, superpi at "600mhz" = 42s...). Damn! Last hope is a biosflash. __________________ HTPC (mac osx): Mac Mini \| Core Duo 1.6Ghz \| 2GB DDR2 \| 26\" TFT Development (mac osx): Macbook \| Core 2 2.0Ghz \| 4GB DDR2 \| 250GB HD Games (win xp): E2160 @ 2.4Ghz \| HD3850 OC \| Asrock 4coredual-vsta \| 2GB DDR2

7th April 2005, 16:13	#6
Sidney Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 15,738	I was trying to ask "How does it run in battery mode?" - fingers ahead of my brain __________________ lazyman Opteron 165 (2) @2.85 1.42 vcore AMD Stock HSF + Chill Vent II

7th April 2005, 16:22	#7
RichBa5tard [M] Reviewer/HWBot ***** Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,344	Same problem in battery mode: utility claims cpuspeed is 'low', yet it still runs at full speed. It's most likely not a simple software problem, as linux suffers from the same problem. There's no new bios, but perhaps i can try an older one. __________________ HTPC (mac osx): Mac Mini \| Core Duo 1.6Ghz \| 2GB DDR2 \| 26\" TFT Development (mac osx): Macbook \| Core 2 2.0Ghz \| 4GB DDR2 \| 250GB HD Games (win xp): E2160 @ 2.4Ghz \| HD3850 OC \| Asrock 4coredual-vsta \| 2GB DDR2

7th April 2005, 16:27	#8
Sidney Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 15,738	Acer ultility? My old Toshiba uses proprietary utility; and my brother Centrino 2Ghz is the same. __________________ lazyman Opteron 165 (2) @2.85 1.42 vcore AMD Stock HSF + Chill Vent II

7th April 2005, 17:08	#9
RichBa5tard [M] Reviewer/HWBot ***** Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,344	Acer utility replaces the built-in windows power management. Both have no effect on the processor speed (but both claim everyting is ok). __________________ HTPC (mac osx): Mac Mini \| Core Duo 1.6Ghz \| 2GB DDR2 \| 26\" TFT Development (mac osx): Macbook \| Core 2 2.0Ghz \| 4GB DDR2 \| 250GB HD Games (win xp): E2160 @ 2.4Ghz \| HD3850 OC \| Asrock 4coredual-vsta \| 2GB DDR2

7th April 2005, 17:36	#10
RichBa5tard [M] Reviewer/HWBot ***** Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,344	Bios flash to older biosversion didn't help either. : / Sucky Acer. __________________ HTPC (mac osx): Mac Mini \| Core Duo 1.6Ghz \| 2GB DDR2 \| 26\" TFT Development (mac osx): Macbook \| Core 2 2.0Ghz \| 4GB DDR2 \| 250GB HD Games (win xp): E2160 @ 2.4Ghz \| HD3850 OC \| Asrock 4coredual-vsta \| 2GB DDR2

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