The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    1640 clocks down in Windows 7 when gaming

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by chrismeister, Nov 20, 2009.

  1. chrismeister

    chrismeister Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hello!

    I have big issue with my 1640 now that Im running windows 7 professional 32bit.

    After I've been gaming for about 30 min the cpu clocks down to 0.27ghz and the bus to 182Mhz. I downloaded some software of intels website just to identify the CPU and this is what it reads:

    Expected Processor Frequency: 2.40 GHz
    Reported Processor Frequency: 0.27 GHz
    Expected System Bus Frequency: 1066 MHz
    Reported System Bus Frequency: 182 MHz

    This happens on both cores. When I reboot it all resets and works fine (values are as expected) untill I game for another 30minutes or so and the CPU clocks down again.

    I have the latest bios from dells website (A11). All my installed drivers are also from the dell website except the ATI driver which is from ATIs website and the driver is 8.632.1.2000. I have the old 3670 card installed.

    Anyone having this issue or can provide some troubleshooting tips here?

    Thanks
     
    chrismeister, Nov 20, 2009
    #1
  2. th3van

    th3van Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    198
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    What is it set to in power management?
     
    th3van, Nov 20, 2009
    #2
  3. chrismeister

    chrismeister Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    High performance

    Maybe I should also mention that the computer works fine running applications, watching movies etc for unlimited time. The down clocking only accours after some 15-30min of gaming. And it can only be reset if I reboot.
     
    chrismeister, Nov 20, 2009
    #3
  4. ikjadoon

    ikjadoon Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    224
    Messages:
    1,633
    Likes Received:
    45
    Trophy Points:
    66
    That is some pretty severe droppage. Usually, it will only drop your multi, but it drops your bus, too.

    Run Prime95/OCCT/Linpack (pick one) and see if it happens with those. Monitor the temps with Core Temp or Real Temp.

    ~Ibrahim~

    P.S. I reckon that there is some senor issue here because, TBH, it's doubtful it is running THAT slow. You could barely do anything. An application would bring a slow CPU like that down on its knees.
     
    ikjadoon, Nov 20, 2009
    #4
  5. chewyeong90

    chewyeong90 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    77
    Messages:
    528
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Could it be due to over heating problem ?
     
    chewyeong90, Nov 21, 2009
    #5
  6. chrismeister

    chrismeister Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Yes I guess it is. I thought it was due to Windows 7 just because I havent been gaming since I used vista (I jumped to a conclusion). And it worked fine like 3 months ago before I installed win7. But I did a clean Vista install and noticed the issue is accouring here aswell.
    Ive noticed it clocks down when the CPU reaches 90degrees celsius.

    Is there any threads you can recommend me reading before contacting dell so this issue can be resolved quickly?
     
    chrismeister, Nov 23, 2009
    #6
  7. Limstift

    Limstift Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    23
    Messages:
    83
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Strange. You should try clean out dust from the vents. I gamed Modern Warfare 2 for 3-4 hours yesterday, and my cpu never reached higher than about 75 degrees.
     
    Limstift, Nov 23, 2009
    #7
  8. ikjadoon

    ikjadoon Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    224
    Messages:
    1,633
    Likes Received:
    45
    Trophy Points:
    66
    90C on a C2D is pretty darn hot, as in if that's not causing your downclocking, then it sure as heck will cause something else soon.

    Clean the vents for sure; how is your warranty?

    I don't really know any magic extensions to awesome Dell reps for tech support (I do, though, for Sales). :( I mean, it's not like any representative is going to haggle you with your CPU hitting 90C.

    ~Ibrahim~
     
    ikjadoon, Nov 23, 2009
    #8
  9. nbarraille

    nbarraille Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I always get the same problem when gaming or even watching a HD movie on my Inspiron 1720. The computer gets too hot and clocks down on Windows or shuts down on Linux...

    If you want to use the manufacturer's warranty, you have to run the DELL diagnostics CD to see it fail on the fan tests, you can then call them with the error code of the tests, and they will set up a time to pick your laptop up.

    If you want to do it by yourself (which is my advice, because Dell's customer care service really sucks imo), you have to open it up and remove the dust from the fan.
    On my Inspiron 1720, I have to repeat this operation each month, I really think Dell have a problem with their fans/dust filters...

    Nathan
     
    nbarraille, Nov 23, 2009
    #9
  10. chrismeister

    chrismeister Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I have a full 3 year warranty with them so I hope they will help me. First impression was kinda bad though, I called them and they did not react at all when I told them CPU is reaching 90deagres and GPU 80. They just told me to run the HW test from the diagnostics cd. So thats what Im doing at the moment...

    I havent removed any dust from the fans by myself. I might try that later aswell.
     
    chrismeister, Nov 23, 2009
    #10
  11. ikjadoon

    ikjadoon Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    224
    Messages:
    1,633
    Likes Received:
    45
    Trophy Points:
    66
    I don't think any of those tests are as stressful as a game, so it won't fail or slow-down. Fail, Dell, fail.

    Did you try explaining it to them from the gaming perspective?
     
    ikjadoon, Nov 23, 2009
    #11
  12. spud387

    spud387 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    67
    Messages:
    65
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I am assuming you are running a temp logging program? Tell Dell you have the logs from when you were gaming.
     
    spud387, Nov 23, 2009
    #12