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    Why slow CPU on battery?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by buddy1065, Mar 10, 2005.

  1. buddy1065

    buddy1065 Notebook Evangelist

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    After trying everything in my knowledge to run the CPU on max during battery power I called Sony Technical support. I explained when I startind my T250 unplugged (battery power only) and then right clicked on my computer I saw I was running at 595 Mhz even though I used every possible option in control panel/performance & maintenance/power options and Vaio Control Center to keep the CPU running at max 1.2 Ghz speed. The tech says in so many words that I cannot alter this behavior; the laptop must conserve power with the battery running and must slow CPU speed for max battery life. I say I do not need max battery life in some cases. This is not good news after buying a $2300 computer and finding that Sony has taken away my right to choose how fast I can run my computer CPU. I have never heard of such a thing.

    Does anyone know a way to run the CPU at max using only the battery?
    Is my only other solution dumping XP and loading Windows 2000? The more I read the more it seems XP is the real culprit here and not Sony, perhaps...


    17" Powerbook 1.5 Ghz, Vaio T250 1.2 Ghz
     
    buddy1065, Mar 10, 2005
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  2. Brian

    Brian Working at 486 Speed NBR Reviewer

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    It's the processor, not Sony. PM processors drop off in power when unplugged in an effort to save battery. You can get better control over this though with a nice freeware app called SpeedSwitch XP.

    http://www.diefer.de/speedswitchxp/

    Brian

    www.BargainPDA.com | www.DigitalCameraReview.com | www.NotebookReview.com | www.SpotStop.com | www.TabletPCReviewSpot.com
     
    Brian, Mar 10, 2005
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  3. buddy1065

    buddy1065 Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks!

    17" Powerbook 1.5 Ghz, Vaio T250 1.2 Ghz
     
    buddy1065, Mar 10, 2005
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  4. pr5owner

    pr5owner Notebook Consultant

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    your sony should already have software for power management, if not sony SHOULD have the software on the website

    -->Asus M6BNe | Pentium M 1.6GHz Dothan | 1024MB PC2700 Micron Ram | Radeon 9700 Pro 64MB | 80GB Samsung 5400 RPM 8MB Cache | Gigabit LAN | CDRW + DVD Combo |
    -->Compal CL56 | Pentium M 1.6GHz Dothan | 1024MB Ram | Radeon 9700 Pro 128MB | 60GB HDD | 10/100 LAN | DVDRW |

     
    pr5owner, Mar 14, 2005
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  5. kdb4

    kdb4 Notebook Enthusiast

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    <blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Brian
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 8, 2015
    kdb4, Mar 14, 2005
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  6. buddy1065

    buddy1065 Notebook Evangelist

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    Speedswitch has allowed the CPU to run at top velocity. I checked the speed with MobilMeter and both detect 1.2 Ghz although My Computer/Properties still says 595 Mhz, but some here say that's not a dependable way to detect CPU speed. The Sony does have software management but it will not keep the CPU at 1.2 Ghz; Sony support told me as much.
    Thanks again for the tips!

    17" Powerbook 1.5 Ghz, Vaio T250 1.2 Ghz
     
    buddy1065, Mar 14, 2005
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  7. kdb4

    kdb4 Notebook Enthusiast

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    <blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by buddy1065
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 8, 2015
    kdb4, Mar 14, 2005
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  8. pr5owner

    pr5owner Notebook Consultant

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    cpu - Z shows your clock speed in real time unlike windows.

    -->Asus M6BNe | Pentium M 1.6GHz Dothan | 1024MB PC2700 Micron Ram | Radeon 9700 Pro 64MB | 80GB Samsung 5400 RPM 8MB Cache | Gigabit LAN | CDRW + DVD Combo |
    -->Compal CL56 | Pentium M 1.6GHz Dothan | 1024MB Ram | Radeon 9700 Pro 128MB | 60GB HDD | 10/100 LAN | DVDRW |

     
    pr5owner, Mar 18, 2005
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  9. fsacj

    fsacj Notebook Consultant NBR Reviewer

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    Try this: Change your power settings to portable/laptop. Check the CPU speed. Should be about 600MHz. Now run a program like super pi that required continuous 100% cpu usage. The speed should jump to 1.2GHz.

    Using "max battery" setting the speed should never jump. Using "always on" setting should actually lock it at 1.2GHz, but maybe I'm wrong.

    inspiron 9300
    1.6GHz
    1GB DDR2
    X300 128mb
    DVD DL
     
    fsacj, Mar 18, 2005
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  10. T-roy

    T-roy Notebook Enthusiast

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    If you click the ADJUST POWER SETTING on the battery, goto VAIO POWER MANGEMENT, you can change the CPU setting there, to PERFORMANCE, ADAPTIVE and BATTERY LIFE. These are the setting you need to change if you wish to keep the CPU and full force, or adaptive to change with its need for power, or battery life if you want to clock it down..

    There is two tabs one for Plugged in and one for Battery.. You can change a bunch of setting there..

    You can even make your OWN personalized power scheme and save it for use all the time whether is plugged in or not.

    IF you click the little ICON to the right of the POWER SCHEME option bar, you go into a graph where it shows you the options for batter life, devices, cpu speed, fan speed, etc. These change as you change the characterist of the computer, to say MAX battery life, or ALWAYS on... They can be changed for both plugged in and on battery.
     
    T-roy, Oct 22, 2005
    #10