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    Interesting Multiplier Effect on Multiple Thinkpads

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by zoogle, Mar 16, 2008.

  1. zoogle

    zoogle Notebook Consultant

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    I was fiddling around with RMClock undervolting on my R61i today and discovered something interesting about the way Thinkpads adjust their multiplier. I was running Orthos to test my settings and I removed the battery from the laptop. Prior to removing the battery, the processor (a T5450) was humming along at 1.66Ghz but once I pulled the battery, CPU-Z showed a drop in frequency to 1Ghz, which corresponds to the lowest multiplier the processor works at (6x). It seemed kind of weird so I called a friend of mine to confirm on his X61s and the same thing happened to him.

    Does anyone know why this happens? The logic behind having that designed into the laptop? Also, can anyone else confirm this?

    On a side note, I can't seem to get RMClock working on the R61i. If you have suggestions or solutions, I'd love to hear them. It's running Vista Home Basic with Windows Power Management enabled. I can swap the power plan setting to RMClock Management but it doesn't seem to do anything.
     
    zoogle, Mar 16, 2008
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  2. msb0b

    msb0b Notebook Consultant

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    What you are seeing is SpeedStep working as designed. SpeedStep decreases the processor's multiplier and FSB to decrease the power draw for longer battery life. You can adjust the SpeedStep behavior in the ThinkVantage Power Manager.
     
    msb0b, Mar 16, 2008
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  3. zoogle

    zoogle Notebook Consultant

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    Oh no, it's not SpeedStep at all. I know that SpeedStep is functioning just fine when the battery is in. It's just that when I pull the battery, SpeedStep defaults to the lowest possible multiplier and locks in the frequency. No amount of stressing moves the frequency away from that spot. As far as I know, SpeedStep is a non-factor at that point.
     
    zoogle, Mar 16, 2008
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  4. steve p

    steve p Notebook Evangelist

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    Same here it seems to be the case with Windows. This did not happen in Gutsy so I don't think it's a hardware design.
     
    steve p, Mar 16, 2008
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  5. msb0b

    msb0b Notebook Consultant

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    Sorry, misread the part about battery in OP.
     
    msb0b, Mar 16, 2008
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