Windows 7 Dell releases BIOS updates to fix underperforming/overthrottling notebooks

[kemical]

Dell has released a raft of BIOS updates which should solve the underperformance/overthrottling issues that some users have been experiencing.
The BIOS updates are for E4200/E4300/E5400/E5500/E6400 (including ATG and XFR models)/E6500/ Latitude and Precision M2400/M4400/M6400 notebooks and incorporate changed algorithms for thermal tables to accommodate a broader usage models. This should alleviate the issues that a small number of users were experiencing.
Some owners of Dell notebooks using the above processors were experiencing Link Removed, so much so that performance was being cut to a fraction of what it should be even when the systems were running at normal temperatures. According to a Dell spokesperson this issue only affected a small number of customers.
Users can find BIOS updates for their systems over on Link Removed. New BIOSes can easily be identified because they are dated from the past few days (many of the updates seem to be dated yesterday, 12/1/2009).
Here is a full list of updated BIOSes:
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Dell offical response can be found Link Removed.

Throttling is a power management methodology used throughout the industry to balance system performance, component temperature and user experience. Throttling optimizes performance, regulates component temperatures and skin temperature (the amount of heat you feel at external touch points) while using a laptop.
Under normal conditions and use (i.e. a typical office environment and running a typical set of applications), customers won’t see any issue at all. At this point, we’ve only heard from a small number of customers who have reported issues related to throttling. Those issues arose under more extreme thermal and usage models. These customers report more throttling than expected, plus they tend to experience a prolonged recovery time that sometimes requires a reboot to recover from the throttled state. In those scenarios, users may see slower system performance.
What we learned from the customers we’ve talked to is that we could improve thermal algorithms that dictate throttling thresholds on our mainstream business-class product line. Previous BIOS revisions for some platforms were not optimized for certain extreme operating conditions.
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Two other points I think that are worth emphasizing:

• It has been widely reported that a Dell forum member going by the name of tinkerdude who produced a PDF document detailing this issue was banned off the Dell support forum. This is inaccurate. This user was not banned.
• It has also been widely reported that Dell has been censoring user comments by deleting posts. This is also inaccurate.

It’s good to see Dell taking these kinds of issues seriously. This throttling issue even caught the attention of Dell CEO Michael Dell himself, who was actively engaged with the technical team.
I’ve worked through tinkerdude’s (real name Randall Cotton) detailed 59 page PDF file (available here) and believe that while the document does demonstrate a problem, the case being presented is an edge case at best. The test that are carried out put a fair bit of stress on the system and they are hardly the sort of thing a Dell Latitude notebook should be expected to handle effortlessly.
Also, it should be pointed out that throttling of hardware when it’s under load is a necessary fact of life, and doubly so when you’re talking about notebooks. If this wasn’t the case, components would fail and then people would be complaining about that. Swings and roundabouts.

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[ChatGPT]

It appears that Dell has released BIOS updates to address underperformance and overthrottling issues experienced by some users on specific Dell notebook models. These updates include changed thermal algorithms to better accommodate various usage scenarios, aiming to alleviate the issues faced by a small number of customers. Here is a summary of the key points mentioned in the provided information: 1. Affected Systems: The BIOS updates target the following Dell notebook models: E4200, E4300, E5400, E5500, E6400 (including ATG and XFR models), E6500, Latitude, and Precision M2400, M4400, M6400. 2. Issue Description: Some users were experiencing significant performance reduction due to throttling concerns, even when operating at normal temperatures. This issue was reported to impact only a small percentage of customers. 3. BIOS Updates: Users can locate the BIOS updates on the official Dell website. The new BIOS versions are distinguishable by their recent dates, with many updates observed to be dated around 12/1/2009. 4. Official Response: Dell acknowledged the throttling issues and explained that throttling is a power management technique utilized to balance system performance, component temperatures, and user experience. Dell aimed to optimize performance, regulate temperatures, and enhance user experience. 5. Response to Claims: - bans and Censorship: Contrary to reports, a Dell forum member named 'tinkerdude' was not banned from the Dell support forum, and Dell was not censoring user comments by deleting posts. 6. Technical Improvements: Dell recognized the need to enhance thermal algorithms for throttling thresholds on their mainstream business-class products to address issues under extreme operating conditions. 7. CEO Involvement: Dell CEO Michael Dell was reportedly engaged with the technical team in addressing the throttling concerns, demonstrating the company's commitment to resolving the issue. 8. Document Analysis: An in-depth 59-page document created by Randall Cotton (tinkerdude) highlighted the problem. While the document underscored a legitimate concern, the stress tests conducted were considered atypical for Dell Latitude notebooks under normal usage conditions. 9. Throttling Necessity: Throttling under load is a necessary mechanism to prevent component failure, especially in notebooks. This balance ensures system stability and longevity. It's commendable to see Dell's proactive approach in addressing these performance issues to enhance user experience and system reliability. Users can access the BIOS updates on the Dell website to resolve these specific concerns.