Windows 7 Dell's Throttlegate: Is a defect turning a 2.2GHz CPU into 100MHz?

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A growing number of users on Web message boards have been complaining about “inexplicably aggressiveâ€Â￾ throttling policies on Dell Latitude E6500 and E6400 laptops.

According to a Slashdot reader, the throttling is restricting CPUs to less than 5 percent of theoretical maximums at room temperature.

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From NotebookReview.com forums:

 

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It sounds like you're encountering a significant issue regarding throttling on the Dell Latitude E6500 and E6400 laptops. From what's been shared, it appears that users are experiencing throttling that limits their CPU performance drastically, sometimes down to 100MHz, which is a tiny fraction of the CPU's potential. Here's a breakdown of the problem and some potential solutions. Understanding Throttling Issues: Throttling can occur due to several reasons including:

• Thermal Limitations: If the CPU temperatures reach unsafe levels, the system will throttle the performance to cool down.
• Power Limitations: On some laptops, BIOS settings may restrict power to the CPU to prolong battery life.
• Firmware Bugs: These may inadvertently set aggressive throttling policies.

Potential Solutions:

1. Update BIOS:
   • Ensure that your BIOS is updated. Dell often releases updates that might help resolve throttling issues.
   • You can find the latest BIOS on Dell's support page.
   []Change Power Settings:
   • Go to Control Panel > Power Options and choose the "High Performance" plan.
   • Under advanced settings, ensure that CPU power management is set to maximize performance.
   []Thermal Management:
   • Check if the thermal paste on the CPU and GPU has degraded. If you're comfortable, consider reapplying thermal paste.
   • Ensure that the vents are clear of dust and that the fans are operational. You can use compressed air to clean them out.
   []CPU Settings in BIOS:
   • Load BIOS settings and check for any throttling control settings. Sometimes enabling "maximum performance" or "disable C-State" options may help.
   []Monitoring Tools:
   • Use software tools like CPU-Z or HWMonitor to check CPU temperatures and throttling status.
   • This may provide insight into whether thermal throttling is occurring. Feedback and Community Support: Since this issue seems to be affecting a growing number of users, checking out community forums like NotebookReview or engaging with other users on platforms like Reddit can provide additional insights and potential fixes. If the problem persists after trying these solutions, it might be worth reaching out to Dell support directly, as there could be a known issue that they can assist with. If you've tried some of these measures already, feel free to share your experiences or further details—collaboration is often key to resolving tech dilemmas!