Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

[coolcurrent]

Hello guys,

My system Samsung v25 with intel PSU 2.0GHz is running at 200MHz!!!
the FSB speed is 50MHz instead of 200MHz

i have reformatted many times, but no success

i downloaded the intel processor utility to test it from here


any help

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

Try CPU-Z instead. It could be SpeedStep... but SpeedStep itself only drops multiplier, gotta be some custom software or BIOS if it's decreasing FSB (seen it on a few laptops).

[mockingbird]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

Your chip is overheating. Intel chips are designed to drastically reduce clockspeed when there's a catastrophic failure in cooling. Maybe the heatsink isn't touching the chip properly.

Also Pentium 4 chips which have failed and cannot run at their full clockspeed without overheating - even when cooled properly - will exhibit this behavior. You see it often in Prescott chips.

[yyonline]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

Your chip is overheating.

Yes, it's likely overheating and reducing speed to prevent CPU damage. SpeedStep will reduce the frequency, but not that drastically. When I see this in laptops, the CPU heatsink is either completely plugged with dust or the fan is dead or not connected.

[coolcurrent]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

the fans are working, the heat sink is tightly connected i just checked. what else culd cause this

[coolcurrent]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

Try CPU-Z instead. It could be SpeedStep... but SpeedStep itself only drops multiplier, gotta be some custom software or BIOS if it's decreasing FSB (seen it on a few laptops).

does this CPU-Z show expected speed and detected speed?

[yyonline]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

does this CPU-Z show expected speed and detected speed?

No. But it tells you the CPU model. From there, you can look up the maximum clock speed. Laptop CPUs only work at full power when needed. When idle, they'll reduce to 600Mhz-1Ghz or so depending on the model. A laptop CPU will only go full speed under load. Many newer desktop CPUs work on a similar scheme.

200Mhz indicates a problem, assuming the Intel utility is detecting the speed properly. Try CPU Z and see if you get the same reading.

You say the fans are working and the heatsink is attached properly. Did you check if the heatsink is clogged? Some laptop heatsinks get plugged up pretty easily. I would try reseating the heatsink. Perhaps it's not getting good contact. That means pulling off the heatsink, cleaning it up, and applying a new coating of thermal paste. Now, I have seen a few laptop CPUs that use a gap pad on the CPU. This will appear as a squishy foam or rubber-like pad. These can sometimes disintegrate, shift out of place, or dry out. If it has a pad, it will be too thick of a gap for thermal paste. If that's the case, you may need to order new gap pad from somewhere.

You can also download HWMonitor from the same site as CPU Z. HWMonitor allows for temperature monitoring for most systems. With this you could watch the CPU temperature to see if its overheating, assuming your system has the appropriate temperature monitoring hardware. Then again, if the CPU overheats when loading the OS, it will already be throttled back...in which case the monitoring software won't tell us much.

[Trinite]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

Did you check the speed in BIOS? Sometimes, software can misread FSB clock and multiplier values. Also, is the fan running at full speed even on idle load? That could indicate an overheating problem.

[coolcurrent]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

the bios speed indicate the normal speed, and the fans are not running at full speed, they run on working with the system an off doing less work or not using the system.

[mockingbird]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

To mirror what yyonline said:

Check the laptop heatpipe vent. Is it clogged with a dust layer? Is air going through? Secondly, replace the thermal paste between the CPU and the heatsink. There's no way the paste they used on that model has stayed viable after all these years. You'll need CPU-grade heatsink paste. I recommend Gelid GC-2.

Thirdly, if you have a desktop model Pentium 4 in your laptop then just buy a new one off eBay and see if that helps. It could be the lithographic pathways have deteriorated on the chip (Again, which is common on Pentium 4), and it is causing the chip to overheat.

[yyonline]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

Does the computer operate at reasonable speed? The few cases I have seen of the CPU speed being reduced to 200Mhz, the computer was completely unusable. If it's operating normally, the Intel utility *might* be reporting the speed incorrectly. Try cpuz as has been suggested and see what it says.

[Trinite]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

the bios speed indicate the normal speed, and the fans are not running at full speed, they run on working with the system an off doing less work or not using the system.

If the BIOS is showing normal speed, it might just be a software issue.

[coolcurrent]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

Does the computer operate at reasonable speed? The few cases I have seen of the CPU speed being reduced to 200Mhz, the computer was completely unusable. If it's operating normally, the Intel utility *might* be reporting the speed incorrectly. Try cpuz as has been suggested and see what it says.

i dont understand what you mean by reasonable speed, but the display jerks, and every thing occurs slowly.i have 512MB ram on this system.

the system tasks about 5 - 10 minutes to boot up to desktop, compared to 1 or less than before

[yyonline]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

i dont understand what you mean by reasonable speed

I meant is it operating at the speed you'd expect it to.

BIOS will display the max speed of the CPU usually. I've never seen a laptop bios that reports the current CPU speed, as it's largely irrelvant in the BIOS screen.

One other thing to check is the power management options. Assuming you're running Windows XP, run the following command in command prompt window:

powercfg /query

This will print out the power management for your system. Look for the Processor Throttle settings. You want to see:
Processor Throttle (AC): Adaptive
Processor Throttle (DC): Adaptive

If you see "Constant" or "Degrade", your power management settings are set to reduce performance.

If you've cleaned and reseated the heatsink, and checked power settings, perhaps the CPU is defective. Panasonic's specs just say P4 Northwood core. Depending on whether you have a P4 or P4-M CPU, they can be found on ebay for $5-10.

[dood]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

yyonline - just FYI - there are BIOS'es that report the current speed. I know the Dell d610's do, and I'm fairly certain there are others as well.

I had a d610 overheat that exhibited these exact symptoms. I didn't expect overheating at first because I didn't hear the fan screaming.... turns out there was a piece of paper that had jammed the fan.

[yyonline]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

yyonline - just FYI - there are BIOS'es that report the current speed. I know the Dell d610's do, and I'm fairly certain there are others as well.

Hmm... I have a bunch of D610s in the shop now. I took a look, and they do indeed display min/max/current speed in the BIOS setup. Never paid much attention to that screen. Good to know for future use.

My thought, however, is that it wouldn't be very useful, since speedstep runs at low speed until the CPU is placed under load. Displaying the BIOS screen shouldn't produce much load on the system. No load means the BIOS setup screen always shows the current speed is the minimum speed.

[NxB]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

i dont understand what you mean by reasonable speed

At 200mhz you would barely be able to open internet explorer and type this.

http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html > Which you probably cant install if its this slow.

Also, might help you to download hiren's boot cd and run the mini xp on there. Is it still sluggish? What about a linux live cd of some sort?

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

does this CPU-Z show expected speed and detected speed?

Yes it does. In real time.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

It's rare but if the heat pipe leaks it's gas out it will lose most of it's heat transfer capabilities.

[mockingbird]

Re: Intel 2.0 GHz processor running at about 200Mhz? Help

Not that rare. Some people don't respect the weight differential of the pipe and the heatsink and hold it via the pipe. Even a little bend or crack because of this can break it. Pressure should never be placed on the pipe.