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Dell Defect Turning 2.2GHz CPU Into 100MHz CPU?

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the making-the-pr-department-work-for-their-paycheck dept.

jtavares2 writes "In what is being dubbed Throttlegate, scores of users on many message boards have been complaining about nexplicably aggressive throttling policies on their Dell Latitude E6500 and E6400 laptops which cause their CPUs to be throttled to less than 5% of their theoretical maximums even while at room temperatures. In many cases, the issue can be triggered just by playing a video or performing some other trivial, but CPU intensive, task. After being banned [PDF] from the Dell Forums for revealing 'non-public information,' one user went so far as to write and publish a 59-page report [PDF] explaining and diagnosing the throttling problem in incredible detail. Dell seems to be silent on the issue, but many users are hoping for a formal recall."

34 of 314 comments (clear)

  1. First Post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Comes a bit slower at 100 MHz. I'll probably get second or third, damn Dell laptop.

    1. Re:First Post by rdnetto · · Score: 2, Funny

      Apparently everyone uses Dells.

      --
      Most human behaviour can be explained in terms of identity.
  2. scours of users by Finallyjoined!!! · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hope they're scourged thoroughly.

    I'd happily scour a user. :-)

    --
    If I had an Ass, I'd call it Fanny Bottom, then I could slap my Ass; Fanny Bottom, on the Arse.
  3. Scours? by osomoore · · Score: 1, Funny

    I don't mean to rub it in, but I think the word is 'scores'.

    1. Re:Scours? by ShatteredArm · · Score: 4, Funny

      I am frome the 17th cenchurie, ande the worde is moste deffinetlie "scowers."

    2. Re:Scours? by Gilmoure · · Score: 2, Funny

      From the north are ye?

      Lots of planets have a north I hear.

      --
      I drank what? -- Socrates
  4. Has anyone been able to see the report? by NoYob · · Score: 5, Funny

    I click on the link and well, I think it's being hosted by one of these Dells

    --
    It's NOT me! It's the meds! I'm on 1000mg of Fukitol.
    1. Re:Has anyone been able to see the report? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      I'll still take a 100Mz Dell over a crapintosh.

  5. Oh for the love of god ... Throttlegate? by 0racle · · Score: 5, Funny

    Seriously, just STFU.

    --
    "I use a Mac because I'm just better than you are."
    1. Re:Oh for the love of god ... Throttlegate? by osu-neko · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, can we scour the editors?

      --
      "Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies."
    2. Re:Oh for the love of god ... Throttlegate? by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Funny

      You fool! You've opened the MetaGate!

    3. Re:Oh for the love of god ... Throttlegate? by mewsenews · · Score: 4, Funny

      Oh, cmon, it's exactly like Watergate. Except completely different.

    4. Re:Oh for the love of god ... Throttlegate? by schon · · Score: 4, Funny

      Obama gives new Afghan stragey

      You're saying he's gonna redecorate the Oval Office with a throw?

    5. Re:Oh for the love of god ... Throttlegate? by PRMan · · Score: 4, Funny

      No, artificial meat invented by scientists in a laboratory, of course. Try to keep up.

      --
      Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
  6. Many users are hoping for a formal recall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hear Dell is planning to issue a complimentary turbo button for any user experiencing the problem.

    1. Re:Many users are hoping for a formal recall by baka_toroi · · Score: 5, Funny

      I can't believe some Slashdot members don't know what a Turbo Button is. I'm going to cry.

  7. FTW by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Energy Star Compliance at it's Best.

  8. Silver lining... by Dan+East · · Score: 5, Funny

    At least the batteries will last for 50 hours.

    --
    Better known as 318230.
    1. Re:Silver lining... by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

      Which is incidently also the length of the average movie displayed on this machine.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  9. Come on dude by antifoidulus · · Score: 4, Funny

    you just have to hit the turbo button! Duh!

    --
    Monstar L
  10. Better, Faster, Dell by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    choose one

  11. Mine just arrived by WiiVault · · Score: 5, Funny

    Windows 7 on a blazing fast 100mhz CPU. Suck on that /.ers. And hey it does Aero too! At least I think it does, bought mine last week and just got to the login screen.

  12. Re:PDF Mirror by jtownatpunk.net · · Score: 4, Funny

    Maybe it shouldn't have been mirrored on an E6500.

  13. Re:Hasn't been too much of a problem for me.. by Cougar333 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I didn't have any problems until I installed Windows 7.

  14. So... what you say is ... by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

    So do I get this right? As soon as I actually need my CPU to do some work, it starts to slow down? While it's quite able to run at full speed as long as it's idle and not doing anything sensible?

    Computers get more and more human every day.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:So... what you say is ... by gad_zuki! · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes, thats correct. Intel's new SlowStep technology saves you power when you waste it most: watching youtube videos, playing games, etc. The industry, along with your parents, just want you to read a book now and again.

  15. 100Mhz? by gmuslera · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is just the perceived speed of Windows Vista running at 2.2Ghz

  16. Re:The E-series has been craptastic all along by bhtooefr · · Score: 3, Funny

    What amazes me is how badly Dell managed to screw up the keyboard and pointing devices on the E6500.

    Random clicks when you're 6 inches away from either pointing device, random shifts, ctrls, alts while typing, and this was on hundreds of machines I configured.

  17. Re:OMG, I brought this up with them by Plekto · · Score: 3, Funny

    Disabling Speed Step and power management/power saving/etc in BIOS and the OS(whatever one is installed) is the very first thing I do on any machine. I want it at full power all the time. This also makes it easier to keep my fans at a constant speed as well, which makes for a quieter work environment. Similar to how a clock ticking is filtered out after a few hours or days, a constant low drone from the PC is as well.

  18. Long day at Throttlegate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    As a newly hired Dell Tech support employee starting his 2nd day at work in about 9 hours, I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a looong day.

  19. That's Nothing by KalAl · · Score: 3, Funny

    My MacBook Pro can melt the skin off my legs AND boil a pot of water, all without the slightest dip in performance.

    --
    I'd rather let a thousand guilty men go free than chase after them.
  20. Re:The E-series has been craptastic all along by gander666 · · Score: 5, Funny

    It is the built in theremin they use for input. My old D630 was horrible. The pointer would jump all over the place, except when I was trying to show the desktop support person the issue...

    --
    Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress ... but I repeat myself. - Mark T
  21. Re:The E-series has been craptastic all along by tsm_sf · · Score: 3, Funny

    The most annoying thing, is when the problem happens and you call Dell up they are always - please reinstall the operating system. I know it isn't the operating system, I can reproduce it in the bios. But they still persist in believing it is the OS (and yes, they are trying to blame Microsoft, this case, purely Dell's problem).

    *clickity clickity* "Ok, I've reinstalled the operating system." I think there was a Dilbert about this.

    --
    Literalism isn't a form of humor, it's you being irritating.
  22. Dammit Dell by OrangeTide · · Score: 2, Funny

    "In many cases, the issue can be triggered just by playing a video"

    I bought this laptop to watch porn. Now what am I supposed to do with it, read slashdot or update my facebook with "no porn for me today :("

    --
    “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire