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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."

17 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.

  2. 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.
  3. 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!

  4. 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.

    2. Re:Many users are hoping for a formal recall by HBoar · · Score: 5, Interesting

      You jest, but I actually think that turbo buttons would be a great idea on laptops. Sure, you can throttle the CPU using software to save power, but a button would just be easier, and would have miles of old-skool charm. Bring back the turbo button!

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

    Energy Star Compliance at it's Best.

  6. The E-series has been craptastic all along by MarcQuadra · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I had a pre-release e-series machine from Dell on my desk last year. It's like they built the thing from the outside-in. Even on a 'release' E6500, Ubuntu seems to halt and die on full-screen video, Windows AHCI drivers that work everywhere else cause BSODs, and the power management firmware seems like it was written by a roomful of meth-addicted monkeys.

    I've never been more disappointed with Dell as I was with the E6500. At least when the Optiplex GX260 power supplies all failed a few years ago, it was easy enough to fix them. These things are abhorrent.

    --
    "Sometimes, I think Trent just needs a cup of hot chocolate and a blankie." -Tori Amos on Nine Inch Nails
    1. 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
  7. Silver lining... by Dan+East · · Score: 5, Funny

    At least the batteries will last for 50 hours.

    --
    Better known as 318230.
  8. 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.

  9. OMG, I brought this up with them by 1080bogus · · Score: 5, Informative

    I called their Pro Tech support to help diagnose a very similar issue. The CPU's were running at 6-700Mhz. I spent 45 min on the phone with them until I finally found a forum explaining it had to do with the Intel SpeedStep feature. When you go into the BIOS, go to Performance, SpeedStep, and disable it. They said thanks, added to their Knowledge Base and gave us one more reason to get away from them.

  10. My experience and fix. Isn't 59 pages long. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Dell has aggressive CPU throttling in the BIOS. I have an Inspiron 6400 w/ Core 2 Duo 1.83ghz. In XP, Vista, and 7, it would throttle way the heck down and not turn the fan all the way up. Because the fan was annoying. It would go down to around 200mhz.

    I fixed it in software by installing RMClock and i8kspeedfan. But my computer was usually around 55 and went up to 65 playing HD video, and the fan would kick in, and suddenly it's really loud.

    Also helped to get one of those cooling pads with a fan in it.

    So I took apart my laptop. There were 1" thick sheets of dust between the processor and graphics coolers and then between them and the output duct.

    Cleaning them out, put it back together, now at full speed it rarely goes over 55. The BIOS throttling that kicks in at 70C or 75C or so hasn't come on since the software fix. Don't even need the Targus cool-pad anymore.

    So basically, Dell builds a system with inadequate cooling, that is disabled from maximum speed even when system policy is set that way, and instead throttles you down in the BIOS 'til you can't even move the mouse until it cools down. No option to allow the fan to go to full-speed, no way to do it except 3rd-party software, and really darned loud when it happens.

    It must've sucked to have a 2.3GHz in this thing...

  11. 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.

  12. MIRROR by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

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

    At the end of one of the forums, someone links to a mirror. You can find the report here:

    http://www.sigmirror.com/files/44490_iweoz/throttlegate.pdf