SpeedStep / CPU issue, please halp!

[Neath]

Having an issue with what I suspect is SpeedStep screwing up my FPS in World of Warcraft.

At random occasions my CPU multiplier will drop down to x6 or x5.5 instead of it's usual x12.5, extremely frustrating me as it completly destroys my game and makes it unbearable for a while before the multiplier goes up again.

What I was wondering is if there's any way to turn this off or if it's some other problem you guys might know of.

I'm using a laptop Acer Aspire 8920G
Intel Core 2 Due processor T9300 (2.5GHz, 800MHz, 6MB L2 cache
4GB DDR2
1791MB NVidia GeForce 9650M GS TurboCache

Been looking all over for a fix of some sort, and the most likely problem seems to be SpeedStep.
I'm using Windows 7 and have set the Batery settings to Highest Performance yet it's still happening. I've checked BIOS but couldn't even find a SpeedStep setting. (Might have been in a wrong thing, but it was the frame that pops when you press Del on startup screen, which I thought was the BIOS)

 

[rbmorse]

Try looking for an entry labeled "EIST" on the "advanced" menu page of the BIOS setup.

 

[Neath]

The Advanced tab isn't even showing, and there's nothing saying anything about SpeedStep or CPU or anything. I've got a Centrino intel chipset so it should have SpeedStep, only it's not showing anything.

 

[Victek]

I've checked BIOS but couldn't even find a SpeedStep setting. (Might have been in a wrong thing, but it was the frame that pops when you press Del on startup screen, which I thought was the BIOS)

.
Yes, pressing <Del> (or some other key which is usually listed during startup) will bring up the BIOS configuration options. Enable/Disable SpeedStep is a BIOS option - I've never seen it in the OS. Look through all the options carefully - you may just have missed it. If it's not there you could check the manufacturer's website for a BIOS update and/or ask there support team for advice.

 

[fatedquest]

You don't need to play with your BIOS to fix this.

Firstly, I doubt your frame drops has anything to do with your processor. Your graphic card is powerful enough to handle WoW. Even if your processor ran at 5.5x all the time, you'd be ok.

But if you want it to stay at full speed all the time, don't disable SpeedStep in the Bios. Just create a new power plan, or edit an existing one. Go into your power plan settings, then click advance settings. Then under the processor branch, set 100% for both minimum processor state and maximum processor state.

 

[Neath]

But if you want it to stay at full speed all the time, don't disable SpeedStep in the Bios. Just create a new power plan, or edit an existing one. Go into your power plan settings, then click advance settings. Then under the processor branch, set 100% for both minimum processor state and maximum processor state.

I have already done this yet it still slows down the CPU at random. I've used RightMark CPU utility to keep my multipliers at x12 now, though watching it now it also throttles down my GHz to 1.0 instead of it's usual 2.5, which is also when the FPS drops occur. Steady temperature of around 40°C so overheating isn't the problem either.

 

[fatedquest]

I have already done this yet it still slows down the CPU at random. I've used RightMark CPU utility to keep my multipliers at x12 now, though watching it now it also throttles down my GHz to 1.0 instead of it's usual 2.5, which is also when the FPS drops occur. Steady temperature of around 40°C so overheating isn't the problem either.

Maybe, it's a problem with your BIOS. Some E-Series Dell Latitudes had this problem where their processors would be throttled or cores shut down even when their CPU wasn't running hot or the fan working hard. It took many BIOS revisions/updates before the issue got resolved.

Like the others suggested, try to see if your BIOS setup has any option to disable SpeedStep or not.

 

[Neath]

Checked, it sadly doesn't. This bios is showing the least amount of info i have ever seen.

 

[charlest]

im having the same problem but the multiplier goes to 1x

 

[solarmystic]

Use ThrottleStop... It lets you lock your multipliers at the maximum and prevents downclocking of the CPUs... Google for it.. The author is unclewebb...

 

[charlest]

Use ThrottleStop... It lets you lock your multipliers at the maximum and prevents downclocking of the CPUs... Google for it.. The author is unclewebb...

i tried the ThrottleStop 2.89 and 2.85 and my notebook stop working when i open
it with SpeedStep enabled. If i switch off the SpeedStep it opens but i cant change the multiplier

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.48
Locale ID: 1046

Additional information about the problem:
BCCode: 124
BCP1: 0000000000000000
BCP2: FFFFFA8004DDD038
BCP3: 00000000F2000040
BCP4: 0000000000000800
OS Version: 6_1_7600
Service Pack: 0_0
Product: 256_1