Intel core i5-4210u 1.7ghz will only run at 0.8ghz

[damien.e.byrne]

Recently I noticed the performance of my laptop drop off a cliff and I had no idea why. I noticed the CPU speed is set to 0.8 ghz when it is a 1.7 ghz processor. I have no idea why it is set at that and I can't get it to change. I have run intels processor diagnostics tool and it passed all the tests and have done an XTU stress test for an hour and the CPU temperature only reached 59 degrees Celsius and reported 0% thermal throttling. I'm completely at a loss as to why it is stuck at 0.8 ghz. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[R0GG]

_check windows power settings and insure it is set to high performance.

 

[damien.e.byrne]

_check windows power settings and insure it is set to high performance.

Yeah I have done that and it is not set to any power saving settings. The maximum processor performance is set to 100% on both battery and plugged in.
This is the cpu-z status if it helps any https://imgur.com/a/mq4CKlF .

 

[stdragon]

Just to rule out the Windows OS, boot from a Memtest86 flash drive and see what it reports.

 

[damien.e.byrne]

Just to rule out the Windows OS, boot from a Memtest86 flash drive and see what it reports.

I'm sorry but I'm pretty clueless about stuff like this. Is this difficult to do ?

 

[stdragon]

It's relatively easy. You just need one USB flash/thumb drive that you can feel free to format (erase) and use it to run bootable diagnostics.

You can create a bootable Linux USB flashdrive that will let you run the Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool.

http://www.tcsscreening.com/files/users/IPDT_LiveUSB/index.html

Alternatively, you can create a bootable USB drive containing Memtest86.

https://www.memtest86.com/downloads/memtest86-usb.zip

 

[R0GG]

Try checking whether there are any CPU power saving features enabled in the Bios or a third party running application in windows.

 

[damien.e.byrne]

It's relatively easy. You just need one USB flash/thumb drive that you can feel free to format (erase) and use it to run bootable diagnostics.

You can create a bootable Linux USB flashdrive that will let you run the Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool.

http://www.tcsscreening.com/files/users/IPDT_LiveUSB/index.html

Alternatively, you can create a bootable USB drive containing Memtest86.

https://www.memtest86.com/downloads/memtest86-usb.zip

I ran the memtest and it passed all tests with no errors. I did notice that during the test the clock speed was 1.7ghz though.

 

[R0GG]

Your computer could be running in high performance mode but still throttles your CPU, go windows power settings > select the plan you are running (high performance mode)> advanced power settings>CPU check if there is a minimal clock and make it 100% ( max clock should be 100%).

 

[damien.e.byrne]

Your computer could be running in high performance mode but still throttles your CPU, go windows power settings > select the plan you are running (high performance mode)> advanced power settings>CPU check if there is a minimal clock and make it 100% ( max clock should be 100%).

I checked and they are all set to 100% percent and still the cpu is running at 0.8ghz. There isn't any settings in the bios that are limiting that I can see and I dont have any third party software that could be doing it to my knowledge.

 

[damien.e.byrne]

Ok so I just unplugged my laptop and all of a sudden the cpu was no longer limited. The only problem is my battery dosen't last very long. I have no idea what is causing the change when it is plugged in.
https://imgur.com/a/3Hsawzc Cpu-z when unplugged.

 

[stdragon]

Ok so I just unplugged my laptop and all of a sudden the cpu was no longer limited. The only problem is my battery dosen't last very long. I have no idea what is causing the change when it is plugged in.
https://imgur.com/a/3Hsawzc Cpu-z when unplugged.

Yeah, usually that's backwards. The CPU will go into conservation mode for battery, and performance when plugged into the AC Adapter

 

[R0GG]

It's windows power scheme configuration, can you check and / or screen-shot it coupled side by side with CPUz while plugged in and not?
How to Use Maximum CPU Power in Windows 10
https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/use-maximum-cpu-power-windows-10

 

[damien.e.byrne]

It's windows power scheme configuration, can you check and / or screen-shot it coupled side by side with CPUz while plugged in and not?
How to Use Maximum CPU Power in Windows 10
https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/use-maximum-cpu-power-windows-10

So after about 30 mins of watching netflix with my laptop unplugged it started to lag and was back to 0.8ghz even unplugged. I'm pretty sure its not a power plan setting but I noticed that I do not have the maximum processor frequency setting that you have. Here is the screenshot from unplugged and when I plugged it in nothing changed https://imgur.com/a/RTan1ad

 

[damien.e.byrne]

Another thing I just noticed is taht when I wake the laptop from sleep, the CPU is throttled around 2 ghz for about 5 mins before being limited to 0.8 ghz. I really have absolutely no clue what is causing this. https://imgur.com/a/x0It1si this is from about a minute after waking the laptop when it was plugged in.

 

[R0GG]

Here is how I recovered access to Processor power management and other options on my surface pro:

The limited power configuration in Advanced Settings because of Connected Standby feature enabled by default on surface pro and other tablets, it needs to be disabled at registry level in order to recover ability to create custom plans and get access to more advanced power settings:
- Go to start
- type regedit and launch it
- Navigate to the entry : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power
- Double click on CsEnabled and change Value data from 1 to 0, and click OK
- Restart your computer.

Step by step tutorial available here (with other tips to maximize battery life and optimize performance of your tablet) Ultimate Tips to Max Out Microsoft Surface Battery Life > Paragraph 2. Surface Pro Optimization power plan >> https://surfacetip.com/ultimate-tips-max-surface-pro-4-battery-life/#2

 

[damien.e.byrne]

Here is how I recovered access to Processor power management and other options on my surface pro:

The limited power configuration in Advanced Settings because of Connected Standby feature enabled by default on surface pro and other tablets, it needs to be disabled at registry level in order to recover ability to create custom plans and get access to more advanced power settings:
- Go to start
- type regedit and launch it
- Navigate to the entry : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power
- Double click on CsEnabled and change Value data from 1 to 0, and click OK
- Restart your computer.

Step by step tutorial available here (with other tips to maximize battery life and optimize performance of your tablet) Ultimate Tips to Max Out Microsoft Surface Battery Life > Paragraph 2. Surface Pro Optimization power plan >> https://surfacetip.com/ultimate-tips-max-surface-pro-4-battery-life/#2

Nothing changed when I did this, is there anything else you can think of ?

 

[stdragon]

Silly question, but did you already attempt a BIOS update? If not, go check as there might be a newer version that addresses a bug with ACPI.

 

[R0GG]

You did not get the Processor power management to appear in the power settings after the registry adjustment, did you double check the modified registry value after reboot ? try to run the Regedit as administrator ( right click on it, context menu, run as admin)

Last resort but get familiar with first then use with caution: ThrottleStop app >> https://www.techpowerup.com/download/techpowerup-throttlestop/

 

[dudeman509]

What are temps getting up to? Might be in need of a thermal repaste.

My i5-4210u (in a HP Probook) never gets above 145*F under full load. Pretty easy to max out the thing; it is slow even at turbo boost speeds. It would drive me crazy underclocked.

 

[damien.e.byrne]

Silly question, but did you already attempt a BIOS update? If not, go check as there might be a newer version that addresses a bug with ACPI.

What are temps getting up to? Might be in need of a thermal repaste.

My i5-4210u (in a HP Probook) never gets above 145*F under full load. Pretty easy to max out the thing; it is slow even at turbo boost speeds. It would drive me crazy underclocked.

I had a BIOS update a couple of days ago but the problem was there before that.

It idles at about 122 fahrenheit and got up to 147 fahrenheit under an XTU stress test so i'm not sure its thermals. Could a repaste be something I could reasonably do or will it have to go to a repair shop ? It's basically dead it's so slow.

 

[damien.e.byrne]

You did not get the Processor power management to appear in the power settings after the registry adjustment, did you double check the modified registry value after reboot ? try to run the Regedit as administrator ( right click on it, context menu, run as admin)

Last resort but get familiar with first then use with caution: ThrottleStop app >> https://www.techpowerup.com/download/techpowerup-throttlestop/

Sorry I was able to set the registry value to zero and it stayed at zero but it did not give me any additional options in the power plan settings.
I tried to use ThrottleStop already but was unable to get the speed to above 0.8ghz even when undervolting.

 

[stdragon]

According to Intel, your CPU has a maximum temperature rating of 100°C. That's 212°F when converted.

Basically, your CPU idles at 50°C and reaches 64°C under stress. Well below the maximum T-Junction rating

https://ark.intel.com/products/81016/Intel-Core-i5-4210U-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-2_70-GHz

 

[R0GG]

Those temps are perfectly fine, and your CPU shouldn't be experimenting any thermal throttling.

 

[stdragon]

Establish the scope of the issue.

I'm still going to again recommend that you create a USB bootable flashdrive of the Intel diags and Memtest86. Check the Frequency changes when plugging in and just running off the battery. You really need to know if this is related to just hardware, or it's a Windows setting gone bonkers.