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Throttlestop doesn't work on dell latitude E6420

winko

New Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2020
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Hello,

when I boot my computer, I get this message:
Alert! The AC power adapter wattage and type cannot be determined. The battery may not charge. The system will adjust the performance to match the power available.

and my i7-2620M is painfully slow. I decided to download and use throttlestop, I disable BD PROCHOT (and click on "turn on" to enable the software) and my computer still runs very slow. I did benchmarks by disabling and enabling this option, but I get very similar scores.

Some advised to disable Intel(R) SpeedStep, I tried but this doesn't change anything too.

I run on BIOS A08, Windows 10 Pro Do you know a way to fix this issue and stop this throttling to restore my performance back to normal?
 

unclewebb

ThrottleStop & RealTemp Author
Joined
Jun 1, 2008
Messages
8,351 (1.35/day)
Post a screenshot of ThrottleStop while running the TS Bench test. Dell uses a wide variety of throttling methods and has constantly changed methods during the last 12 years.
Some advised to disable Intel(R) SpeedStep,
Do not follow bad advice.
 

winko

New Member
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Oct 5, 2020
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Hello,

Thank you for your answer and help :).
Here are the screenshots you asked me.

percentage.png
finished.png


And with BD PROCHOT on:
BD Pro.png
 

unclewebb

ThrottleStop & RealTemp Author
Joined
Jun 1, 2008
Messages
8,351 (1.35/day)
The Mod column in the monitoring table is showing 75.0%. That means your CPU is using Clock Modulation throttling to lower its performance. That column should always be showing 100.0. Always. Check the Clock Mod box in ThrottleStop and leave this set to 100.0%.

The next problem is that the Set Multiplier option also needs to be checked. Leave this set to 34T.

Leave SpeedStep checked and clear the BD PROCHOT box. After all these fixes, post another screenshot of ThrottleStop while your computer is fully loaded. No need to post a screenshot after the benchmark is finished. The important info is while your CPU is fully loaded.

Many Dell laptops have had throttling issues like this for years. Once the power adapter is not being detected properly, the laptop goes into limp mode where performance is horrible. Hopefully the above suggestions help out. If your battery no longer charges then you will be forced to buy a new Dell approved power adapter.
 
Last edited:

winko

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Oct 5, 2020
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second screenshot.png


Here are the results!

By the way, did you say that you don't have any fix for the laptop battery not charging/always showing 0%?
 

unclewebb

ThrottleStop & RealTemp Author
Joined
Jun 1, 2008
Messages
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An 8 multiplier with 75% clock modulation throttling is approximately equal to a 6 multiplier. Your screenshot shows a 30 multiplier so your CPU is running more than 5 times faster compared to before. With better cooling, it would not be thermal throttling so it could run a little faster yet. The maximum multiplier when 2 cores are active is 32 so only another 6% faster is possible. You would need to disassemble your laptop to replace the thermal paste to try and improve cooling. Might not be worth the hassle.

Sometimes the BIOS warning message is real. Sometimes it is fake. If your battery no longer charges then you need to replace the power adapter or you might need to replace the battery. I am not sure what condition your battery was in before your problems started. At least your laptop is performing well when plugged in.
 
Last edited:
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System Name Old Gateway
Processor i5 4440 3.1ghz
Motherboard Gateway
Cooling Eh it doesn't thermal throttle
Memory 2x 8GB JEDEC 1600mhz DDR3
Video Card(s) RX 560D 4GB
Storage 240gb 2.5 SSD 3TB 7.2k Seagate
Display(s) Dell @ 1280*1024 75hz
Case Gateway
Audio Device(s) Gateway Diamond Audio EMC2.0-USB 5375U ($15 a long ass time ago)
Power Supply 380w oem
Mouse Purple Walmart special, 1600dpi. Black desk mat
Keyboard SteelSeries Apex 100
VR HMD Lmao
Software Windows 10
Benchmark Scores It can run Crysis (Original), Doom 2016, and Halo MCC
dell and their batteries/power bricks....

check that fan... could be dust build up along the heatsink where air vents out the case (happens a lot... ive seen it so thick that no air gets by at all). also check the fan is working.

as for the power issue... get a new power brick. be weary of look alikes that have the shape but no dell branding, as they're a basic transformer without the bits that communicate with the bios. can often get one around $20
 
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