Processor being throttled? - a workaround found

SlicEnDicE · Mar 6, 2023

It is possible it is a 8th+ gen Intel CPU specific laptop thing too. Many people have had issues with 8th gen and later CPUs. 8th gen has been extra troublesome for some reason for some people.

But a Ghot said...there may be many apps installed on your OS that conflicts or mismanges power limits and CPU states while charging.

SlicEnDicE · Mar 6, 2023

Could be as simple as Dell Battery management software causing havoc while charging.

wimorrison · Mar 9, 2023

Not so much a cure, but a workaround this issue which appears to be working. I found a utility called Throttle Stop that has allowed me to switch off BD PROCHOT which seems to be causing the problem, although it is only meant to throttle the processor when the processor overheats.

You can see in this screenshot that the processor is at 77C, have been stress tested for 10mins, and if I enable BD PROCHOT then the processor would be throttled to 400MHz, whereas disabling it allows the processor to run at 3.6GHz

So, not a solution as the core problem hasn't been fixed, but a workaround tat restores the performance of the laptop.

I hope it is useful to someone else if they see this problem.

SlicEnDicE · Mar 9, 2023

Is it possible that the charging plug on your laptop has received some damage? Some laptops throttle the CPU when there is a bad connection or the laptop can't recognize the charger. Also in what condition is the laptop battery? If it is going bad or does not receive charge properly, this may also cause the laptop to throttle.

wimorrison · Mar 9, 2023

Is it possible that the charging plug on your laptop has received some damage?

Possible, and I have already ordered a new on, but that will not appear for a few weeks.

Also in what condition is the laptop battery?

According to the Dell Diagnostics it is 94% and classified as good.

SlicEnDicE · Mar 9, 2023

wimorrison said:
Possible, and I have already ordered a new on, but that will not appear for a few weeks.

I am talking about the physical port on your laptop, but the charger itself could ofc also be damaged.

wimorrison said:
According to the Dell Diagnostics it is 94% and classified as good.

This is good, and you should not have to worry about this then.

wimorrison · Mar 9, 2023

SlicEnDicE said:
I am talking about the physical port on your laptop, but the charger itself could ofc also be damaged.

I am also talking about the physical port on the laptop, and not the charger

wimorrison · Mar 13, 2023

A permanent solution has now been found :)

I changed the power supply to a USB C charger rather than the barrel connection chargers I have been using and everything is hunky dory, suggesting that it is the barrel power connector that is faulty. Fortunately I have a new one on order and can replace it easily.

Apparently the issue is caused when the centre pin isn't making proper contact, this identifying the changer as genuine Dell and the laptop was therefore throttling itself for protection.

Lesson learned :wink:

SlicEnDicE · Mar 13, 2023

wimorrison said:
Apparently the issue is caused when the centre pin isn't making proper contact, this identifying the changer as genuine Dell and the laptop was therefore throttling itself for protection.

Was one of my suspicions, indeed. Glad you are working on a fix and already have the plug arriving any time soon.