cpu speed problem

[Les]

On Thu, 2007-07-26 at 16:12 +0200, fedora wrote:
> Hi listers
> 
> here is a laptop with
> 
> [root at myhost ~]# cat /etc/fedora-release
> Fedora release 7 (Moonshine)
> [root at myhost ~]#
> 
> worked well until 10 days ago. then, the laptop started its fan, and 
> drove down its cpuspeed to about a quarter of the speed before. if i run 
> the system-monitor, the cpu is busy always about 30 %, whereas before it 
> was busy only about 6 %.
> The fan from then on is never stopped and the CPU stays low in 
> performance from then on. i have to do a power down (either pm-hibernate 
> or halt/reboot) in order to make it come up with the "full" performance 
> and stay there for a while. after that, the fan starts again and the cpu 
> slows down.
> 
> after some googling i tried the following:
> 
> [root at myhost ~]# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_max_freq
> 997500
> [root at myhost ~]# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_cur_freq
> 731500
> [root at myhost ~]# echo "997500" 
>  >/sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_setspeed
> [root at myhost ~]# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_cur_freq
> 997500
> [root at myhost ~]#
> 
> i also changed the parameters of the cpuspeed program, so that now it 
> comes up with:
> 
>   1413 ?        Ss     0:01 cpuspeed -d -p 90 45 -m 731500 -M 997500 -n
> 
> all to no avail.
> 
> i also checked to see, whether in the BIOS the intelCPUstepping is 
> enabled, and it is enabled.
> 
> i understand, that the fan at a certain point in time starts turning. 
> but i don't understand, why at the same time, the cpu slows down.
> 
> has anyone got an idea, where this immediate change stems from and how i 
> could stop it?
> 
> thanks in advance for any reply
> 
> suomi
> 
Could be humidity or the cooling ports could be blocked.  Check the rear
of the case and make sure that any openings are clear.  Also do not put
your laptop on any kind of soft surface.  That will block some of the
cooling that takes place through convection through the bottom plate.
No rug, or runner or any cloth should be under the laptop.  You might
also try getting one of those dehumidifier kits from a local market, and
put that and the laptop in a plastic bag over night.  Sometimes humidity
will build up inside the case.  If you do not have a local store that
has the dehumidifier, very carefully put some non purfumed talcum powder
(like you use on a baby) in a cup and put that and the computer in a
plastic bag over night (the computer must be turned off while in the
bag, just to be clear).

If the ports are clear, the bottom is not on any soft material and you
cannot detect any humidity, then something is probably dying inside the
laptop.  

	Oh, one other thing.  If you use the laptop plugged in all the time,
the charger are not designed to do that.  Eventually the batteries will
overcharge and possibly short.  Check your laptop at the manufacturers
list also to ensure you do not have a recalled battery pack.  There have
been some problems with some batteries.

Regards,
Les H

Regards,
Les H