Throttling in Vista

[AD-15]

hello,

I recently came accross a setting in the power options in Vista 32 bit, and it had:

Minimum CPU setting: 5%

Maximum CPU setting: 50%

I immediately thought it was a throttling control, so I enabled it (I think) and set max setting to 100%.

Is this correct?

[DataMatrix]

If the PC is plugged into the wall and you have it set as high performance you can ignore it.

[Lucio]

You could very have enabled it so that it turns on Speedstep options whenever your CPU hits 100% or if you left the first at 5%, whenever the CPU activity is between 5% and 100%

Speedstep basically slows your CPU down when it's active so basically by turning it on, you've slowed your PC down.


If you wanted to see an improvement, you could set it say between 5% and 10% so it's a lot less likely to come on.

[AD-15]

Hello,

Thanks! How do I know if it is working? And by how much does it actually slow the CPU down?

Are there any other more complex programs endorsed my MS?

Thankyou so much!

[Ikthezeus]

Ok am I being really thick here, or just blind, but I'm running Vista 64bit Ultimate and can't find the CPU option in the power settings.
Is this just an option under the 32bit version?

[kungpo]

I can't find in Vista 32 either, so maybe it's something else...

[AD-15]

it's under advanced settings....

Any ideas?

[kungpo]

I still can't find it. I must be think or blind.

[nickp8]

http://www.hardcoreware.net/blog/wp-...er-options.png

[kungpo]

Mine doesn't have it then. After PCI Express I then have Search and Indexing (after clicking Change settings that are currently unavailable)

It is Vista Business if that has any bearing.

[Lucio]

Your best check is CPU-Z - http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

You can use it to check whether or not the setting is throttling your CPU, generally speaking if it's similar to speedstep, you'll see the multiplier of your CPU drop whilst the FSB stays the same.

[Ikthezeus]

Just a thought, are the guys here who have the setting running Vista on a laptop by any chance?
If not could it be CPU dependent?

[kungpo]

I suspect it is. My Wifes PC - e6420 running Vista x64 Ultimate has it. My PC, e4300 running Vista x86 Business, doesn't. But it proves it's not laptop dependent.

[Ikthezeus]

Guess it's to do with newer architecture on the chips then as the e4300 is the Allendale core whereas the e6420 is the Conroe core.

[Blitzen]

Your best check is CPU-Z - http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

You can use it to check whether or not the setting is throttling your CPU, generally speaking if it's similar to speedstep, you'll see the multiplier of your CPU drop whilst the FSB stays the same.

I think saying 'Throttling' in the same sentence as SpeedStep is confusing the issue a little.

Yes it does slow you CPU down but only when nothing requires the extra power to do the task at hand.
If you run intense apps then it goes back to full pelt.

Imo Speed-Step is a good thing.

[tigerboyce]

Yep, its not as if it slows you down in any way, its basically like saying "what's the point in running to the shop when you have 20mins to get there (its a close shop )