CPU speed, BSOD and backlit keyboard problem - Optimus V 15"

[kizcat]

I'll start with spec

Chassis & Display
Optimus Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4700MQ (2.40GHz) 6MB
Memory (RAM)
8GB SAMSUNG 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 MEMORY (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 765M - 2.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 11
1st Hard Disk
750GB WD SCORPIO BLACK WD7500BPKX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 16MB CACHE (7200 rpm)
2nd Hard Disk
1TB SERIAL ATA II 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (5,400rpm)
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
8x SATA DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)
Memory Card Reader
Internal 9 in 1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD: Mini, XC & HC/MS: Pro & Duo)
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Wireless/Wired Networking
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® N-135 802.11N (150Mbps) + BLUETOOTH
USB Options
3 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT AS STANDARD
Battery
Optimus Series 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (5,200 mAh/76.96WH)
Power Cable
1 x UK Power Lead & 120W AC Adaptor
Keyboard Language
BACKLIT OPTIMUS UK KEYBOARD WITH NUMBER PAD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit w/SP1 - inc DVD & Licence
Quantity
2

The laptops are called "Cake" and "Tea" so that's how i shall refer to them.

Problem 1:
Both Cake and Tea experience a drop in CPU speed when disconnected from mains power, the maximum clock speed they get is 1488MHz. Which for basic web browsing isn't an issue, but does give a significant performance drop in both gaming and when using certain software for Uni work. However when plugged in it increases back to the normal 2.4GHz.
Why is this happening and is there any way to stop this drop in the CPU clock speed?

Problem 2
As you can see in the spec list, the laptops came with a backlit keyboard, but the one of Tea doesn't actually turn on. When the hotkey is pressed, the software acts as if it's turning it on from off, to dim, to full, but nothing actually happens. It hasn't worked since I got the laptops back in March. Any ideas?

Problem 3
Occasionally on start up, both Tea and Cake will have 1 core operating at 99 - 100% capacity, the laptop is then unable to shutdown without a BSOD, and after some use will seemingly randomly BSOD as well. The only thing I have found to trigger this BSOD when a core is operating at 100% is to do the 'Windows Experience Index' test. It's not an easy thing to replicate because I don't know what triggers it.
Again, any ideas? The BSOD is not so concerning, the main concern is what is causing 1 core to be at 100%? nothing shows in the task manager as using more than normal CPU when it happens.

Problem 4 (although this one is not such a huge issue to me right now tbh and can be ignored)
The system restore on Cake fails every time, it always has since I first used it. Any clue on how to get it to actually work? (again not that i need to use it right now)

Thank you :sorcerer:

 

[mrducking]

problem 1:
thats the power configuration, just change it in the properties tab in power management

problem 2:
sounds like it's faulty in some way or some cable is not properly connected

problem 3:
sounds like a virus or a system corrupt file
if virus you im betting you know what to do
if system corrupt file, you have to reinstall the OS
just in case i would run a few hardware tests, specially HDD surface and RAM

problem 4:
reformat it's the easiest way
BUT if you want a headache, you can look for the files corresponding to the system restore, replace them with clean ones and do the same for the registry keys (really not recommended, but there is always a curious one )

 

[SpyderTracks]

Firstly, love the naming! Wonderful!

It may be worth running an elevated command prompt and then type sfc /scannow

Let that run, if it does find errors and fixes them then you're ok, if not run it 3 times. This can correct windows database corruption which can cause little issues and bsods especially with shutdown and sleep bsods or hangs.

 

[mrducking]

Firstly, love the naming! Wonderful!

It may be worth running an elevated command prompt and then type sfc /scannow

Let that run, if it does find errors and fixes them then you're ok, if not run it 3 times. This can correct windows database corruption which can cause little issues and bsods especially with shutdown and sleep bsods or hangs.

im saving that command for myself i never get around to learning all the useful commands

 

[kizcat]

mrducking:
Problem 1:
I just rechecked and it's set to 100% on battery. even messing around with other power settings it wont go past 1.4GHz. This really has me stumped.

Problem 2:
I agree, I just wanted to see if there was anything else that could be the cause before I have to go in and open it up

Problem 3:
I initially thought it was a virus, scanned and found nothing. but it happens on both laptops and they were set up separately in two different locations. So unless it's something that found its way on when they were in the software testing stages of being built??? and because it's intermittent and can go weeks without happening i'm not sure it's a corrupted file either
I actually think it could be a boot/load order problem with drivers. but again, I'm not sure.
(both laptops have a passworded user area) and there may be a correlation between the length of time between entering the password and the core thing happening) but again it's not every time.

Problem 4:
Yeah, i thought this too but i'm a bit lazy so i've left it.

Good news is though both laptops, despite being Optimus V, actually have reasonably quiet fans that adjust their speed depending on heat and what you're doing.

SpyderTracks:
Apparently there were corrupt files that have now been repaired. So now it's a wait and see game I guess!

and slightly off topic, the naming of things gets worse though.. Teas second HDD is called Sugar, Cakes second HDD is called Icing. and there are 2 external HDDs, one called Fish and the other Chips.

 

[mrducking]

you my friend need to stop eating
you have too many cravings

 

[kizcat]

I know right? I'm hungry now >.>




I restarted my laptop, and right now it is doing the 100% thing on a core.

Also it's running on battery, or USB or peripherals attached at start up or anything currently and as you can see it's clocked at 1488MHz and wont go any higher, even if i mess with power settings. The only way out from this is either get stuck on a shutdown cycle and it will eventually BSOD, trigger a BSOD possibly by running the windows experience index thing, or hold the power button like smothering it with a pillow

 

[SpyderTracks]

I know right? I'm hungry now >.>

View attachment 5746
View attachment 5747

I restarted my laptop, and right now it is doing the 100% thing on a core.

Also it's running on battery, or USB or peripherals attached at start up or anything currently and as you can see it's clocked at 1488MHz and wont go any higher, even if i mess with power settings. The only way out from this is either get stuck on a shutdown cycle and it will eventually BSOD, trigger a BSOD possibly by running the windows experience index thing, or hold the power button like smothering it with a pillow

If you view the running processes tab whilst the one core is maxxed out and make sure you set it to see all processes by all users, can you identify what process is causing it?

Also, if you navigate to c:\windows\minidump and zip up the most recent 3 files and upload them here. Those files are created during a BSOD and log the failing driver or component that's causing the fault. You need tools to be able to read the files which I'm happy to do unless you fancy it? None of the files contain any system information of any sensitive nature.

 

[kizcat]

It seems to be being caused by 'System Interrupts' looking at the recourse manager. It's constantly using around 12% of CPU, with is roughly 100% of 1 of the cores. and a quick google search showed that it has cause this problem for other people on other laptops. (I had already set to view all processes by all users)

It also showed my CPU is set to the maximum frequency of 62% of its capacity when it's unplugged, and when i plugged it in it jumped up to 103%. Any idea why it would be capped at 62% when it's unplugged or how to raise that limit? cause it really does make a huge performance difference.



The minidump folder is empty, and also locked?

 

[kizcat]

So, i tried to open the NVIDIA GeForce Experience program and BSOD. of which i managed to get a picture on my phone, but it also left a log file behind.
View attachment zip1.zip

I think that's the zip, originally names 'zip1'

 

[SpyderTracks]

It seems to be being caused by 'System Interrupts' looking at the recourse manager. It's constantly using around 12% of CPU, with is roughly 100% of 1 of the cores. and a quick google search showed that it has cause this problem for other people on other laptops. (I had already set to view all processes by all users)

It also showed my CPU is set to the maximum frequency of 62% of its capacity when it's unplugged, and when i plugged it in it jumped up to 103%. Any idea why it would be capped at 62% when it's unplugged or how to raise that limit? cause it really does make a huge performance difference.

The minidump folder is empty, and also locked?

Ok, maybe you've got dumps turned off...

Regarding the core maxxing out, the only thing I can think of is to try reinstalling the chipset drivers, perhaps one of the multi-core management drivers has gone awry.

I can see a lot of threads on this, generally advice is drivers need to be updated, pointing mainly to chipset drivers, but others to audio and graphics.

To be honest though, with something like that it could take forever to identify the faulting driver/hardware, I'd resort to a fresh install of the OS and do some testing, if it's still present on a clean OS, I'd get PCS to have a look under RMA.


EDIT: Ah, you have a dump! Marvelous. I won't be able to look at it until after work, but will post back with what it finds.

In the meantime, what version graphics driver are you on?

 

[kizcat]

I did upload a dump on the bottom of the previous page.

I ended up going into safemode, doing a system restore (which failed) and now everything is back to normal. And as far as i'm aware, everything is up to date. graphics drivers definitely are. and putting the CPU capping at 62% on battery to one side, I think it's a graphics driver causing a problem/conflicting with something.

 

[SpyderTracks]

I did upload a dump on the bottom of the previous page.

I ended up going into safemode, doing a system restore (which failed) and now everything is back to normal. And as far as i'm aware, everything is up to date. graphics drivers definitely are. and putting the CPU capping at 62% on battery to one side, I think it's a graphics driver causing a problem/conflicting with something.

Yep, saw the dmp upload, will take a look later on. I think you're right, it seems that when it switches to the nVidia graphics is when the BSOD appears. Nvidia Experience or control panel would do this, running a game, the windows experience would access the graphics card, starts to make sense.

When you updated the graphics driver, did you do a clean install (selection needs to be manually ticked during installation) or just install over the top? First thing to try would be to totally uninstall the current graphics drivers, then reboot and reinstall the latest from nvidia website.

Regarding the CPU throttling on battery, have you checked your profile settings in hotkey? Make sure it's in performance mode with everything maxxed out. I believe this would override the windows settings.

 

[kizcat]

I believe it was just over the top instillation, and i'm on "GeForce 344.11 Driver" through the geforce experience panel, or "9.18.13.4411" via the device manager.

(and I'm doing a clean install now)

 

[mrducking]

it's funny how many problems those freaking gpu drivers give, they linked to a huge percentage of compatibility errors
on the cpu cap, sometimes it changes your profile settings when you change from power to battery, you should try to fix the configuration while using the laptop in battery mode

 

[kizcat]

Right, so i tried uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers, this failed and I ended up with no drivers and no GPU or even Nvidia control panel and it failed to reinstall, so back into safemode and did another system restore (which failed) and now it's all back to how it was when I started the thread.

Also, Hotkey doesn't seem to do anything when i run the .exe ?

Wow computers are a pain in the bum! This is by far the worst cake I have ever come accross!

Edit:
Wait never mind, managed to open it.. hotkey that is

 

[SpyderTracks]

Right, so i tried uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers, this failed and I ended up with no drivers and no GPU or even Nvidia control panel and it failed to reinstall, so back into safemode and did another system restore (which failed) and now it's all back to how it was when I started the thread.

Also, Hotkey doesn't seem to do anything when i run the .exe ?

Wow computers are a pain in the bum! This is by far the worst cake I have ever come accross!

Hotkey should already be running at startup, you can open it by going to running processes in the taskbar and double click the hotkey icon.

Just wondering, if you go into device manager, do you have any components with a question mark by them? If so can you post a screenie?

 

[kizcat]

No question marks, and i figured out the Hotkey control center thing, but no matter what profile I chose the CPU wont go above 1.4GHz on battery

Also the bluetooth is disabled (I did that so i know about it)

 

[SpyderTracks]

No question marks, and i figured out the Hotkey control center thing, but no matter what profile I chose the CPU wont go above 1.4GHz on battery

Also the bluetooth is disabled (I did that so i know about it)
View attachment 5750

In all honesty, I'm out of ideas. My personal approach would be to do a fresh install of windows from scratch and then see if the problem reoccurs. If not, then start to install drivers one by one and check for the same behaviour. See how it goes.

If this doesn't take your fancy, or if a fresh install of windows shows the same issue, I'd get it in for RMA

 

[kizcat]

Right, I have just discovered that my GPU seems to no longer works after trying to reinstall drivers and so on, no matter what settings i chose or try to force only the integrated one is being used.