Recoil II - fans not changing speed automatically, low clock rate

[gh2k]

I posted about this in the Linux forum as I initially thought it was Linux-related, but I've since discovered that it isn't so I'm starting a new thread here.

I have a brand new Recoil II. When I use it, the fans do not change speed automatically. I can run 'game center' and change the fan speed manually using the 'turbo' option or dragging the fan slider in 'business mode'. However, under normal operation or when set to 'gaming mode' the fans do not adjust speed at all.

When the computer turns on the fans spin up whilst the BIOS is loading, but then turn down to a slow speed. Once the O/S is running they stay low, even if running Prime95.

Additionally, when running Prime95 the CPU clock rate drops to quite a low level. This occurs even if I turn the fans to 'turbo' in Game Center. See attached screenshot:



The physical turbo button itself doesn't do anything.

I've installed all the drivers from my download page for this laptop after reinstalling Windows. On a fresh Windows install without Game Center the fans do not turn on at all (or turn on to their minimum level and I can't hear them.)

I'd like to try resetting the EC, and also the BIOS, but I can't figure out how to do this so would take suggestions. I also saw someone mention that they'd undervolted their CPU but I can't see any CPU voltage settings in the BIOS. The settings seem limited mostly to UEFI options... Is there an advanced page that I'm missing?

Any other ideas?

 

[Oussebon]

Have you monitored clock speeds with anything other than Task Manager? Something like HWinfo. Task manager is notoriously flaky in terms of not giving accurate readings for CPU frequencies.

And what temperatures is the CPU running at?

Also note that recent Prime95 versions use AVX instructions and depending on the test you use it will basically melt the CPU, creating the kind of load you'd never see in real world situations even with the CPU at 100% load. With my CPU it's the difference between it running in the 80s at 100% load for hours on end, or instantly hitting 100 degrees and throttling.

I'd suggest trying Prime95 v26.6 and monitoring frequencies and temps with something like HWinfo.

Let us know what the results are.

 

[ubuysa]

I posted about this in the Linux forum as I initially thought it was Linux-related, but I've since discovered that it isn't so I'm starting a new thread here.

How have you determined that it's the hardware and not Linux? In the thread you mention in the Linux forum you said the following...

Yeah, they were working with the trial Windows install that came with the laptop. It's definitely a Linuxy thing.

...which tends to suggest that this isn't a hardware issue (because the fans were working with the version of Windows that PCS installed for testing.

You also say later in that thread....

So, I'm not sure that my hardware is working properly in that case. I reinstalled Windows, and the fans did not work under normal operation. They come on while the BIOS is displayed, but turn off when the computer boots... Running Prime95 for several minutes does not cause the fan speed to increase.

...which doesn't prove that it's a hardware issue. Did you, for example, install all the necessary Windows drivers after you did the Windows install? Specifically did you install the chipset driver for that model of laptop? I understand this is a Tong Fang chassis and Clevo based laptops use a special driver (Control Centre) to enable a lot of these types of laptop specific features, I'm wondering whether Tony Fang laptops have something similar that you need to install under Windows to get the fans to operate properly.

Unless and until you have all the required drivers installed after installing Windows you cannot be at all certain that the fans aren't working properly. Check in your account on the main PCS website and install all the drivers in there after installing Windows. I strongly suspect that a necessary driver was installed in the PCS installed copy of WIndows but not in the reinstalled copy that you did.

That begs the question whether under Linux there is a specific driver that you need to do the same fan control job in Linux that a Windows driver might be doing.

 

[gh2k]

Thanks for your replies.

How have you determined that it's the hardware and not Linux? In the thread you mention in the Linux forum you said the following...

Yeah, they were working with the trial Windows install that came with the laptop. It's definitely a Linuxy thing.

...which tends to suggest that this isn't a hardware issue (because the fans were working with the version of Windows that PCS installed for testing.

Yeah, I was wrong about that. I played with the fans briefly in Game Center, but didn't actually run any load to see if the fans adjusted themselves manually.

Unless and until you have all the required drivers installed after installing Windows you cannot be at all certain that the fans aren't working properly. Check in your account on the main PCS website and install all the drivers in there after installing Windows. I strongly suspect that a necessary driver was installed in the PCS installed copy of WIndows but not in the reinstalled copy that you did.

That begs the question whether under Linux there is a specific driver that you need to do the same fan control job in Linux that a Windows driver might be doing.

Yes, in my post above I said:

I've installed all the drivers from my download page for this laptop after reinstalling Windows. On a fresh Windows install without Game Center the fans do not turn on at all (or turn on to their minimum level and I can't hear them.)

To confirm:
* The fans do not come on automatically at all
* Even when running prime95 to place the computer under load
* Even when running Windows and all of the drivers from the PCSpecialist download page on the support site (Windows is also fully up-to-date)
* The physical turbo button on the laptop (next to the power button) does not work at all, even when Windows is running with all drivers
* However, the fans *can* be adjusted manually from game center, including clicking the 'turbo' button in the app to set the fans to maximum speed
* Setting the fans to 'gaming mode' in game center effectively turns them off (or to minimum, I can't tell from the noise)

This is why I'm asking if the EC can be reset. Clearly the hardware works, because the fans turn and can be controlled manually. However, it seems like ACPI has got into some weird state and is refusing to control them automatically.

Have you monitored clock speeds with anything other than Task Manager? Something like HWinfo. Task manager is notoriously flaky in terms of not giving accurate readings for CPU frequencies.

And what temperatures is the CPU running at?

Also note that recent Prime95 versions use AVX instructions and depending on the test you use it will basically melt the CPU, creating the kind of load you'd never see in real world situations even with the CPU at 100% load. With my CPU it's the difference between it running in the 80s at 100% load for hours on end, or instantly hitting 100 degrees and throttling.

I'd suggest trying Prime95 v26.6 and monitoring frequencies and temps with something like HWinfo.

Let us know what the results are.

I haven't, and will do this afternoon - but the fans are the thing that bother me the most and even under all of those circumstances (e.g. "recent Prime95 versions use AVX instructions and depending on the test you use it will basically melt the CPU") you would expect the fans to spin up to an audible volume, and they don't... Unless I change the settings manually in game center.

 

[ubuysa]

In your position I'd be calling PCS now, whilst they have an open case policy you need to be careful that you don't step over the invisible line between reasonable troubleshooting and invalidating your warranty. If you're certain that this isn't a software issue then a call to PCS really is your only option.

 

[gh2k]

In your position I'd be calling PCS now, whilst they have an open case policy you need to be careful that you don't step over the invisible line between reasonable troubleshooting and invalidating your warranty. If you're certain that this isn't a software issue then a call to PCS really is your only option.

Yep, I agree. I've arranged an RMA as there's not much troubleshooting they can do over the phone at this point. "Fan Turbo Button Not Working" is cause enough for an RMA on a new machine I think.

 

[ubuysa]

Yep, I agree. I've arranged an RMA as there's not much troubleshooting they can do over the phone at this point. "Fan Turbo Button Not Working" is cause enough for an RMA on a new machine I think.

A sensible move. It's disappointing I know but I am sure PCS will fix it for you.