X220 CPU throttling problem [ Edited ]

[gabaji123]

Hey everyone,

First off: what is "ec1.09"?

"Resolved Issues:

• CPU throttling -- Fixed in BIOS v1.21 + EC 1.09.

"

I did finally get my graphics scores up to 6.3 total as well by using the 90W adapter and getting BIOS 1.21 and the new intel HD graphics driver.

However, lately I have been noticing another issue with the graphics. I mostly use cpu-z to check my processor speed and gpu speed. Also, it displays the current video ram.

I bought my config with 6gb (1 x 4gb SAMSUNG and 1x2gb SAMSUNG PC10700 (according to cpu-z)) and used to see the video ram occasionally be at 1.1-1.2 gb if I was doing a lot of rendering and what not.

I bought one of these chips: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231266

It is a G.Skill 1x4gb pc10666 chip. CPU-Z shows it as pc10700 as well.

Since adding it, so now I have 8gb total ram, I never see the graphics memory go above 248Mb. It always sits only there, never ramping up the way it should.

Any ideas what is wrong? I'd really like that video ram to do what it used to. SC II used to reccomend med to high settings. Now it recommends low settings. **bleep** happened?

Thinkpad x220, 4286-CTO, i7, 8gb, 320gb 7200rpm HDD, 90W adapter, IPS, BT, Cam, Win7x64 Pro.

All the system updates + BIOS 1.21 + Intel HD Graphics Driver 8.15.10.2418

[ashishjain87]

I would really like to buy the x220 because of its small screen size, battery life and the full voltage cpu (i5/i7) versions but because of this throttling issue I have not ordered my laptop as  yet. I am considering the x220i with the i3 2410M processor because it does not have throttling issues as it has no turboboost technology but I will be programming a lot and doing decent amount of number crunching once in a while, and would therefore like to go for the i5 processor. Now, I talked to some people outside this forum who have the x220 (i5/i7 version), and they said they are not having trouble with it but they did not push their CPU and GPU to the maximum limit, and are talking about daily usage. I guess I will not run into this throttling issue as well normally but I do not want to invest > $1000 and get a faulty product because I will have to stick with this laptop for 2 years minimum.

I have been mulling over buying a decent laptop for the past few months, and have finally locked on the x220 but this throttling issue is really bothering me. Kindly advise whether this throttling issue has been resolved with this BIOS 1.21 update? Further, if I order the x220 today will I get a laptop with BIOS 1.21 or later by default?

Further, if I finally decide to avoid all this throttling hassle, I have still locked on the x220i (i3 version) after considering all the laptops in the market. Is the "X220i" completely safe from this throttling issue or people are also experiencing throttling problems with this version as well.

[JNavas]

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ashishjain87 wrote:

I would really like to buy the x220 because of its small screen size, battery life and the full voltage cpu (i5/i7) versions but because of this throttling issue I have not ordered my laptop as  yet. I am considering the x220i with the i3 2410M processor because it does not have throttling issues as it has no turboboost technology but I will be programming a lot and doing decent amount of number crunching once in a while, and would therefore like to go for the i5 processor. Now, I talked to some people outside this forum who have the x220 (i5/i7 version), and they said they are not having trouble with it but they did not push their CPU and GPU to the maximum limit, and are talking about daily usage. I guess I will not run into this throttling issue as well normally but I do not want to invest > $1000 and get a faulty product because I will have to stick with this laptop for 2 years minimum.

I have been mulling over buying a decent laptop for the past few months, and have finally locked on the x220 but this throttling issue is really bothering me. Kindly advise whether this throttling issue has been resolved with this BIOS 1.21 update? Further, if I order the x220 today will I get a laptop with BIOS 1.21 or later by default?

Further, if I finally decide to avoid all this throttling hassle, I have still locked on the x220i (i3 version) after considering all the laptops in the market. Is the "X220i" completely safe from this throttling issue or people are also experiencing throttling problems with this version as well.

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The X220 throttling issue is not an issue in your kind of usage. Regardless, it is fixed by BIOS 1.21, which is easily installed on machines that don't already have it, and if you want to ensure full performance, get a 90W power adapter. The i3 2310M would be much slower:

                                     3DMark 06 - CPU

Intel Core i3 2310M:            2500

Intel Core i5 2520M:            3470

[JNavas]

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gabaji123 wrote:
First off: what is "ec1.09"?
...
I did finally get my graphics scores up to 6.3 total as well by using the 90W adapter and getting BIOS 1.21 and the new intel HD graphics driver.

However, lately I have been noticing another issue with the graphics. I mostly use cpu-z to check my processor speed and gpu speed. Also, it displays the current video ram.

...

Since adding it, so now I have 8gb total ram, I never see the graphics memory go above 248Mb. It always sits only there, never ramping up the way it should.

Any ideas what is wrong? I'd really like that video ram to do what it used to. ...

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EC 1.09 = Embedded Controller version 1.09

See Host Embedded Controller Interface

Nothing is wrong with your system. All that counts is actual performance, and CPU-Z doesn't seem able to report graphics memory properly -- note the minus (-) sign, which suggests an arithmetic error. Instead use the Intel Graphics and Media Control Panel.

[ashishjain87]

Thanks JNavas for your reply.

[jared2]

I have the i7 model of this with the original 4GB RAM (1 DIMM), but I'm still only getting 4.7 on Aero and 6.2 on Gaming. I have updated BIOS to 1.21 and Intel HD to the latest as well. This was a very expensive machine, and I'm getting worse performance than my old laptop...makes me wonder why I bothered!

[gabaji123]

Thanks very much to JNavas for the reply. That basically explains it. My only remaining question is where to check what my embedded controller driver version is, and where to download the 1.09 if I need it. Any idea?

To Jared2:

Get the 90W power adapter. This should greatly improve your Aero score, with the new bios and intel HD driver.

The 90W power adapter you want is the Lenovo ThinkPad 90W AC part # 40Y7659. It is about $28 dollars on amazon. Look around for even cheaper price.

Don't get any 90W adapters with different part numbers unless you go for the 90W slim. But that is expensive (like ~$100, as well as awesome). Some people report getting it on ebay for like 30 bucks, but I haven't seen any deals like that around recently.

Also, if you want more imrpovement, upgrade to 8 gigs of RAM. A 4 gig chip can be gotten for 18-25 dollars on newegg. (check for promo codes or sales through www.slickdeals.net). Ram is real cheap right now and everyone should be upgrading to 8gb for the 25 dollars. Hell, there are a lot of sales coming around for 8gb (2x4 gb sticks) at ~40 dollars. Please upgrade, it is a drop in the bucket.

Understand that this is all if you want to push your machine to the limit of what it can do. Even without the extra ram and power adapter, the laptop flies (although I really do reccomend more RAM, but I always do). I don't know what your old laptop was, but here are the reasons I bought this laptop:

IPS screen = beautiful

12.5" = mega transportable. Fits on an airplane tray, about a million times more powerful than a netbook. Can do my work (rendering and number crunching) no problem, unlike a netbook.

~4.5lb = light, not cumbersome. No problem taking this around.

i7, 8gb ram, etc = can do everything from work, to play SCII on high settings.

USB 3.0 = blitzing transfers

ThinkPad = quality build. The rest of lenovo's stuff is alright, but the thinkpad line is fantastic. These things are built solid and can survive a lot. I have a friend with a x60 series that is still going, and he has beaten the **bleep** out of that thing.

Price = bang for your buck. Hopefully you waited for a bit of a deal or something when buying this, but even if you didn't, this laptop is one of the fastest, smallest, lightest, most feature packed laptops you can get for this kind of money.

Thinkpad x220, 4286-CTO, i7, 8gb, 320gb 7200rpm HDD, 90W adapter, IPS, BT, Cam, Win7x64 Pro.

All the system updates + BIOS 1.21 + Intel HD Graphics Driver 8.15.10.2418

[JNavas]

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gabaji123 wrote:

Thanks very much to JNavas for the reply. That basically explains it. My only remaining question is where to check what my embedded controller driver version is, and where to download the 1.09 if I need it. Any idea?

...

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EC 1.11 (later version) is included in BIOS 1.21.

You can check EC version in BIOS setup.

[kns7977]

Anybody using eGPU?

I've set up eGPU with X220, which works like a charm.

However, I must use the old bios version in order to make this happen.

Had anybody tried 1.21 version with eGPU? It will be great to see NVIDIA's Optimus working with non-throttling Intel graphics.

Thanks in advance!

[Alexo]

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gabaji123 wrote:

The 90W power adapter you want is the Lenovo ThinkPad 90W AC part # 40Y7659.

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No, you don't.