w 700 windows 8.1 battery issue

After updating to 8.1, several issues cropped up immediately. Everytime the cpu was performing any type of task,( opening a program, searching the web, looking for a file using explorer...etc...), the mouse cursor woud lag considerably, to the point of rendering the tablet useless. I also noticed that when i brought up the camera app, the image would lag terribly when i moved the tablet around.

This morning i began to try and figure out what was causing this considerable degradation with the sytem and the horrible lags with 8.1. It turns out that when the tablet is plugged in, none of the system degradation lags described above occurrs. The camera works perfectly, and there s no lag with the mouse cursor what-so-ever. Yet when i unplug the unit reverting back to battery, the degradation comes back as soon as i switch to battery.

what on earth is happening with 8.1 and the system wehn on battery? can 8.1 really be that much a processor hog that the tablet becomes useless on battery?

I have had my W700 since January, and have not had any problems with windows 8.0.

It is incredible that a tablet is rendered unusable when on battery using 8.1. any help from acer wih regards to this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Accepted answers

1stTimeAcer

What you need to do is not simply select Performance or Balance, as that would not do anything for you. What's causing the slow down is Low Power Mode Setting WITHIN these profiles. To solve the slow down issue, you need to go to Edit Plan Settings > Change advanced power settings > Intel Dynamic Platform & Thermal Framework Settings > Low Power Mode Setting and change from enable to Application Specific or Disable.

All comments

gsjansen

Something else which has also reared it's ugly head while running on battery.........when i connect my external bluetooth speaker, (jambox), the tablet completely freezes up......yet when i connect to it while plugged in, it works flawlessly........sigh...........

dirkblaster

hey mate, just noticed this myself and have been going crazy tryng to fix it.

looks like something to do with intel dynamic power management throttling cpu when on battery. either set your plan from balanced to high performance, or grab the latest "Others" driver from Acer and see Ethos's post here

http://community.acer.com/t5/Tablets/VGA-Intel-driver-on-W700-Windows-8-1-ERROR/td-p/135547/page/3

just did the change and am testing out now, but definitely feels a lot more like when it was still windows 8

gsjansen

Yes, I have tried all the power options to no avail............Sadly i have reverted back to 8.0. Which is a shame, as i really liked the updaed features of 8.1 such as the ability to run a ui window and desktio window side by side. 8.1 is definately a step above 8.0 with regards to functionality, hwever, until i am convinced that the power issue while running on battery is fully addressed and resolved, , I will have to stay with 8.0....sgh........

1stTimeAcer

What you need to do is not simply select Performance or Balance, as that would not do anything for you. What's causing the slow down is Low Power Mode Setting WITHIN these profiles. To solve the slow down issue, you need to go to Edit Plan Settings > Change advanced power settings > Intel Dynamic Platform & Thermal Framework Settings > Low Power Mode Setting and change from enable to Application Specific or Disable.

gsjansen

Thank you so much for offering a possible solution. I may try upgrading back to 8.1 later this week, and see if indeed that solves the problem.

Did you experience the same degradation in 8.1, and resolve utilizing what you had posted 1stTimeAcer?

Once again, thank you!

Highrender66

I had the same problem with Windows 8.1 and this solution fix it!! Thank you! Smiley Very Happy

gsjansen

Excellent news Highrender66!!!

Asks I have today off, and my w700 has a brand new clean install of windows 8, I am going to reinstall 8.1, and hopefully will be thrilled with it after applying this fix.

Once again 1stTimeAcer, Thank you so much for your helpful solution to this problem!!!!!!

gsjansen

I have reinstalled 8.1, and yes, the fix that 1stTimeAcer spoke about works perfectly!!! Thank you again!!

1stTimeAcer

No problem, I experienced this myself early on with 8.0 and it was quite frustrating. After experimenting with the different DPTF drivers (At the time I thought the driver was the limiting factor), what I have found is that it is actually the Low Power Mode to be real culprit. Just keep in mind that by making it App specific, the tablet will be much more liberal with power usage.

RandyV

1stTimeAcer -- you are a rock star! My tablet performace was awful after upgrading to 8.1 -- especially with the onscreen keyboard. The system could not keep up with my typing and was acting like some process was out of control and taking up a bunch of cycles -- even though nothing was going on. I switched the Low Power setting under Intel Dynamic Platform & Thermal Framework Settings per your post and PRESTO! Things were back to normal. You da man!

kwool

Had the same performance problems as others--Word was absolutely lethargic, could hardly scroll or type! The fix in Power Options helped and my performance is back to normal. Thank you so much!

Snakiest

I feel I have a problem with the battery after switching those settings to make my pc faster. Once I unplug the cord, the battery dies in a couple of hours of moderate use. O_o Does anybody else have a similar issue?