TravelMate B311RN-33-TCO computers, some of them have dramatic frequency drops in CPU

jorge_garcia

Hi:

I work as an IT manager at a school, and we are having problems with a bunch of new B311RN-33-TCO computers. That model ships a N100 CPU and 8GB of RAM.

Some of the computers are completely unusable for some tasks, while others perform as they are expected (the N100 is not the fastest CPU but should be suitable for school use).

Having the same drivers, BIOS version (1.18), etc., some of the computers have a sustained CPU frequency of 1.5 Ghz while the CPU is at 100%, but some others fall to 0.8 Ghz, rendering them unusable. These two screenshots correspond to two computers performing the same task (a Silver Bench test).

As you can see, the CPU in the second one has fallen to a lower frequency and is installed there until the CPU-intensive task ends (it can even go to lower speeds, down to 0.4 Ghz).

I've been monitoring the temperature with Throttle Stop, and the CPU is not throttling, so that is not the problem.

Both of them have the Windows 11 "performance" plan activated, and Windows 11 has been reinstalled in the computer with the lower speeds, just in case there was some problem with the original installation, but nothing has been solved.

Any idea on what might be happening? We have 20 new computers with this model, and some of them work flawlessly, while some other teachers are complaining because their computer is too slow.

Thank you!

[Edited the topic title to include model number]

jorge_garcia

Hi, again. So de problem seems to be related to the BIOS version (1.18). Is there any way to downgrade to 1.16?

The flashing utility does not allow to downgrade, but, in the BIOS, there is a switch to enable the downgrade process, but I don't know if it is secure, or if must be done with different means, and not with the flashing utility…

Thank you!