A31P processor speed with Ultrabay battery + std.battery

[kiig]

Hi all. I've bought the UltraBay battery for my a31p and when it's inserted, - with the standard battery in as well (both working fine) the processor speed drops to 1.2 Ghz. (plugged in) If I boot without the ultrabay battery I get 2.0 Ghz. as I'm supposed to. Running the latest Embedded controller bios, - latest Powermanagement driver + latest Power utility... any ideas ?

Kim.

[kiig]

I discovered a new Bios version, - and after upgrading that, - it seems to have clicked into place... running @2Ghz. now again...

[stingbandel]

How long does your batteries last?


I am thinking of getting an ultrabay battery also.


Thanks

[stingbandel]

forgot to ask one more. How big is the capacity of the ultrabay one?

The main battery is 4000AH, what about the ultrabay one.

thanks

[kiig]

I actually don't know the amp.rating of the UltraBay battery, - the design capacity of the standard battery is 43 Wh, - the Ultrabay one is rated at 34 Wh, - so it's a bit 'smaller'. My standard battery gives me aprox. 1 hour, - with both installed I actually get more than 2 hours.. Don't know why, - but it seems to 'help' the standard battery .-)

Either way, - it's a trade off because I loose one of the very big advantages of the a31p, - the two ultrabays

Kim.

[kiig]

It seems like my problem has returned..

Looks like a thermal problem, - when the battery hit's 50 degrees C, - it won't charge, - and my computer 'clocks down' if I restart at that point. It remains at 2 Ghz. at least for a 'long time' if I don't do anything.... this is probably why I thought I fixed it by upgrading Bios and all that, - the battery must have been cold(er)....

If i unplug the computer from power, - let it empty the ultrabay battery and a bit more on the standard battery, - plug it back in, - then it looks as if : If the UltraBay battery is 49 degrees C or lower, - it will continue charging the UltraBay battery when the first is full, - if it's 50 degrees or more it will not charge, - and eventually the processor speed will drop to 1.2 Ghz.

Has anyone seen this behavior before ?

Talked to IBM, - they suggested another battery, - got it, - same thing, - then they suggested "reinstall Windows".. and how easy is that?!

Either way, - if I put the battery in the fridge for 5 minutes, - I can charge it again...


Tthe Ultra Bay battery is not the newest piece of merchandise... the first one had a manufacture date august 2001.... the second one (if the aging was a problem) was "much newer, - the newest they had"... from May 2002...

According to IBM this should not be a problem though....


But I would vertainly like to hear from any others uers with UltraBay batteries...

[stingbandel]

It seems like my problem has returned..

Looks like a thermal problem, - when the battery hit's 50 degrees C, - it won't charge, - and my computer 'clocks down' if I restart at that point. It remains at 2 Ghz. at least for a 'long time' if I don't do anything.... this is probably why I thought I fixed it by upgrading Bios and all that, - the battery must have been cold(er)....

If i unplug the computer from power, - let it empty the ultrabay battery and a bit more on the standard battery, - plug it back in, - then it looks as if : If the UltraBay battery is 49 degrees C or lower, - it will continue charging the UltraBay battery when the first is full, - if it's 50 degrees or more it will not charge, - and eventually the processor speed will drop to 1.2 Ghz.

Has anyone seen this behavior before ?

Talked to IBM, - they suggested another battery, - got it, - same thing, - then they suggested "reinstall Windows".. and how easy is that?!

Either way, - if I put the battery in the fridge for 5 minutes, - I can charge it again...


Tthe Ultra Bay battery is not the newest piece of merchandise... the first one had a manufacture date august 2001.... the second one (if the aging was a problem) was "much newer, - the newest they had"... from May 2002...

According to IBM this should not be a problem though....


But I would vertainly like to hear from any others uers with UltraBay batteries...

is it the speed step that's causing the speed to drop? If you want it to run at max all the time then you can confifure the battery maximixer to run at max performance.

That's what I do in order to get max.

hope that helps....

[kiig]

it is configured to run at max...

I think it's like the problem with a faulty or missing battery, - there you can't get full speed either, - like if one removes the battery because the computer is allways plugged in.. I've read you can't get full speed without a battery in the machine.

[ksaisjja]

This is true for sure. My A31 and my buddy's T40 will not run full speed without a battery installed and AC connected. (I can make mine run full speed on battery-only, but that is not much good)


--Henry

[kiig]

Thanx for the confirmation Henry.

I can even see it 'clock down' with only the standard battery present, - but only if I stress the processor.. is there some sort of thermal threshold that slows down the processor when a certain temperature has been reached.. ?


I haven't noticed it before. on the other hand, I haven't been paying attention

I usually use a port replicator, - with the lid closed, - that might affect the heat... looks as if it is running at full speed for a period of time, - then it clocks down, - the temperature drops slightly, - and after a while it goes up to full speed again and so on...

(I'm making AVI movies at the moment, - 24 hour+ 100% cpu... )


I recall having problems with the latest PM driver (1.3) from IBM, - and way back I reverted to 1.25 (their special package), - can't remember the problem, - but maybe I should try a full circle reinstall of PM drivers, - Battery Management util and so on (nothing else actually, have the latest bios and the latest embedded controller driver (1.04)