W520 running Windows 10 does not throttle CPU while on battery

[Sleepy664]

I wonder if this is just my own luck or if it can be confirmed by anyone else.

On W520 with Windows 10, while running on a battery, the CPU doesn't limit its frequency to mere 800 MHz all the time anymore.

Only time it limits to 800 MHz is when some software uses the nVidia GPU. With integrated graphics in use it goes go over 3 GHz without any hassle.


So...can anyone confirm or is my W520 weirdly broken?

[Sleepy664]

Proof:
Running on battery, GPU notification icon grey, 3 GHz – http://imgur.com/5cqcj9m

It looks like after 5 years the main issue with W520 is finally solved...

[hhhd1]

Only time it limits to 800 MHz is when some software uses the nVidia GPU. With integrated graphics in use it goes go over 3 GHz without any hassle.

I thought that was the normal behavior ...
(I do not own a w520 myself though)

[MisterB]

Power manager doesn't work correctly in Windows 10 and the Windows power management isn't nearly as good. Windows 10 is the worst OS by far for power use on my W520 and there is a periodic spike in CPU use that really runs it up plus the throttling doesn't work as it does in Windows 7. I haven't tried it on batteries but it doesn't surprise me that it does this.

[jedisurfer1]

So how is the win10 experience on the w520 or w530? I've got some relatives asking about it.

[Sleepy664]

On W7 my CPU was running at 800 MHz all the time, with nVidia GPU used or not, regardless of any power management setting. Even some basic browsing could be bothersome and slow so for me this is an improvement Maybe it was broken




As for W10 on W520...there are some issues. Power manager is one of them but I found that I can live without it.

I'm sort of a minimalist so I only have Lenovo Active Protection installed...and the rest is sorted out by Windows Update. My approach comes with limitations: Fn-Fkeys combos not working, card reader not working and so on, most of it can be made working again just by installing a necessary driver...but I just didn't bother enough...


I have to say that I like W10 even more than W7. Your mileage may vary.