Problems with R5*-series power management system

[JFelt]

I am responsible for managing a series of R50, R51, and R52 ThinkPads. In many of these deployments I have seen that the APM system reduces the processor speed to an unmanageable level, usually around 20-40%. This occurs when an example machine is on A/C power, or battery power, and usually does not change when the power state changes. On several of the units, I have modified the configuration in the APM module to set the processor speed to Maximum while on A/C, to no avail, even after repeated reboots. Even in the BIOS, I've set the processor speed to Maximum while on A/C, and that works for a short period of time, even though the BIOS setting remains unchanged.

Any known issues like this, or possible suggestions?