NUC M15 laptop LAPBC710 - Bad performance on battery power

[kappabruce]

Hi

I'm noticing that when I am unplugged and running off battery, the CPU performance is severely reduced.

If I am running something that fully taxes all cores, the CPU usage according to task manager is limited to around 50-60% and the clock speed is only around 2.0GHz. When plugged in, I am getting 3.5GHz+ with 100% of the CPU utilized, as it should be.

This is unacceptable and I would like a solution.

Thanks

[JosueO_Intel]

Hello kappabruce,

Thank you for posting on the Intel communities. In order to have a better understanding of the issue, please share with us the following information: 

1. Was it working before? If so, when did the issue start happening?
2. With which tasks does the issue occur?
3. Screenshot of the issue.

Also, please download and install the Intel System Support Utility (Intel SSU):

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25293/Intel-System-Support-Utility-for-Windows- 

Open the application and select "Everything" click on "Scan" to see the system and device information. By default, Intel SSU will take you to the "Summary View". Click on the menu where it says "Summary" to change to "Detailed View".  

Click on "Next", save the report and attach it to your response.

Regards, 

Josue O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[kappabruce]

Hello,

1. I recently purchased the laptop but I was only using it plugged in, therefore this issue would have not occurred to me. It was when I started using it on battery power these couple days where I noticed it. I believe this problem has always existed.

2. Any kind of task that taxes all cores of the processor heavily. For example video transcoding, code compilation, etc.

3. I have attached screenshots of CPU clock and usage on AC adapter vs on battery power. Battery power is severely throttled and utilization appears to be capped at 50% as well!

Thanks

[JosueO_Intel]

Hello kappabruce,

Thank you for the information provided.  

I will proceed to check the issue internally and post back soon with more details. 

Regards, 

Josue O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[JosueO_Intel]

Hello kappabruce,

In this case, please try performing a BIOS recovery using the "BIOS Recovery by Power Button Menu" method, you can find the instructions on the following link:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000056678.html

Remember to use the latest BIOS version available to perform the recovery, you can download it on the following link:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/19683/bios-update-for-the-intel-nuc-m15-laptop-kit-...

Let me know the results of this process.

Regards, 

Josue O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[kappabruce]

Hi

I have competed the BIOS recovery by power button menu. Unfortunately it has not helped. The same issue persists.

[DeividA_Intel]

Hello kappabruce, 

Thank you for the information provided 

I will proceed and continue with the research and post back soon with more details. 

Best regards, 

Deivid A.  

Intel Customer Support Technician 

[DeividA_Intel]

Hello kappabruce, 

Based on the research performed, this behavior is expected since the processor reduces power when is unplugged.

The Laptop kit comes with a feature called: Intel® Speed Shift Technology. You can disable this feature under Advanced: Undervolting.

Regards,  

Deivid A.  

Intel Customer Support Technician 

[kappabruce]

Hi

There is no "Undervolting" category in the Advanced tab. I found the Speed Shift setting under the Performance tab instead.

I have disabled Speed Shift as per your instructions. However, once again, the behavior does not change at all, and the same issue is present.

It is really frustrating that I cannot have usable performance under battery power.

Especially ironic considering Intel themselves claim to have no performance compromises when running on battery power compared to the competition: https://www.pcworld.com/article/393751/shots-fired-intel-says-ryzen-4000-performance-stinks-on-batte...

I am still looking for a fix...

[Ronny_G_Intel]

Hi @kappabruce,

I am guessing that this issue that you are reporting is configurable via Windows Power Management options.
If you go to Power Management you will probably see something like this:

If you have "Power Saver" option selected, the behavior that you are reporting is expected, the system will limite performance in order to save power.

If you click on "Change plan settings" and go to "Change Advanced Power Settings" you will get a window like the one below

Expand Processor Power Management, you may want to set up a higher percentage for when the system is running on battery (default is 5%) 

You may also want to set up the Cooling Policy

One more thing, you may want to create your own Power Plan by clicking Create a Power Plan and I would recommend the "High Performance Option" based on your initicial request, this plan will favor performance but Processor adjustments are still required

Let me know if this helps.

Regards,

Ronny G

[kappabruce]

Hi

Unfortunately, this is not possible. In the power plan's advanced settings, there isn't Processor power management. The only options I have are: Desktop background settings, Sleep, Display, and Battery.

Also, there is no way for me to create a new power plan. I only have access to the default Balanced power plan.

Surely there are people at Intel who actually have access to the laptop they designed themselves? Where they can actually test for this issue..?

[Ronny_G_Intel]

Hi @kappabruce 

The settings I recommended before are regular Windows settings,  if you dont have any of these options it may be possible that you have a misconfigured power plan or that someone else has edited your computer's power plans (is this a corporate machine?)

Can you send me a screenshot when you go to Hardware and Sound>Power Options> Edit Plan Settings ?

You should see something like this:

You should be able to click on "Change advanced power settings"

And the next screen would be something like this:

Please send me those screenshots, if you don't have these options available perhaps we need to try to restore them, but this is more of a Windows* troubleshooting.

Regards,

Ronny G

[kappabruce]

Hi

It is not a corporate machine. I purchased it from a retailer for personal use.

I have attached the relevant screenshots. I have also done a clean Windows install and the behavior is exactly the same as how it was out of the box.

[JosueO_Intel]

Hello kappabruce,

I will check the inquiries internally and post back soon with more details. 

Regards, 

Josue O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[JosueO_Intel]

Hello kappabruce,

We will check the situation internally and post back soon with more details. 

Regards, 

Josue O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[JosueO_Intel]

Hello kappabruce,

Were you able to check our previous message?

Remember to share with us the screenshots requested. 

Regards, 

Josue O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[JosueO_Intel]

Hello kappabruce,

We will continue investigating the issue and post back soon with more details. 

Regards, 

Josue O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Ronny_G_Intel]

Hi @kappabruce 

I did some additional testing and the workaround I was telling you to try doesn't really change the performance behavior when the system is running off the battery.

Please allow a couple of days to work with the Laptop NUC team and I will get back to you.

Regards,

Ronny G

[Ronny_G_Intel]

Hi @kappabruce 

I apologize for the delay in getting back to you, the only way I found that you can use to increase power performance when running on battery mode is by double-clicking the battery icon in your system taskbar and using the power/performance slider to customize the operation, see picture below:

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Ronny G

[JosueO_Intel]

Hello kappabruce,

Were you able to check our previous post? Let us know if you still need assistance. 

Regards, 

Josue O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[JosueO_Intel]

Hello kappabruce,

We have not heard back from you, so we will close this thread. If you need any additional information, please submit a new question as this thread will no longer be monitored. 

Regards, 

Josue O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician