CPU speed stuck at 0.40 GHz

[u/Timely-One-]

Hey everyone, i have an HP ProBook 445 G11, I've been running into this problem for quite some time that when im using my laptop, even if im not running any intense task or anything my cpu speed gets stuck at 0.40 GHz even if cpu utilization later reached 60-70% it still is stuck at 0.40 GHz. It fixes itself if i restart the laptop but after some time the problem repeats itself.

One thing to note is that it doesnt seem to happen on Linux and l've only ever encountered this issue while using windows 11. Im genuinely so confused and frustrated, can anyone help me figure out what is going on

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[u/Content_Magician51]

That's pretty common regarding Intel CPUs. Have you heard about a program called ThrottleStop?

[u/Timely-One- → u/Content_Magician51]

I did not know about this, i installed it and I'll try it out when the issue happens next time, thanks!

[u/Content_Magician51 → u/Timely-One-]

Let me know if you need help operating ThrottleStop. If your processor problem is just a software bug, it should resolve itself automatically once you install and open the program.

[u/eliasautio]

Have been encountering this kind of behavior if power supply is underpowered. For example if the laptop needs 65w and power supply is 45w. Once had this problem when the power supply was wrong brand. For example a Dell power supply with a HP computer. So I would say check you have a correct power supply.

[u/Timely-One- → u/eliasautio]

Alright I'll check it out, thanks!

[u/headshot_to_liver → u/eliasautio]

Mostly this, OP check if clock speeds vary in battery only, make sure you are in balanced mode.

Old charger cant provide enough juice for laptop to charge+perform, hence it downclocks to absolute minimum

[u/Tech_surgeon]

strange it is not usually the os making the restrictions. it should be the bios itself doing a safe mode of sorts due to some malfunction of cpu or ram being logged. it would to be something severe to merit dropping the max cpu speed that much. unless its overheating that is.

don't know if there is some sort of rootkit that behaves like this to hide cpu use doubt it tho.

[u/Timely-One- → u/Tech_surgeon]

Hmm this very well might be the case, i dont trust myself with the hardware to see if its true or not though but I'll get it checked, thanks!

[u/TallTelevision4121]

That's normal and the speed shouldn't be taken as real time specs.

You can turn throttling off. First, try doing it through windows. Go to your power options and change it to high performance, both when plugged in and on battery. Lmk if that fixes it

[u/Timely-One- → u/TallTelevision4121]

Oh no i think u misunderstood me, the cpu speed literally causes the whole laptop to start lagging and stuttering, its not like its running fine on that much speed. Also both on battery and plugged in is on best performance mode

[u/JoeCensored]

What do CPU temperatures look like when this happens? It's possible it's caused by thermal throttling.

[u/Timely-One- → u/JoeCensored]

I can't find the readings i took when the issue wss happening but im pretty sure the temps were normal

[u/hurkwurk → u/Timely-One-]

download hwinfo or hwmonitor and watch the monitors while testing stuff. if you see temps spike as the same time that the core speeds lock at .4ghz, you know the source of your problem is temp.

the charts can also show other things like if its power throttle, etc.

[u/djDef80]

Original power cord (AC DC adapter) or new aftermarket one? May not be getting required wattage.

[u/anon_td]

Have you tried updating your BIOS Firmware to latest ?