Precision 5520 very low perfromance (CPU stuck at 0.78MHz, GPU0 overloaded)

Welcome to the Dell Community  @SalsaLevi 

Lets start with some newly released updates:

Dell Precision 5520 System BIOS:

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=P9YMW&oscode=WT64A&productcode=precision-15-5520-laptop

Intel Management Engine Components Installer:

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=4C0M1&oscode=WT64A&productcode=precision-15-5520-laptop

Intel Thunderbolt Controller Driver:

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=TBT79&oscode=WT64A&productcode=precision-15-5520-laptop

Not sure if you need this one???

nVIDIA GeForce GTX and Quadro graphic Driver:

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=3WTTH&oscode=WT64A&productcode=precision-15-5520-laptop

After updating run the benchmark test again and post the result.

Best regards,

U2

NOTE: What is the model number of you SSD???

Thank You, I updated all. Also tested with Support assist Software from Dell with no errors. But whenever I try to play videos (mainly in full screen, in HD 1080p), after couple of minutes this Precision lowers the CPU freq to minimum, the video begin to lag and GPU0 will overloaded (near 100%). Once it enter in this "state", it is very slow or does not respond until ca. I shut down the video playing or chrome or whatever application would need CPU power. 

I have the following SSD: KXG50PNV1T02 NVMe TOSHIBA 1024GB

This is the new test result: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/19173186

I think an old Pentium could perfrom better...

I tried to optimalize it with Dell Precision Optimizer, but when it reaches this "low CPU" state, it is useles, Photoshop, Premiere will lag or no respond regardless of whether I use this optimizer or not.

I run this machine from AC, both (the dock's cable AND the AC cable plugged in). Prior I noticed, that the TB15 dock cannot provide sufficient power for performing well (max. ca. 75W) regardless the fact, that Dell wanted me to buy the 240W dock version. It is totally useless, the standard of USB-C/Thunderbolt plug cannot convey that amount of power. So I decided to run the machine both AC plugged in. In the BIOS I see that AC Power 130W is recognised (so it is not "unknown").

Please give me an option how can I "switch off" this GPU0, that overtakes some kind of tasks and will die in seconds. I do not want to use that, since this machine has a dedicated card and "I suppose" a good CPU (Intel XEON E3-1505M v6) ...from that I feel nothing.

I try to use this machine layed down to my table upside down ...because it do not heat so much so. It is warn, but I can touch with my hands so I suppose it is not critical. On the other hand, how could be critical a mobil workstation like this, afer playing a full screen Full HD video for couple bunch of seconds? My mobile phone and my 2007 laptop could perform that without any difficulty.

Is there an option to avoid tha low CPU freq. state?

Is there an option to KILL / NOT USE that GPU0?

Thank You,

Sincerely,

Levi 

Hello! I already had this issue. It's due to the battery (but I don't know why...) You have to open the back of the laptop and unplug the battery. Start your laptop without the battery (the laptop must be powered with power adapter). After a normal windows starting, shutdown the laptop, replug the battery and remount the back cover. Your CPU should work at 100%.

Thank You for your advise, it did not worked for me. I tried to operate without accu-pack plugged in, but CPU lowers the frequency any way and the whole sytem stays in slow state. I think this Notebook is a fals concept, it can work with high performance only for very short time, after then it will be dummer than an old Pentium. This is my second machine, Dell already tried to figure out the cause of this issue without success and replaced my machine. Now I have the same issue. It is interesting, that I had the same experiance with Dell XPS15. So If you want a reliable and powerful laptop, I would NOT recommend to buy any Dell Precision 55xx series and XPS. 

@SalsaLevi I would recommend trying the steps in the following article to carry out an RTC reset on the system. It will work on the 5520 and should resolve the issue with your CPU being stuck on 800MHz.

https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN304892

If you could try that and let me know how you get on it would be appreciated.

Thanks, Alan

After clean windows installation, the laptop works ok
Earlier, I also noticed strange battery behavior. Discharging from 80% to 6% in a few minutes. I thought it was the fault of the battery (it also showed a diagostic test), but after re-installation it works ok for now. For sure going flat slower and performance are ok:
https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/21902177

Hi Allan

I tried this method with RTC reset. Turn off laptop, press and hold the power button for 30 seconds, but nothing happened. The laptop turned on and off and that's it... no more action. After few try, a "blue screen" appeared  and was no longer possible to start/restore windows, so I have to reinstalled the whole system from usb.
I've only been testing since yesterday and so far everything is ok with performance. Battery life is a bit shorter but it's probably the battery issue.

@Fenixxx did you try the steps outlined in the article for resetting the RTC? That should resolve any issues you had with the processor being stuck at 800 MHz.

After carrying out the OS reinstall, how long have you been testing the system for?

Have the battery issues also returned?

Alan

@Fenixxx can you clarify whether you were experiencing slow performance in general or slow performance because the CPU was stuck at 0.8GHz as those are two completely unrelated issues requiring different troubleshooting.

If your system is bluescreening at that point, i think there may a hardware fault here and possibly also OS causing your performance problems.

Alan

Had the same issue. As solved it as you said, plug-unplug battery! Thanks a lot!

Hello. 

I had the CPU issue and  @Kris777  solution worked for me! Thanks a lot!

Just want to add that the fix posted by Kris777 worked for me as well. My computer was unusably slow and taking the battery out fixed it. I tried RTC reset prior to doing it and there was no noticeable affect. 

I find this incredibly troubling and would love to know what the issue here is. I lost several days of work and hundreds of dollars due to this and was about to give up on the 5520 and buy a different workstation. 

I had the same issue (stuck at .78 MHz) and removing the battery fixed it for me as well.  Thanks for the post!

I had the same issue and the solution of @Kris777 works for me ! Thanks a lot @Kris777