CPU Maximum frequency stuck at 22%

Question

I've noticed my Dell Inspiron 5570's CPU usage in task manager has been stuck at a very low number, around 10 - 20% recently and as a result is slower than usual to the point where even simple applications such as Youtube take minutes to load if they manage to. I found the cause to be the CPU maximum frequency to be 22% at all times according to the resource monitor. My brother's laptop's maximum frequency fluctuates between 80 and over 100%, and so I presume this is what should occur. To fix this, I have tried:

• Restarting the computer
• Taking out and reentering the battery
• Updating Windows
• Setting the power plan's minimum and maximum CPU usage for on battery and plugged into 100%.
• Create a new power plan with 'high performance' and 100% minimum and maximum CPU 
• Uninstalling and reinstalling the Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control method Battery
• Checked the temperature which appears to be normal

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Tl;DR My laptop's CPU usage won't go above 22% even though the power plan tells it to

Sorry for my English

Answer 1

Hi

My name is Bernard and hopefully, this will help answer your question, I actually have the same problem as before and by following the steps below fixed my issue, I hope that works for you as well:

The slow pc performance is caused by either third party apps running in background or misconfiguration of the device.

Method 1. Do clean boot:

A “clean boot” starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, so that you can determine whether a background program is interfering with your game or program.

• In the search box on the taskbar, type msconfig and select System Configuration from the results.
• On the Services tab of System Configuration, select Hide all Microsoft services, and then select Disable all.
• On the Startup tab of System Configuration, select Open Task Manager.
• Under Startup in Task Manager, for each startup item, select the item and then select Disable.
• Close Task Manager.
• On the Startup tab of System Configuration, select OK. When you restart the computer, it's in a clean boot environment.

troubleshooting reference: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/929135...

Method 2. Run memory diagnostic tool: Memory diagnostic tool is a RAM test to check if there is any issues with RAM.

• Press Windows key + R then type in mdsched.exe hit OK then restart the device.

Method 3. Set the PC to best performance:

Press windows key + Pause/Break (or go to file explorer and right click This PC and click properties)

click on Advanced system settings> Under Performance click settings> Click Adjust for best performance and click OK

Note: this will reduce all appearance settings you have but will optimize the performance of the PC.

Let me know how does it goes and I hope that helps.

Bernard

Independent Advisor

Answer 2

Better if we can do factory reset first, and if the issue persist that is 100% hardware issue

Answer 3

Hello, thanks for your response.

I tried the first method but it didn't solve my problem, the maximum CPU was still at 22%.

I tried the second method and after 2 hours of testing it informed me that there were no issues detencted, and the CPU was still 22%

THe third method as well had no affect on the maximum frequecny.

Thank you, for your help. Do you think the issue is hardware or software related? I'm considering a factory reset, do you think that would have an effect?