Microsoft's Surface Pro 6 and Surface Book 2 software face tough issues as processor (CPU) clock speeds drastically reduce speeds, says TechRepublic. The report stems from user complaints that the Intel processors in their machines are throttling to 400 MHz.
For reference, the lowest-spec Surface Pro 6 uses an Intel Core i5-8250U processor, which is typically clocked at 1.6 GHz. That's four times faster than users' throttled speed. And, this processor can boost up to 3.4 GHz, more than eight times faster than the reduced clock speed.
The culprit for throttling is unclear, but systems in these cases report a "BD PROCHOT" processor flag indicating that a component in the computer is getting too hot, causing throttling of the processor to lower temperatures within Computer. Unfortunately, the limitation does not stop, because the clock speed at 400 MHz remains for some, even after the computer is shut down and restarted.
But which component?
Typically, you can expect the computer's temperature to drop and the processor to return to normal speed once the component that raised the flag stops overheating. But in this case, it is not obvious that a component will actually overheat.
Some users have suggested stopping throttling when unplugging from a Surface Dock or AC adapter, while others suggest antivirus software may be involved. What may be the root of all this is a firmware update. One was recently released for the Surface Pro 6.
It wouldn't be the first time an update has caused problems for Microsoft machines. Recently Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers have been having issues, and Windows 10 May 2019 Update caused problems for Surface Book 2.
A Microsoft representative told TechRepublic: "We are aware that some customers have reported a scenario with their Surface Books where the CPU speed is slowing down, and we are working quickly to resolve this issue via a firmware update." .