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i7-3740qm can't control multiplier with "Set Multiplier"

JadeRover

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2025
Messages
2 (2.00/day)
Hi,

So I have a dell m6700 worstation laptop with an ivy bridge i7-3740qm. I have unlocked the 4 extra turbo bins on the i7 meaning I can do single core 4.1ghz instead of 3.7. However I have a problem, on TS 9.7.2 I can't control the cpu multiplier using the TS option. I tried with an without Speed Step, Prochot, performance mode, etc. The only way I can control clocks is by using either the disable turbo but that clocks me down to 2.7ghz. Or by using the "Clock Mod" however this limits me to 3.8hz, 3.5ghz, 3.3ghz, 3.0ghz.

Moreover I also noticed that my sytsem barely hits 4.1ghz, usually, when only stressing one core, I'm lucky to see 4.01 ghz and thats only when doing the TS benchmark, even though the cpu does have 41x multiplier available and it is not power limited (I raised the short and long PL to 80w forever and in multi core benchmark it goes up to 67w no problem). In single core it tops out at 35w and there isn't any thermal limiting that I am aware.

I would like to make it a steady 4 ghz or at least be able to fine tune the multiplier as in games I get thermally limited reaching 105c on the CPU. My thermal paste is cheap I need to change it and the cooling isn't the best overall.
 

unclewebb

ThrottleStop & RealTemp Author
Joined
Jun 1, 2008
Messages
8,134 (1.33/day)
Post a screenshot of ThrottleStop and a screenshot of the TRL window. I have not used a 3rd Gen CPU in the last decade so that will help jog my memory.

4.1 GHz is likely only available when a single core is active. You do not have a fully unlocked K series processor. The 3740QM is only partially unlocked. Windows background tasks are always going to be busy activating additional cores so 4.1 GHz is never or rarely going to be used. You will never see 4.1 GHz while playing games.

control clocks
Check the SpeedStep box. Use the Windows High Performance power plan. Press the ThrottleStop Turn On button. ThrottleStop should not say Monitoring in the title bar. Check Set Multiplier and adjust that value. In theory this should allow you to control the CPU speed. Any 3rd Gen testing would have happened so many years ago that I have no memories of what sort of limitations there might be with 3rd Gen CPUs.

Show me some screenshots if this is not working.
 

JadeRover

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2025
Messages
2 (2.00/day)
Thanks, here is the screenshot

1739147740562.png


This is with no load but the 33T multiplier isn't taking effect.

also I tried messing with the extra turbo voltage offset but there is no effect.

I'm starting to suspect that maybe the dell bios has something to do with it. To unlock the aditional 4 bins, I had to boot up in EFI grub mode and edit some nvram variables to allow the max turbo ratio to be 41, 40, 39 and 39.

What is strange tho is with the clock mod ticked down a bit, it does take effect and slow down the cpu under load as you can see here.
1739147957040.png
 

unclewebb

ThrottleStop & RealTemp Author
Joined
Jun 1, 2008
Messages
8,134 (1.33/day)
the 33T multiplier isn't taking effect.
The Non Turbo Ratio has to be set to 0 for Set Multiplier to work correctly. The Non Turbo Ratio is locked so you will need to unlock that before using Set Multiplier.

I tried messing with the extra turbo voltage offset but there is no effect
What sort of effect were you looking for? Is there any reason why you need to add extra turbo voltage? You only need more voltage if your computer is crashing. The voltage usually adjusts automatically in these CPUs when you increase the turbo ratios. It is possible when the Turbo Overclocking register is locked that the Extra Turbo Voltage is locked internally too.

I had to boot up in EFI grub mode
Try setting the Turbo Overclocking and Non Turbo Ratio locks to zero.
 
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