i7-7700HQ Switching Turboboost Ratio Limits not switching values

[deadsnake]

Hi! Recently I've discovered that I have a problem with switching my turboboost ratio limits - with non-turbo, frequencies of 7700hq can be up to 2.8GHz, and with Turbo-Boost - up to 3.8GHz.
Back in 2018 I used the thread from this forum to get some values to adjust my undervolting, so that I wasnt throttling and at the same time not experiencing BSOD, and still using turbo-boost up to desired extent. Everything was seems to be working throughout these years, but now theres a problem that I cant solve for some reason.

I usually keep my turboboost (TB) frequencies around 3400-3500MHz, but after a laptop dust cleanup and change of thermal paste, I can afford switching to 3600-3700MHz. This is something that i tried to do for past couple of weeks after a cleanup, however, for some reason ThrottleStop doesnt let me go up to a frequencies I want. It keeps me around 3400-3500MHz, or when I'm playing something it strictly locks me for 3400MHz, and I cant get the limits that I want. I tried playing with speedshift, PL1 and PL2 values, nothing seems to work. I tried switching TB on and off, rebooting multiple times, switching ICCMax values, and ofcourse playing with TB Limit values (it is alsow worth noting that I could switch to lower values (for example, switching to 3300 or 3100 would work without any issues). I will attach all my ThrottleStop info in the screenshots below. It is also worth noting that before recent, switching values to 3600-3700 was working, and now it does not. For the record, I did not updated my BIOS, however I keep updating my Windows 10 consistently, whenever update comes in (it seems like updates sometimes can hinder your CPU performance, so to avoid that, I keep up with the updates).

If someone could help me out, I'd highly appreciate it, because nothing seems to work so far
P.S. I know that in Limits PL1 and PL2 values are indicated as yellow, I tried to switch values around - still was no result.


Thanks

 

[unclewebb]

for some reason ThrottleStop doesnt let me go up to a frequencies I want

ThrottleStop shows the maximum turbo ratios your CPU supports.

38, 36, 35, 34.

What you might want and the speeds your CPU supports are two different things. Setting any of the turbo ratios higher than the maximum default values that are shown in the Turbo column does not work. The 7700HQ is a locked processor. It cannot be overclocked. The CPU automatically ignores any requests higher than the default values.

The biggest problem with your settings is IccMax is set to only 12.00 A for the cache. IccMax for both the core and the cache should always be set to the max, 255.75.

Make sure you are using the Windows High Performance power plan. There is no real reason to set Speed Shift Min to 36. Setting the Min to the recommended value of 8 should work exactly the same as long as you are using the High Performance power plan.

 

[deadsnake]

ThrottleStop shows the maximum turbo ratios your CPU supports.

38, 36, 35, 34.

I should've paid more attention to it after I updated TS to the last version, thanks!

The biggest problem with your settings is IccMax is set to only 12.00 A for the cache. IccMax for both the core and the cache should always be set to the max, 255.75.

I tried it to switching to max values before making a post here, put both cache and core ICCMax to 255.75 - result was no different, unfortunately. I put it back to 255.75 again to test it out (and keep it 255.75 from now on) - same outcome.

Make sure you are using the Windows High Performance power plan. There is no real reason to set Speed Shift Min to 36. Setting the Min to the recommended value of 8 should work exactly the same as long as you are using the High Performance power plan.

Instead of using High Performance power plan, Im using custom setup, where everything is switched to max performance. I just tried to switch the speed shift back to 8, and while playing CPU was using under-boost values, and obviously this is not what I want.


I discovered that while the system is not heavily loaded - CPU is able to provide frequencies that are more >3600MHz (this was captured while writing this message):

However, during the loads/playing - CPU is locked to 3400MHz (screenshot taken while playing):

Here's the screenshots of FIVR and TPL settings now (I switched speedshift back to 38 to get at least 3400MHz values, otherwise it was bad):

 

[Calenhad]

Instead of using High Performance power plan, Im using custom setup, where everything is switched to max performance. I just tried to switch the speed shift back to 8, and while playing CPU was using under-boost values, and obviously this is not what I want.

Why? Let the CPU run at a lower speed while the load does not require max speed. The speed algorithm will max out the CPU speed when required (within the limits set in bios/by you)

 

[deadsnake]

Why? Let the CPU run at a lower speed while the load does not require max speed. The speed algorithm will max out the CPU speed when required (within the limits set in bios/by you)

I usually switch to balanced mode during browsing/studying etc, and while I'm playing I want to get the maximum framerate possible without framedrops (not up to a point where my CPU throttles, ofcourse).

Edit: 3400MHz does not provide the performance I want, usually 3600 make it work best, but I cant get out of the lock for some reason.

 

[unclewebb]

When playing a game and all 4 CPU cores are active, the maximum multiplier available is 34. Intel designed this CPU to use the faster 35, 36 or 38 multipliers but only when the CPU is lightly loaded. No 7700HQ can use a multiplier higher than 34 multiplier when playing the game you are playing. That is the maximum.

CPU is locked to 3400MHz

Your CPU is doing exactly what it should be doing and it is running at the speed it should be running at. If you need a faster CPU then you need to buy a different computer. ThrottleStop cannot make your CPU run any faster.

Your power limit values are wrong. You should always set PL2 equal to or higher than PL1.

PL1 = 45W and PL2 = 60W is OK
PL1 = 60W and PL2 = 45W is wrong

I switched Speed Shift back to 38 to get at least 3400MHz values, otherwise it was bad

You are not using the Windows High Performance power plan. That is why setting Speed Shift Min to 8 was bad. If you cannot find the High Performance power plan in Windows Options then you can check the High Performance box on the main screen of ThrottleStop to access this Windows power plan. When you are using the Windows High Performance power plan, the FIVR monitoring table will show Speed Shift EPP equal to 0. Your FIVR screenshot shows Speed Shift EPP is 128. That is the problem.

 

[deadsnake]

When playing a game and all 4 CPU cores are active, the maximum multiplier available is 34. Intel designed this CPU to use the faster 35, 36 or 38 multipliers but only when the CPU is lightly loaded. No 7700HQ can use a multiplier higher than 34 multiplier when playing the game you are playing. That is the maximum.

Oh shit, my bad then, for some reason I've always thought that 7700HQ had different capabilities all this time, thank you very much!
Is there any datasheet where I could read regarding how limits on 7700HQ works?

You are not using the Windows High Performance power plan. That is why setting Speed Shift Min to 8 was bad. If you cannot find the High Performance power plan in Windows Options then you can check the High Performance box on the main screen of ThrottleStop to access this Windows power plan. When you are using the Windows High Performance power plan, the FIVR monitoring table will show Speed Shift EPP equal to 0. Your FIVR screenshot shows Speed Shift EPP is 128. That is the problem.

Now I see how it works. After switching speedshift in TPL 8min and 38max, in main menu setting 0 did work. I also figured that instead of using high performance windows mode (although now they're the same setting), i can impose manually created performance mode and apply it in TS.

Should I clamp PL1 and PL2 limits? And what exactly clamp do in this case?

PL1 = 45W and PL2 = 60W is OK
PL1 = 60W and PL2 = 45W is wrong

Switched the orders, thanks! From what I've read, yellow indication on the PL1 in Limits page is acceptable, should I do anything regarding that?

P.S. Once again, thank you for clarifying things up! Would you suggest to change anything else in the performance settings?

 

[unclewebb]

I would set PL1 and PL2 both to 60. Do not check the Lock box in the Power Limit Controls section. Check the MMIO Lock box in the Turbo Power Limits section. You need to reboot your computer to unlock the MSR power limits before you can change them.

I do not check either of the Clamp boxes. Checking Clamp tells the CPU to throttle slower than the base frequency. This would not be good.

Is there any datasheet

Intel does not publish turbo ratio information. Just use ThrottleStop. It shows you the correct turbo ratio maximum values.

 

[deadsnake]

I would set PL1 and PL2 both to 60. Do not check the Lock box in the Power Limit Controls section. Check the MMIO Lock box in the Turbo Power Limits section. You need to reboot your computer to unlock the MSR power limits before you can change them.

Do I understand correct that after checking MMIO box and rebooting, now my PL1 and PL2 values are directly passed through the MSR?

 

[unclewebb]

Checking MMIO Lock means that instead of having two separate sets of turbo power limits, now there is only the MSR turbo power limits.

Intel hired too many people and put them to work on too many different throttling schemes. Only thermal throttling when a CPU gets too hot is necessary. The less throttling schemes, the more consistent your CPU will run.

 

[deadsnake]

Checking MMIO Lock means that instead of having two separate sets of turbo power limits, now there is only the MSR turbo power limits.

Intel hired too many people and put them to work on too many different throttling schemes. Only thermal throttling when a CPU gets too hot is necessary. The less throttling schemes, the more consistent your CPU will run.

Thank you for your assistance! Now TS should be in order more or less, so no questions further.