Lenovo L340-15irh CPU throttling at 75c

[Domis714]

So basically while playing high intensity games (for example Battlefield 1, GTA 5, FH5), when CPU reaches around 75c, the fps starts dropping to around 20-30 from 60. Tried undervolting and doing some other tweaks but nothing seems to work.

I don't know if it's a coincidence but I got my laptop serviced at certified Lenovo shop, the technicians cleaned up the fans and repasted the laptop with Arctic MX-4, since then I've been experiencing thermal throttling. Before servicing my laptop, the laptop's cpu temperature would reach at a max of around 80 c without any throttling and the FPS would stay at 60 mark (for example:

) . I remember playing modded Skyrim without any throttling issues. After cleaning/repasting it started to throttle. Did some benchmarking while playing Battlefield 1. When the CPU reaches 75 C mark (I suppose it exceeded 79 C, turned on turbo for a short time, this is the reason for 90c+), the fps drops from 60 to 30

In the options I set the PROCHOT Offset to 0 and locked it, but it doesn't seem to work, it is still thermal throttling

Specs:
Intel Core i5-9300h 2,40GHz
8 gb ram
Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650

Here is the configuration for ThermalStop program

 

[unclewebb]

Arctic MX-4

Some people that use MX-4 direct die on a laptop CPU will have cooling issues within a week of applying this thermal paste. Try something else like Noctua NT-H2.

Intel® Core™ i5-9300H Processor (8M Cache, up to 4.10 GHz) Product Specifications

Intel® Core™ i5-9300H Processor (8M Cache, up to 4.10 GHz) quick reference guide including specifications, features, pricing, compatibility, design documentation, ordering codes, spec codes and more.

ark.intel.com

The processor base frequency for a 9300H is 2.40 GHz. When turbo boost is disabled, this is the speed the CPU will run at. You have enabled TDP Level 1 which is a low power TDP. Low TDP mode has a lower base multiplier associated with it. This is what probably causes the CPU to run at 2.00 GHz instead of 2.40 GHz. There is no need to check the TDP Level option. Set it back to 0, reboot, and leave TDP Level alone.

   DATE       TIME    MULTI   C0%   CKMOD  BAT_mW  TEMP    VID   POWER
2023-03-16  21:26:30  24.00    7.0  100.0       0   75   0.7550   12.8
2023-03-16  21:26:31  24.00    3.5  100.0       0   75   0.7560   12.7
2023-03-16  21:26:32  24.00    5.9  100.0       0   75   0.7540   12.8
2023-03-16  21:26:33  24.00    9.2  100.0       0   75   0.7538   12.6
2023-03-16  21:26:34  24.00    6.4  100.0       0   75   0.7518   12.5
2023-03-16  21:26:35  24.00    3.5  100.0       0   75   0.7534   12.7
2023-03-16  21:26:36  24.00    3.3  100.0       0   75   0.7587   12.7
2023-03-16  21:26:37  24.00    6.9  100.0       0   98   1.0746   16.9   TEMP
2023-03-16  21:26:38  35.91    5.0  100.0       0   98   0.9594   30.1   TEMP
2023-03-16  21:26:39  34.63    3.4  100.0       0   97   1.0483   28.5   TEMP

The moment you enable turbo boost, the CPU speed shoots up, the CPU temperature is at 98°C and thermal throttling begins. That is what all those TEMP messages mean in the log file. When your computer is not thermal throttling like this, it is running OK. You just need to fix the cooling problem. A slight load on the CPU should not be causing it to reach almost 100°C. Fix the botched thermal paste job.

I set the PROCHOT Offset to 0

That is working correctly. Your CPU really is getting hot.

 

[aliunq]

my laptop is exact yours .. this is really bad designed laptop .. REALLY BAD
your settings is good .. u can cap the TPL on 30-35W it may help
use some paste with higher visosity / density .. TG Kryonaut Extreme for example .. it performs better at high temps
also i have a customized 12V/2A cooling pad made by myself.. its really helping

 

[Domis714]

Some people that use MX-4 direct die on a laptop CPU will have cooling issues within a week of applying this thermal paste. Try something else like Noctua NT-H2.

Intel® Core™ i5-9300H Processor (8M Cache, up to 4.10 GHz) Product Specifications

Intel® Core™ i5-9300H Processor (8M Cache, up to 4.10 GHz) quick reference guide including specifications, features, pricing, compatibility, design documentation, ordering codes, spec codes and more.

ark.intel.com

The processor base frequency for a 9300H is 2.40 GHz. When turbo boost is disabled, this is the speed the CPU will run at. You have enabled TDP Level 1 which is a low power TDP. Low TDP mode has a lower base multiplier associated with it. This is what probably causes the CPU to run at 2.00 GHz instead of 2.40 GHz. There is no need to check the TDP Level option. Set it back to 0, reboot, and leave TDP Level alone.

   DATE       TIME    MULTI   C0%   CKMOD  BAT_mW  TEMP    VID   POWER
2023-03-16  21:26:30  24.00    7.0  100.0       0   75   0.7550   12.8
2023-03-16  21:26:31  24.00    3.5  100.0       0   75   0.7560   12.7
2023-03-16  21:26:32  24.00    5.9  100.0       0   75   0.7540   12.8
2023-03-16  21:26:33  24.00    9.2  100.0       0   75   0.7538   12.6
2023-03-16  21:26:34  24.00    6.4  100.0       0   75   0.7518   12.5
2023-03-16  21:26:35  24.00    3.5  100.0       0   75   0.7534   12.7
2023-03-16  21:26:36  24.00    3.3  100.0       0   75   0.7587   12.7
2023-03-16  21:26:37  24.00    6.9  100.0       0   98   1.0746   16.9   TEMP
2023-03-16  21:26:38  35.91    5.0  100.0       0   98   0.9594   30.1   TEMP
2023-03-16  21:26:39  34.63    3.4  100.0       0   97   1.0483   28.5   TEMP

The moment you enable turbo boost, the CPU speed shoots up, the CPU temperature is at 98°C and thermal throttling begins. That is what all those TEMP messages mean in the log file. When your computer is not thermal throttling like this, it is running OK. You just need to fix the cooling problem. A slight load on the CPU should not be causing it to reach almost 100°C. Fix the botched thermal paste job.


That is working correctly. Your CPU really is getting hot.

Thanks, I will repaste the laptop. Is there any way to make sure that CPU doesn't throttle at 75C? Because, like aforementioned, used to run around 80C without any issues. Lenovo throttling really sucks - sets a temperature limit by just 75c instead of 90c. Sure, the laptop runs at 75C, but it can run slightly hotter without impacting the performance.

 

[unclewebb]

I did not see any low temperature throttling. The only reason your CPU is running slow is because you selected TDP Level 1 and you selected Disable Turbo. Your CPU is doing exactly what you are telling it to do. Fix the paste and then show me an updated log file and your updated settings. Don't make any changes to the ThrottleStop settings while you are logging data.

 

[Domis714]

I did not see any low temperature throttling. The only reason your CPU is running slow is because you selected TDP Level 1 and you selected Disable Turbo. Your CPU is doing exactly what you are telling it to do. Fix the paste and then show me an updated log file and your updated settings. Don't make any changes to the ThrottleStop settings while you are logging data.

Changed the thermal paste you mentioned and disabled TDP, no difference in terms of performance, still throttling at 75c. Enabling turbo still scorches my CPU and once it shut down my computer due to 100 C limit, changed PL1 and PL2 to 30W so it doesn't run as hot without sacrificing much performance. Even reinstalled Windows and downgraded BIOS to a lower version, still no effect.

 

[unclewebb]

still throttling at 75c

Your log file shows the CPU using the 24 multiplier. You have set the turbo ratios to 24 in the FIVR window. That is why your CPU is running at a reduced speed. Your CPU is not throttling because it is at 75°C. Your computer is running slow because you told it to run slow.

Your laptop has a cooling problem. What thermal paste are you using? Did you spread a thin layer? Is the heatsink sitting square to the CPU? Unless you find a way to fix your cooling problem, there is no way you can get maximum performance out of your computer. The 9300H has a 45W TDP rating. Any properly functioning laptop with this CPU should be able to run at up to 45W indefinitely without having a meltdown. I have no idea how your laptop ran when it was brand new. All I know is that the cooling system is not working now. The heatsink is either not installed correctly or perhaps it was damaged or perhaps it was never any good to begin with.

If your laptop shuts off at 100°C then increase the PROCHOT Offset value until this does not happen. Maybe your laptop needs an offset of 3 or 5 to prevent these shutdowns.

 

[Domis714]

Your log file shows the CPU using the 24 multiplier. You have set the turbo ratios to 24 in the FIVR window. That is why your CPU is running at a reduced speed. Your CPU is not throttling because it is at 75°C. Your computer is running slow because you told it to run slow.

Your laptop has a cooling problem. What thermal paste are you using? Did you spread a thin layer? Is the heatsink sitting square to the CPU? Unless you find a way to fix your cooling problem, there is no way you can get maximum performance out of your computer. The 9300H has a 45W TDP rating. Any properly functioning laptop with this CPU should be able to run at up to 45W indefinitely without having a meltdown. I have no idea how your laptop ran when it was brand new. All I know is that the cooling system is not working now. The heatsink is either not installed correctly or perhaps it was damaged or perhaps it was never any good to begin with.

If your laptop shuts off at 100°C then increase the PROCHOT Offset value until this does not happen. Maybe your laptop needs an offset of 3 or 5 to prevent these shutdowns.

So I got my computer fixed at a local repair shop (not the same one who done the botched job), it seems that the previous technicians accidentally bent 2 pins for the fan port, perhaps the fan wasn't working properly, in addition the local repair shop applied thermal paste that is not Arctic . Played Forza Horizon 5 for an hour - a stable 60 C temperature (max 63 C. without turbo), no throttling, no lags, using @aliunq setting. anyway, thanks for trying to help.

 

[Frick]

Some people that use MX-4 direct die on a laptop CPU will have cooling issues within a week of applying this thermal paste.

Why?

 

[unclewebb]

the previous technicians accidentally bent 2 pins

Not sure why everyone thinks that trained technicians are competent. Incompetent people can be found in all walks of life.
I prefer to work on my own computers.

Played Forza Horizon 5 for an hour - a stable 60 C

Your results speak for themselves. Now you can turn on turbo boost. Most laptops are designed to run reliably at much hotter temperatures than 60°C.

Why?

I talk to laptop owners every day and many people that are using MX-4 have terrible cooling problems. I am not sure why. It might be thermal paste pump out or the inability of MX-4 to work long term at continuous high temperatures that many modern laptops run at. Perhaps the contact pressure between the heatsink and CPU is inadequate in many laptops. Here is an example of pump out when using Noctua NT-H1 on a laptop CPU. The newer NT-H2 does not seem to have this problem.

Some thermal pastes do not work well when applied direct die. Desktop CPUs have an integrated heat spreader overtop of the cores. Mobile CPUs are just the bare die.

 

[Tzunios2001]

Hello to you all,
I need help with my laptop. I have same setting in FIVR and TPL as you mention above. I get a yellow thermal and a PL2 red. Also it gives a red POWER. What do i need to do? I believe that thermal is going to be fixed if i repaste but what about the red POWER?
Thank you!

 

[unclewebb]

Post screenshots of the FIVR and TPL windows.