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Yellow boxes in limit reasons, what do they mean?

Joined
Aug 22, 2023
Messages
20 (0.03/day)
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4500U CPU @ 1.80GHz 1.80 GHz
Memory 8GB of RAM
Video Card(s) NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M
Power Supply 240W
Software Windows 11
What do these yellow boxes in Limit Reasons mean?
I always clean them whenever I boot up my computer, but after a while, they come back.
The Utilization box is the one I'm most curious about, since it occasionally flashes red for a second or less.

ThrottleStop 9.6 11_03_2025 12_52_00.png
 
Autonomous Utilization-Based Frequency Control Status
When set, frequency is reduced below the operating system request because the processor has detected that utilization is low.

It is normal to see Utilization light up red when you are sitting mostly idle at the desktop. The CPU is not delivering maximum performance because it does not need to. You are not doing anything too demanding when sitting at the desktop looking at the screen.

Intel's U series of processors were designed for low power consumption. The default turbo power limits are set very low to conserve power. When the power limits are set low, PL1 and PL2 will easily light up red. When a current limit is set low, EDP CURRENT will light up red. The CPU is throttling itself to limit maximum power consumption.

Some users have compared Limit Reasons to a Christmas tree that is constantly lighting up with various boxes flashing red. That is normal when you have a low power U series CPU.
 
It is normal to see Utilization light up red when you are sitting mostly idle at the desktop. The CPU is not delivering maximum performance because it does not need to. You are not doing anything too demanding when sitting at the desktop looking at the screen.

Intel's U series of processors were designed for low power consumption. The default turbo power limits are set very low to conserve power. When the power limits are set low, PL1 and PL2 will easily light up red. When a current limit is set low, EDP CURRENT will light up red. The CPU is throttling itself to limit maximum power consumption.

Some users have compared Limit Reasons to a Christmas tree that is constantly lighting up with various boxes flashing red. That is normal when you have a low power U series CPU.
I see.
What would happen if I set a high power limit then?
 
What would happen if I set a high power limit then?
Try it and find out.

Post a TPL screenshot. The BIOS might have locked the power limits. If you see a yellow lock icon on the left side of the MSR Power Limits Control section then you cannot use any software to change the turbo power limits.
 
Try it and find out.

Post a TPL screenshot. The BIOS might have locked the power limits. If you see a yellow lock icon on the left side of the MSR Power Limits Control section then you cannot use any software to change the turbo power limits.
These are my TPL settings at the moment.
1741729444366.png
 
All those yellow lock icons indicate the values that were locked by the BIOS. Locked values cannot be changed. That is typical of laptop computers from that era.
 
All those yellow lock icons indicate the values that were locked by the BIOS. Locked values cannot be changed. That is typical of laptop computers from that era.
I see.
So there isn't really much I can mess with in this laptop's settings aside from basic stuff then.
 
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