CPU doesn't run at full power if I plug in my laptop while ThrottleStop is open

[Shino]

I use the Gigabyte G5 KD laptop, which has an i5-11400H CPU and RTX 3060 GPU. When I plug in my laptop while ThrottleStop is open, the CPU never runs at full power. The wattage barely goes over 20 watts and the clock speed typically stays in the 2GHz range, sometimes reaching 3GHz. The only way to get the CPU to run at full power is to either:

• Close ThrottleStop and unplug my laptop and plug it back in
• Close ThrottleStop and use my laptop's control center to switch from one power mode to the other and then switch back

When I look at the Limit Reasons section, EDP OTHER is constantly red. I don't know what that means, but it only appears when the CPU is in this nerfed state. Does anyone have any idea why this happens and if it can be fixed?

 

[unclewebb]

EDP OTHER is constantly red

EDP throttling is typically caused by current limits that are set too low. Try setting IccMax for both the core and the cache to the max. That should be 255.75 for an 11th Gen CPU. In the TPL window set Power Limit 4 to the max, 1023. While you are in the TPL window, check the MMIO Lock box near the top right corner of this window.

use my laptop's control center

I am not sure what control center software you are using or how it interacts with ThrottleStop. Some software and some computers can program an embedded controller (EC) to set current limits that ThrottleStop has no control over.

Try running an updated log file with the recommended settings.

 

[ChemicalDruid]

I am not sure what control center software you are using or how it interacts with ThrottleStop. Some software and some computers can program an embedded controller (EC) to set current limits that ThrottleStop has no control over.

GIGABYTE CONTROL CENTER - GIGABYTE Global

 

[Shino]

GIGABYTE CONTROL CENTER - GIGABYTE Global

My laptop uses Clevo's Control Center app since it's a rebranded Clevo laptop.

EDP throttling is typically caused by current limits that are set too low. Try setting IccMax for both the core and the cache to the max. That should be 255.75 for an 11th Gen CPU. In the TPL window set Power Limit 4 to the max, 1023. While you are in the TPL window, check the MMIO Lock box near the top right corner of this window.


I am not sure what control center software you are using or how it interacts with ThrottleStop. Some software and some computers can program an embedded controller (EC) to set current limits that ThrottleStop has no control over.

Try running an updated log file with the recommended settings.

Setting the IccMax to 255.75 seems to fix the issue. EDP OTHER no longer appears, and the wattage and clock speed are now where they should be. It stays this way even after setting the IccMax back to 74. I also tried setting Power Limit 4 to the max and locking the MMIO box, but I'm not sure it did anything since the CPU was still power limit throttling to 45 watts.

 

[unclewebb]

CPU was still power limit throttling to 45 watts.

The previous screenshot you posted shows that the MSR PL1 power limit is set to 45 Watts. Your CPU might be power limit throttling at 45W because your ThrottleStop settings are telling the CPU to PL1 power limit throttle at 45W.

Have you tried increasing this limit? Clear the Disable Controls box and change Long Power PL1 from 45 to about 70. Run another stress test. If you are still being power limit throttled at 45W then that would confirm that your laptop is using a third set of turbo power limits that ThrottleStop does not have access to. The 11400H has a 45W TDP rating so some manufacturers go out of their way to enforce the 45W TDP limit.

It stays this way even after setting the IccMax back to 74.

Power Limit 4 was set way too low. It was likely PL4 that was causing EDP throttling. Some laptops lower the current limits when switching to battery power or for some other random reason. They do not always remember to set Power Limit 4 higher after they lower it.

 

[Shino]

I've just tried setting the PL1 to 70 watts and the CPU is no longer throttling to 45 watts. Looks like everything is good now.