Help Tweaking 8550u In ThrottleStop

[unclewebb]

I often have to deal with almost 100° under load

Intel designed your CPU so it can run reliably at up to 100°C. If you want it to run at 80°C you can do that but you are going to have to sacrifice maximum performance.

Open up the Options window and see if PROCHOT Offset is unlocked. If you do not see a lock icon, set PROCHOT Offset to 20 and your CPU will reach a maximum temperature of 80°C (100°C - 20°C offset). At this point it will thermal throttle and slow down so it does not exceed 80°C.

The other method is to reduce your turbo power limits. The 8550U is a 15W processor. If your cooling solution is only good enough for 20W then set the long term turbo power limit to 20W. This will sacrifice performance but will help prevent your laptop from getting so hot.

Be very clear on exactly what you want. You should be able to set ThrottleStop up to fix your problem. Just keep in mind that you cannot use ThrottleStop to turn a heatsink engineered for 20W into a heatsink capable of dissipating 40W.

Edit - I just noticed that you have one of these Lenovo laptops that is changing the PROCHOT Offset value on the fly. This is forcing your CPU down to 400 MHz. I would definitely use ThrottleStop and lock the PROCHOT Offset value to 3. Intel recommends 0 but 3 should be OK. Forcing thermal throttling at 65°C is a really stupid thing for Lenovo to be doing. A laptop that only runs at 400 MHz in 2020 is unusable. I have a 12 year old Core 2 Duo laptop in my closet that runs 5 times faster than that.

 

[Tommah]

Thanks for your help! Changed my PROCHOT Offset to 3, so max 97°
Played around withe my TP from 20/40/44
Used Cinebench R20 for my last Log, max 3200Mhz up to 97°

 

[unclewebb]

@Tommah - You have to check the "Lock PROCHOT Offset" feature or else the Lenovo software running on your computer is going to try to change this value. Locking this in the Options window is the most efficient way to handle this problem. Once this is locked, ThrottleStop does not need to continuously check to see if this value has changed. To unlock this register, clear the Lock PROCHOT Offset box and then you will have to reboot to clear this CPU register.

Is your laptop running better? With a better heatsink, these CPUs are capable of so much more. When fully loaded, you are losing over 500 MHz due to poor thermal design. My daughter's Lenovo C930 with the same processor loves to party, until it gets too hot.

https://imgur.com/eo0J744

Edit - One problem I see is that your Nvidia GPU is constantly active. Most laptops use Nvidia Optimus so the Nvidia GPU goes dormant when it is not needed. Make sure you are not running any software in the background that is using your Nvidia GPU. Turning off the Nvidia GPU can help reduce battery power consumption. ThrottleStop GPU monitoring allows my Nvidia GPU to sleep. Some other monitoring apps might be preventing this. On my laptop when Optimus is working correctly, ThrottleStop shows this.

https://imgur.com/c64ofzZ

Edit - If you want a special Lenovo version of ThrottleStop, download this image, rename it logo.png and copy logo.png into your ThrottleStop folder.

 

[ereko]

@Tommah - You have to check the "Lock PROCHOT Offset" feature or else the Lenovo software running on your computer is going to try to change this value. Locking this in the Options window is the most efficient way to handle this problem. Once this is locked, ThrottleStop does not need to continuously check to see if this value has changed. To unlock this register, clear the Lock PROCHOT Offset box and then you will have to reboot to clear this CPU register.

Is your laptop running better? With a better heatsink, these CPUs are capable of so much more. When fully loaded, you are losing over 500 MHz due to poor thermal design. My daughter's Lenovo C930 with the same processor loves to party, until it gets too hot.

https://imgur.com/eo0J744

Edit - One problem I see is that your Nvidia GPU is constantly active. Most laptops use Nvidia Optimus so the Nvidia GPU goes dormant when it is not needed. Make sure you are not running any software in the background that is using your Nvidia GPU. Turning off the Nvidia GPU can help reduce battery power consumption. ThrottleStop GPU monitoring allows my Nvidia GPU to sleep. Some other monitoring apps might be preventing this. On my laptop when Optimus is working correctly, ThrottleStop shows this.

https://imgur.com/c64ofzZ

Edit - If you want a special Lenovo version of ThrottleStop, download this image, rename it logo.png and copy logo.png into your ThrottleStop folder.

I want to ask one question. Do you leave speedstep checked @unclewebb ?

 

[unclewebb]

@ereko - If Speed Shift is enabled (SST in green), having the older SpeedStep enabled or disabled seems to make no difference. I usually leave SpeedStep enabled. Mostly a force of habit. No need to do so if Speed Shift is enabled. The SpeedStep related CPU MHz control registers are not used if Speed Shift is enabled.

 

[ereko]

@ereko - If Speed Shift is enabled, having the older SpeedStep enabled or disabled seems to make zero difference. I usually leave SpeedStep enabled. Mostly a force of habit. No need to do so if Speed Shift (SST in green) is enabled.

Ok. Thanks for the answer and for the lenovo logo

 

[unclewebb]

@ereko - It seems to make people happy when they can disable SpeedStep. Desktop enthusiasts always recommend doing this so I left this option unlocked. The SpeedStep box should be disabled once Speed Shift is enabled because SpeedStep does not do anything, checked or unchecked.

The funny thing about SpeedStep is that many Asus desktop boards built during the last decade have a BIOS option that allows users to disable SpeedStep. After you do this, when you boot up and check the SpeedStep CPU register, you will find that this BIOS option is fake and it does not do anything. Whether you enable or disable SpeedStep in the BIOS, Asus decided that it would be a good idea to leave SpeedStep enabled within the CPU. Less problems with CPUs getting stuck at a low speed with no way to increase the speed if SpeedStep is disabled. I assume they did this to reduce the number of complaints.

With older CPUs or with computers that do not use Speed Shift Technology, there is no reason to disable SpeedStep. With SpeedStep enabled, if you want your CPU to run at full speed when it is idle, all you need to do is set the Windows power profile so the minimum and maximum processor state are both at 100%. This is the default setting for the Windows High Performance power profile.

The default size for logo.png is 230x90 so you can create your own custom version of ThrottleStop.
There are quite a few new customization options coming to the next version of ThrottleStop.

https://imgur.com/H7Isuop

 

[Tommah]

I changed now the "Global Settings" GPU from Automatic to Internal GPU, Games or Photoshop to Nvidia GPU (GPU Settings)
I do not have a Tweak-Software from Lenovo, just Lenovo Vantage for Updates, BIOS-Settings and my Windows Energy-Setting.

Nothing can be improved on the heatspreader/Fan. The part was simply built very compactly by Lenovo, had I known that at the time, I would have saved the money and taken the i5. It weighs little and is very thin, well suited for the university.

Im still confused about Turbo Boost Long and Short Power max: should i set both to 30? Up to 40?

Now i have to figure out how to load my profiles automaticlly from the windows 10 start.

 

[ereko]

@ereko - It seems to make people happy when they can disable SpeedStep. Desktop enthusiasts always recommend doing this so I left this option unlocked. The SpeedStep box should be disabled once Speed Shift is enabled because SpeedStep does not do anything, checked or unchecked.

The funny thing about SpeedStep is that many Asus desktop boards built during the last decade have a BIOS option that allows users to disable SpeedStep. After you do this, when you boot up and check the SpeedStep CPU register, you will find that this BIOS option is fake and it does not do anything. Whether you enable or disable SpeedStep in the BIOS, Asus decided that it would be a good idea to leave SpeedStep enabled within the CPU. Less problems with CPUs getting stuck at a low speed with no way to increase the speed if SpeedStep is disabled. I assume they did this to reduce the number of complaints.

With older CPUs or with computers that do not use Speed Shift Technology, there is no reason to disable SpeedStep. With SpeedStep enabled, if you want your CPU to run at full speed when it is idle, all you need to do is set the Windows power profile so the minimum and maximum processor state are both at 100%. This is the default setting for the Windows High Performance power profile.

The default size for logo.png is 230x90 so you can create your own custom version of ThrottleStop.
There are quite a few new customization options coming to the next version of ThrottleStop.

https://imgur.com/H7Isuop

Can you make black / dark logo for the notification area? Im using cpu temp because its black, but would be great if I can change it to black. Because everything else is allready

 

[unclewebb]

@Tommah - Intel's U series of CPUs come with a 15W TDP rating. I am sure the engineers that designed the heatsink were told to build a heatsink that could handle a 15W CPU. It is perfectly capable of that. It is not capable of allowing maximum performance from a 8550U CPU. These CPUs are beasts when fully unlocked but you need a large and thick cooler to take advantage of this performance.

should i set both to 30? Up to 40?

It really does not matter. Whether your CPU power limit throttles or thermal throttles, it is the same thing. Either way, it will have to slow down to protect itself from damage. I prefer using high power limits and just let thermal throttling take care of things. Intel thermal throttling has worked great for 15 years.

The only reason power limits were created was so Intel could create different CPUs from the exact same CPU. It was mostly a marketing decision. Do you want a 15W CPU for $100 or how about a 25W CPU for $150? Good deal? It turns out that by adjusting the power limits, Intel can sell the exact same thing to two different markets.

Can you make black logo for the notification area?

Not sure I understand. If the Notification Area is black, just change the CPU text color to something that is not black so you can see it.

https://imgur.com/eyxnddV

 

[ereko]

@Tommah - Intel's U series of CPUs come with a 15W TDP rating. I am sure the engineers that designed the heatsink were told to build a heatsink that could handle a 15W CPU. It is perfectly capable of that. It is not capable of allowing maximum performance from a 8550U CPU. These CPUs are beasts when fully unlocked but you need a large and thick cooler to take advantage of this performance.


It really does not matter. Whether your CPU power limit throttles or thermal throttles, it is the same thing. Either way, it will have to slow down to protect itself from damage. I prefer using high power limits and just let thermal throttling take care of things. Intel thermal throttling has worked great for 15 years.

The only reason power limits were created was so Intel could create different CPUs from the exact same CPU. It was mostly a marketing decision. Do you want a 15W CPU for $100 or how about a 25W CPU for $150? Good deal? It turns out that by adjusting the power limits, Intel can sell the exact same thing to two different markets.


Not sure I understand. If the Notification Area is black, just change the CPU text color to something that is not black so you can see it.

https://imgur.com/eyxnddV

I know I can change temp to black but I want to change the origal color to black. I know this is just bul@$$...

 

[unclewebb]

I want to change the origal color to black.

Now I understand. I will put some black notification area icons on the things to maybe do list. Maybe.

 

[ereko]

Now I understand. I will put some black notification area icons on the things to maybe do list. Maybe.

I know it seems really autistic, but I like it simple in everything. Although the temperature does not change very often Great software anyway

 

[Tommah]

After adjusting the settings yesterday, SnowRunner was almost unplayable for me. It plays in slow motion, max 20 frames, despite the active MX150.

CPU clock was kept at about 3600MHz, but if I play the game without ThrottleStop, it runs smoothly with about 60 frames and low settings. However, my CPU jumps up to around 2500 MHz without active ThrottleStop.

Strange

 

[unclewebb]

SnowRunner was almost unplayable for me

If you have made multiple adjustments in the BIOS or by using ThrottleStop, it will be difficult to find out what is causing the problem. Go back to default settings. Delete the ThrottleStop.INI configuration file, reboot and start again. Do some baseline testing with ThrottleStop. Turn on the Log File option so you have a record of how your laptop performs without any tweaks. After that, adjust one thing at a time. If gaming performance goes from 60 FPS to 20 FPS, you will have some idea of what is causing the problem.

The ThrottleStop log file will show what speed your CPU and Nvidia GPU are running at and if there are any throttling problems. Post some log files if you want me to have a look.

I know this is just bul@$$...

I kind of like the look of the new and improved black notification area icon.

 

[ereko]

If you have made multiple adjustments in the BIOS or by using ThrottleStop, it will be difficult to find out what is causing the problem. Go back to default settings. Delete the ThrottleStop.INI configuration file, reboot and start again. Do some baseline testing with ThrottleStop. Turn on the Log File option so you have a record of how your laptop performs without any tweaks. After that, adjust one thing at a time. If gaming performance goes from 60 FPS to 20 FPS, you will have some idea of what is causing the problem.

The ThrottleStop log file will show what speed your CPU and Nvidia GPU are running at and if there are any throttling problems. Post some log files if you want me to have a look.


I kind of like the look of the new and improved black notification area icon.

PERFECT

 

[salif]

hello. I have a Lenovo 330s with an i7 8550U and I have been trying to adjust the values in throttlestop in order to get more CPU performance. With the values set like the screenshoots, I get a good improvement in performence of my cpu. In cinebench R15, the results boost's from 530cd~560cd to 620cd~650cd. But for some time I've seen a weird situation happen to cpu. When i am running a benchmark, randomly, the cpu stays in is base clock, 1.8 Ghz (with or without power adapter conected) and the turbo boost does'nt engage or if engages only peaks the turbo boost power and the turbo frequency for an instant. because of this the results on benchmarks when this happens has too poor, like, for example, 350cd in cinebench R15. If I remove the power adapter (if connected) or plug the power adapter (else if does'nt connected) when I see this happening, imidiatly, the cpu engage the turbo boost and performes normaly. this is happening for a while (about half a year) even before I install throtlestop and change the values. Wath could it be? The values that I set on Throttlestop seems good or there is anything that i can change to reduce temperatures or improve the results?
thanks

 

[unclewebb]

Most modern laptops enable Speed Shift in the BIOS. If you are having some CPU speed control issues, this could be part of the problem. It is not enabled.

In the TPL window, enable Speed Shift and push apply. Set the Min to 1 and the Max to 40 and push OK. On the main screen, you should see SST in green. Check the Speed Shift EPP box and click on where it says 128. You can edit the EPP value. Set EPP to 0 for maximum performance. If you want your CPU to slow down when lightly loaded, set EPP to 80.

I would upgrade to Cinebench R20. It is a more demanding test compared to the previous version. Open up Limit Reasons so you can keep an eye on things while Cinebench R20 is running. Anything lighting up in red? You have a powerful CPU but most of them will either power limit throttle or thermal throttle during this test. See what ThrottleStop reports for temperature and power consumption when throttling is in progress.

Some Lenovo laptops are randomly and significantly lowering the thermal throttling temperature. Open the Options window and have a look for an icon that looks like a lock. If this option is locked, you will not be able to do anything. If it is not locked, I would change PROCHOT Offset from 5 to 3 and then I would check the Lock PROCHOT Offset option. If you ever need to unlock this, you will need to clear that box and reboot. You should get more consistent performance after you fix a few of these issues.

 

[salif]

Most modern laptops enable Speed Shift in the BIOS. If you are having some CPU speed control issues, this could be part of the problem. It is not enabled.

In the TPL window, enable Speed Shift and push apply. Set the Min to 1 and the Max to 40 and push OK. On the main screen, you should see SST in green. Check the Speed Shift EPP box and click on where it says 128. You can edit the EPP value. Set EPP to 0 for maximum performance. If you want your CPU to slow down when lightly loaded, set EPP to 80.

I would upgrade to Cinebench R20. It is a more demanding test compared to the previous version. Open up Limit Reasons so you can keep an eye on things while Cinebench R20 is running. Anything lighting up in red? You have a powerful CPU but most of them will either power limit throttle or thermal throttle during this test. See what ThrottleStop reports for temperature and power consumption when throttling is in progress.

Some Lenovo laptops are randomly and significantly lowering the thermal throttling temperature. Open the Options window and have a look for an icon that looks like a lock. If this option is locked, you will not be able to do anything. If it is not locked, I would change PROCHOT Offset from 5 to 3 and then I would check the Lock PROCHOT Offset option. If you ever need to unlock this, you will need to clear that box and reboot. You should get more consistent performance after you fix a few of these issues.

hey @uncleweb. thanks, i appreciate your quick response and help. After made the changes that you tell (enabling speedshift and set min to 1 anda max to 40 and set epp to 0) , I get better results and now my cpu is running normaly (without undervolt and with stock tdp values) like half a year ago. When I change the tdp values and put some litle undervolt on throttlestop my cpu performes better and i get consistent performence and results both in cinebench r15 and cinebench r20. in r15 i get 650cb~670cb and in r20 1550cb~1600cb. The temps remains the same has before. I check the option of change prochot offset and it is not locked but I dont change the value for saffety reasons. Everything runs better now but when I reboot my pc, the Speed Shift option disables and i need to open throttlestop and enabling it manualy again. Ther is some way to enable SpeedShift by default in bios?
Thanks again

edit: after one run in cinebench r20, the only thing that lights up in red is the power as you can see in the screenshot.

 

[Caring1]

You could change IccMax to 128 and make sure you check - OK-save voltages immediately.

 

[unclewebb]

I don't change the value for safety reasons

The Intel default value is 0. Your CPU will be 100% safe and within the Intel spec no matter what you set PROCHOT Offset to. Whatever value you decide on, I still suggest you use the Lock PROCHOT Offset feature in ThrottleStop. Too many Lenovo laptops are having problems because the thermal throttling temperature is being randomly set too low by Lenovo software.

when I reboot my pc, the Speed Shift option disables

Your BIOS is not enabling Speed Shift Technology (SST). The BIOS probably does not have a user option to enable Speed Shift. You will need to use ThrottleStop to handle this for you. Just add ThrottleStop to your Windows start up sequence using the Task Scheduler. Follow this guide exactly.

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When you boot up, ThrottleStop will start, it will enable Speed Shift and your computer will be able to run at its rated speed without getting stuck at 1.8 GHz like it used to do.

Your CPU is power limit throttling at 25W. That is OK because your cooling solution cannot handle more than 25W without the CPU getting too hot. If you raise the power limit, this would trigger thermal throttling instead of power limit throttling. Your laptop is running as well as your cooling will allow.

 

[salif]

The Intel default value is 0. Your CPU will be 100% safe and within the Intel spec no matter what you set PROCHOT Offset to. Whatever value you decide on, I still suggest you use the Lock PROCHOT Offset feature in ThrottleStop. Too many Lenovo laptops are having problems because the thermal throttling temperature is being randomly set too low by Lenovo software.

thanks @unclewebb. After a few more tests on cinebench r20, another thing ligths up in red (MB PRO) and throttle the cpu. I set up the PROCHOT offset to 3 and check Lock PROCHOT Offset has you tell and now this MB PRO throttling doesnt happen again. The results are the same. I noticed that the temperatures sems to be too high. If I change the termal paste of the cpu it can handle lower temps? Are these temps normal to this cpu or are they abnormaly high?

Your BIOS is not enabling Speed Shift Technology (SST). The BIOS probably does not have a user option to enable Speed Shift. You will need to use ThrottleStop to handle this for you. Just add ThrottleStop to your Windows start up sequence using the Task Scheduler. Follow this guide exactly.

TechnologyGuide

Thank you for visiting the TechnologyGuide network. Unfortunately, these forums are no longer active. We extend a heartfelt thank you to the entire community for their steadfast support—it is really you, our readers, that drove

forum.notebookreview.com

When you boot up, ThrottleStop will start, it will enable Speed Shift and your computer will be able to run at its rated speed without getting stuck at 1.8 GHz like it used to do.

I have already do this and now Speed Shift enables when ThrottleStop starts with windows. Thanks!

Your CPU is power limit throttling at 25W. That is OK because your cooling solution cannot handle more than 25W without the CPU getting too hot. If you raise the power limit, this would trigger thermal throttling instead of power limit throttling. Your laptop is running as well as your cooling will allow.

I set turbo boost short power max to 30w and when i run a benchmark, e.g., cinebench r20, on the firt 30~50 seconds the cpu runs at 30w tdp and at his max frequencies, after this, it slows down to 25w and stays at this value until the end of the test.