i9-14900HX Running Hot — FIVR Undervolting Locked

[DiceHD]

Hi,
My CPU has been running hot (even after switching to liquid metal), which results in crashes during gaming.
I wanted to undervolt it, but the FIVR settings show that undervolting is locked.

Here’s what I’ve tried so far:
- Disabled Intel Virtualization Technology in the BIOS
- Disabled Undervolt Protection in the BIOS
- Turned off Memory Integrity in Windows settings
- Disabled Virtual Machine Platform in Windows features

Additionally, under the "Limits" section, EDP OTHER (under RING) and TVB (under CORE) occasionally flash red.


My laptop specs:

• Model: MSI Vector 16 HX A14V
• Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-14900HX @ 2.20 GHz
• RAM: 32.0 GB (31.7 GB usable)
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 12GB
• System type: 64-bit OS, x64-based processor
• Windows edition: Windows 11 Home
• Version: 24H2
• Installed on: January 23, 2025
• OS build: 26100.3775

 

[unclewebb]

Use ThrottleStop 9.7.3

I assume you know how to access the Advanced bios settings on your MSI laptop. For those that don't know, once you are in the BIOS you need to hold down the Right Shift Key, the Windows Copilot key. the left ALT key and the F2 function key.

Once you are in the Advanced BIOS go to Advanced - Power & Performance, CPU - Power Management Control, CPU Lock Configuration. Set CFG Lock and Overclocking Lock to Disabled

Boot up and see if that unlocks the FIVR.

It looks like you have VBS disabled. Always a good idea to run msinfo32 to confirm that Virtualization Based Security is disabled.

Let me know if you are able to unlock the FIVR. The 14900HX responds very well to a few ThrottleStop tweaks.

 

[DiceHD]

Hi,
Thank you for your help — disabling CFG and Overclocking Lock resolved the issue!
Could you please take a look at my current configuration and let me know if there’s anything I could improve?
Thanks in advance!

 

[unclewebb]

I prefer to set all of the Turbo Groups to the 52 multiplier. This will sacrifice some light load performance but you will probably never notice a difference. Limiting the maximum turbo multipliers will allow you to reliably run a bigger offset undervolt.

Start by opening the V/F Point window and set V/F Point 1 to 150 for the core and the cache. Sync all profiles to 150. This allows me to set the CPU Core and P Cache offsets to -150 mV. You might want to experiment to see if your computer is stable at -100 mV and then -125 mV before trying -150 mV. I never bother undervolting the E cache. I would save that one for later until you get the CPU Core and P Cache dialed in and fully tested for a few days. I have set both the Intel GPU and iGPU Unslice to -100 mV. This one is not important so again, leave it for last until you know your other settings are stable.

Set IccMax to the max, 511.75, for the CPU Core, P Cache, Intel GPU and iGPU Unslice. Set Power Limit 4 to the max, 1023.

Check the MMIO Lock box in the TPL window. You can clear the Disable Controls check box in the TPL window and then set the MSR power limits however you like. If your computer gets too hot, you can reduce the MSR power limits.

In the FIVR window I would clear the Thermal Velocity Boost box and I would clear the V-Max Stress box.

I prefer using the Windows High Performance power plan. Not having the MHz jump up and down when lightly loaded can make it easier getting a large undervolt stable.

Hope these tips help. Let me know how testing goes.

I have the very similar Vector 17 HX. It has a feature that reduces the current limit whenever the Nvidia GPU is active. I have not found a solution for this type of throttling. Less power for the CPU should help the Nvidia GPU run at full speed. That is the theory according to MSI.

 

[DiceHD]

Hello again,
I ran some Cinebench tests using the Balanced performance mode in MSI Center, since that’s what I normally use on a daily basis.
Here are the results:

1. -60mv CPU Core + CPU P Cache (without Turbo Groups changed to 52)
Multi Core: 34788
Single Core: 2162
MP Ratio: 16.09x

2. -100mv CPU Core + CPU P Cache
Multi Core: 35907
Single Core: 2004
MP Ratio: 17.92x


3. -125mv CPU Core + CPU P Cache

Quick test:
Multi Core: 36228 (Power + Hot)
Single Core: 2015
MP Ratio: 17.98x

30 min test:
Multi Core: 32581 (Power + Hot)
Single Core: 2004
MP Ratio: 16.26x


3. -140mv CPU Core + CPU P Cache

Quick test:
Multi Core: 35764 (Power + Hot)
Single Core: 2012
MP Ratio: 17.77x

30 min test:
Multi Core: BSOD
Single Core: ---
MP Ratio: ---


4. -135mv CPU Core + CPU P Cache

Quick test:
Multi Core: 35016 (Power + Hot)
Single Core: 2016
MP Ratio: 17.37x

30 min test:
Multi Core: after ~2 min got error: "More information can be found in 'C:\Users\MSI\AppData\Roaming\Maxon\bin_792FFF33\_bugreports\_BugReport.txt'.
After clicking 'OK' unsaved scene files will be saved as 'bugreports/_recovery_xxx.c4d'"
Single Core: ---
MP Ratio: ---


5. -130mv CPU Core + CPU P Cache

Quick test:
Multi Core: 35334 (Power + Hot)
Single Core: 2016
MP Ratio: 17.53x

30 min test:
Multi Core: 31969
Single Core: 2019
MP Ratio: 15.84

Here are my current settings:

Let me know what you think of these results.
Should I try adjusting MSR power limits (not sure what values to use), or look into tweaking E-cache, Intel GPU, or iGPU Unslice?

Thanks in advance!

 

[DiceHD]

While playing games, I still hit 100°C and get those alerts in "Limits". At least it didn't shut down from overheating in during a 2-hour gaming session, so that’s something.

 

[unclewebb]

Your screenshot shows that your cooling system is able to cool about 140 Watts. If you want your CPU to run cooler than 100°C while gaming, you would need to lower the turbo power limits to 140W or less. Maybe set the long term power limit PL1 to 130W and you can set PL2 to 140W or 150W. If you go higher than that on PL2, you should reduce the turbo time limit. Most laptops do not have cooling systems that can cool high power loads for extended periods of time. I find that the default 56 second turbo time limit is too much. I think about 8 seconds of max power is reasonable for most laptops.

In the TPL window you checked the Lock box in the MSR Power Limit Controls section. There was probably no reason to do that. I recommended checking the MMIO Lock box which is on the upper right hand side of the TPL window. To unlock the MSR register, clear the MSR Lock box, push OK and reboot your computer. When you boot back up, the MSR register should be unlocked so you can adjust the MSR PL1 and PL2 power limits.

It looks like a voltage offset of somewhere around -125 mV to -130 mV should be OK for long term use. If you start having any random blue screens, try increasing the voltage (decrease the undervolt).

look into tweaking E-cache, Intel GPU, or iGPU Unslice?

You can tweak as much as you want. The Intel GPU is not used when playing games on the Nvidia GPU so you will probably not accomplish very much undervolting the Intel GPU or iGPU Unslice. I have not experimented with undervolting the E-cache.

during a 2-hour gaming session

If you can play for 2 hours without a crash then you are doing better than most laptop owners.

 

[DiceHD]

Thanks a lot for the detailed response! I’ll follow your advice – especially regarding setting PL1 and PL2 and adjusting the turbo time limit. As for the undervolt, I’ll stick with -130 mV for now and monitor system stability. Thanks again!