PL2 and EDP Other, constant tripping with throttle despite low power consumption and temperatur

[evaluations]

I'm on a lenovo l340-15irh
CPU: i5-9300HF

Despite messing around with plenty of settings, I seem to constantly be tripping on PL2. It's not prolonged throttling, but just small trips that keep occurring. This is despite low power consumption and low temperature - nowhere near the limit I've set for PL1 or PL2.

(CPU core and cache have the exact same settings)

Any help would be appreciated. Did I enable/disable something I shouldn't have somewhere? And if anyone has good recommendations for other throttlestop settings, please do share!

 

[unclewebb]

Did I enable/disable something I shouldn't have somewhere?

Yes you did!

You somehow managed to lock the MSR PL2 power limit to only 30W. That can cause power limit throttling.

To unlock the power limit register you might have to completely shut down your computer. The typical Windows fast restart might prevent this register from becoming unlocked.

In the Power Limit Controls section of the TPL window, clear the Lock box before you shutdown. It is OK and recommended to lock the MMIO power limits but there is rarely ever a need to lock the MSR power limits. I would set Long Power PL1 and Short Power PL2 both to 60W.

No one else seems to be undervolting the System Agent. Is there any reason why you are doing this?

Do some Cinebench testing. Many users get better temperatures or better results by undervolting the core more than the cache. Somewhere around -125 mV for the cache and -175 mV or -200 mV for the core usually works well.

I like setting IccMax to the max, 255.75, for both the core and the cache. It might not make any difference. My only goal is zero throttling.

 

[evaluations]

Hi

Thank you for the prompt reply.

I have stopped undervolting the system agent.

As for the power limit, I've raised it to 40W on PL and PL2. My CPUcan handle 45W, but if it ever hits 45W it starts throttling badly.

I set the IccMax to the max for both core and the cache.

I changed CPU undervolt to -175, kept the cache at -125

Yet despite all this I still get trips on PL2, even when Max °C is around 60 and max Watt is about 23.5W

I have already cleaned my laptop for any dust inside, however I haven't repasted it. I'm unsure on what to do.

 

[unclewebb]

I've raised it to 40W

Follow my suggestion and set both power limits to 60W. Check the Speed Shift box in the TPL window.

Run Cinebench.

Cinebench R23

Cinebench is the perfect tool to compare CPU and graphics performance across various systems and platforms

www.techspot.com

Show me screenshots of ThrottleStop while your CPU is throttling badly. Include the Limit Reasons window in your screenshot while Cinebench is running. It is even better to turn on the Log File option before you start doing any testing. When finished testing, exit ThrottleStop and attach a log file to your next post so I can see how your computer is performing. The log file will be in your ThrottleStop / Logs folder.

I still get trips on PL2, even when Max °C is around 60

Power limit throttling and CPU temperature are two different things. It does not matter what temperature your CPU is at if it is power limit throttling. The 9300HF has a 45W TDP rating. Some manufacturers will enforce this power limit. If this is the case, it is normal for your CPU to power limit throttle right at 45W. It is OK to see PL2 in red in Limit Reasons as long as your CPU is at 45W. It is OK to let a CPU power limit throttle indefinitely.

 

[evaluations]

I set the power limits to 60W, and ticked the speed shift box in the TPL Window (1-41). Additionally, I had to lower my core undervolt to 125, whenever I went over I would get BSOD.
This is throttlestop after/during 10 minutes of cinebench. Scored 5036 points in multi-core (if it has any relevance)

:

 

[unclewebb]

Your CPU is thermal throttling because it is too hot. It is not a power limit throttling problem. Have you ever opened up your laptop to clean it out?

Thin and light laptops have marginal cooling. You are probably getting as much performance out of your laptop as you can get. Now that you have proven that you do not have a power limit throttling problem, you can reduce the power limits back to 45W or 40W or whatever you like. This will reduce maximum performance and your laptop will be more likely to power limit throttle as opposed to thermal throttle.

If you do not like throttling, buy a bigger and beefier laptop next time.

I had to lower my core undervolt to 125

I would have tried reducing the cache undervolt first. Set the cache to an offset of -120 mV. That might allow you to increase the core offset to -150 mV or more. It is almost always the cache undervolt setting that is responsible for blue screens.

 

[evaluations]

Hi

Yes, I have opened up my laptop quite recently in fact and dusted it. I may need to repaste it, as it has been almost 4 years since I've bought this laptop. I am curious, should I keep speed shift enabled? Or change the range of 1-41? I'm also curious as to the tripping on PL2. It happens no matter the temperature or power limit.

 

[unclewebb]

If you decide to re-paste your laptop, use Honeywell PTM 7950. So many other pastes do not last very long when used direct die on mobile CPUs.

should I keep speed shift enabled?

Sure, why not? You can reduce the Speed Shift Max value if you want to slow your CPU down so it does not run so hot. You can also reduce the turbo power limits to cool the CPU. Either of these will reduce maximum performance. Replacing the thermal paste after 4 years is the best solution.

tripping on PL2

Some CPUs seem to be hyper sensitive and you will quickly see the PL2 box light up yellow soon after clearing it. This is not important. Watch for red boxes in Limit Reasons under the CORE column. That is what indicates that PL2 throttling is in progress. When you see that, look at the power consumption value that ThrottleStop reports. How does that compare to the power limits you have set in the TPL window?

Some laptops will limit the CPU to its 45W TDP value long term no matter what the power limits are set to in ThrottleStop. There is a third set of turbo power limits controlled by an embedded controller (EC) that some manufacturers use. ThrottleStop does not have access to the EC power limits. If these are set to 45W or less, there is nothing ThrottleStop can do about it.

 

[evaluations]

Thank you for the reply. It seems like repasting is the best solution here. As for PL2, I will take your word that it is not important it pops up yellow after clearing it. As for the paste, are there any other options to consider? Or is Honeywell PTM 7950 by far the best.

 

[unclewebb]

is Honeywell PTM 7950 by far the best

It is always best to do a job correctly so you do not have to do it again and again. Honeywell PTM 7950 has been proven to work well long term. Many other popular thermal pastes have terrible long term results.

 

[evaluations]

It is always best to do a job correctly so you do not have to do it again and again. Honeywell PTM 7950 has been proven to work well long term. Many other popular thermal pastes have terrible long term results.

Unfortunately it is quite hard to obtain this here in Scandinavia without paying ridiculous prices. What alternatives do I have? Also wanted to add. After adjusting my voltages to -150 core and -110 cache, I now no longer thermal throttle when running cinebench. Instead I get power limit throttle (the red POWER basically blinks). This is despite setting my power limit to 60W for PL1 and PL2.

 

[unclewebb]

despite setting my power limit to 60W

Some laptops will limit the CPU to its 45W TDP value long term no matter what the power limits are set to in ThrottleStop. There is a third set of turbo power limits controlled by an embedded controller (EC) that some manufacturers use. ThrottleStop does not have access to the EC power limits. If these are set to 45W or less, there is nothing ThrottleStop can do about it.

 

[evaluations]

Unfortunate! Thanks for all the help though.

 

[evaluations]

@unclewebb
Hi, it seems I have another issue.
I also seem to hit the 'BD PROCHOT' throttle. Not sure what could be causing this.

 

[unclewebb]

I also seem to hit the 'BD PROCHOT' throttle.

Is BD PROCHOT glowing red in Limit Reasons? If you have a throttling problem, turn on the Log File option and attach a log file so I can see the throttling problem.

It is normal for laptop computers to use BD PROCHOT throttling immediately after switching to battery power. This should only last a few seconds. If BD PROCHOT is lasting longer than that, then you have a problem. Your screenshot shows that you disabled BD PROCHOT so this should not be causing any throttling problems.

Not sure what could be causing this.

If a 5 cent sensor within your laptop fails, that can cause BD PROCHOT throttling. This usually does not cause any throttling as long as the BD PROCHOT box is clear in ThrottleStop.