Poor CPU performance in stress test

[Dolt]

Hello, new to the computer performance world.

I ran CPU-Z stress test on my new computer. For the first couple minutes the performance is near the benchmark, but then it drastically drops (shown below). The Intel XTU software says that the max core speed is 4.49 GHz, which sounds good, but the CPU-Z number of <1900 / 7200 is concerning. I probably won't really understand if this is a problem for my use case (deep learning education, with maybe some reinforcement learning) until early Fall, when it will be too late to do a return.

The computer is a Cyber Power PC SLC10200CPGV4. I ran Windows Update and installed the latest NVIDIA studio drivers. Everything else is as was configured by the vendor.

The BIOS is using the default EZ Tune profile.
I am guessing it is a heat issue, but -- at least to my naive eyes -- the cooling on this computer looks impressive.
One thing that I am thinking of trying is updating the BIOS software to the latest revision, but am holding off for if I can understand the issue better.

Appreciate any advice, thanks.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Cooler is only using a 120mm radiator. You could do with something better for that 850k imo.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

For starters, the glass front panel is poor for airflow, the 120 AIO inside the case doesnt help either. One way to offset is to add one or two exhaust fans to the top. There is a mesh front panel for the Deepcool Matrexx 55, good luck finding one. Other than that, you're stuck with higher than normal temps..

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Max core speed of 4.49 GHz IS NOT GOOD. The 10850k should be hitting 5.2 GHz on a single core at stock settings. Also, as already mentioned, a 120mm AIO is not enough to cool the 10850k. I tried using a MSI MAG CORELIQUID 240mm AIO, and it had issues keeping my 10850k cool while under full load (WCG), in a case with excellent airflow (Silverstone FT04).

​

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Max core speed of 4.49 GHz IS NOT GOOD. The 10850k should be hitting 5.2 GHz on a single core at stock settings.

if you read the post, its thermal throttling..

 

[Ruru]

Yeah, throttling like said above. Try removing the front panel if it helps. That case looks like it has a bad airflow and like said above, an AIO with 120 rad isn't enough for a heater like that CPU.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

if you read the post, its thermal throttling..

and the OP said

max core speed is 4.49 GHz, which sounds good

which it is not good

also, even with thermal throttling to 4.49GHz, the OP's multi-core benchmark score should be much higher than what he got.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

and the OP said

which it is not good

also, even with thermal throttling to 4.49GHz, the OP's multi-core benchmark score should be much higher than what he got.

see image, throttling.png

 

[Ruru]

also, even with thermal throttling to 4.49GHz, the OP's multi-core benchmark score should be much higher than what he got.

Yeah, even my R5 3600 beats that with about double of OP's score.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

my 10850k at 4.5GHz- https://valid.x86.fr/uy0ymu

 

[Ruru]

my 10850k at 4.5GHz- https://valid.x86.fr/uy0ymu

Well, the valid doesn't say much but run the bench from CPU-Z and post a screenshot here for reference?

edit: Oh, there are results, my bad.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

see image, throttling.png

NO SHIT SHERLOCK. That doesn't change the fact that the OP should have a lot higher multi-core score in that benchmark, see my last post

Well, the valid doesn't say much but run the bench from CPU-Z and post a screenshot here for reference?

edit: Oh, there are results, my bad.

@Dolt , like the others have said, you are having thermal issues, and this is caused by both the lack of air flow in your case and having only a 120mm AIO, which is not adequate for a 10850k. But, even throttling to 4.49GHz, you should still score higher in the multi-thread run of the benchmark. There is something else besides the thermal throttling killing your benchmark score.

can you post a pic of CPUZ CPU tab please?

 

[Dolt]

At the start of the stress test, the score starts at about 7400 (and 4.9 GHz) and is there for a minute or so, and then I see Power Limit Throttling light turn on in Intel XTU. At that point the score slowly starts dropping for a few minutes down to 6877. It stays there for a few minutes, and then it plummets down to ~10. Finally it slowly starts to increase, leveling off at 2253 after a few minutes (this cycling was seen repeating, peeking at a lower level).

@BarbaricSoul
Here is a shot of when it is hovering at 6877

Here is a picture a few seconds after it crashed to single digits and started to slowly increase:

Some minor differences in the numbers.

---

Thanks for the replies everyone.

It sounds like the manufacturer didn't add adequate cooling. I am not handy with building nor mod-ing, which is why I went with a pre-built. Unfortunately it seems I didn't pick a good brand (does anyone know a good one?). Replacing the 120 AIO seems beyond my abilities (picking a better one that still fits, replacing it without breaking something). Maybe adding a couple fans on top would be something I could handle.
There is indeed a glass panel on the front, and I see a video that showing popping it off, but when I look at the frame there are lots of little plastic knobs holding it in place which don't seem to come off, and I don't want to break them because it seems I might need to return it. I'll stare at it a little longer and see if I can see a way to get it off, because that does sound like it would be a good diagnostic.

Overall if the default system settings were a little below average, I would be okay with that, but when the performance keeps falling down so drastically, that seems problematic. I imagine that I could set BIOS EZ Tune to the next level up in performance and that would fix the "Power Limit Throttling" issue, but probably just putting more heat on the CPU which I think can be problematic if it is sustained for a long run of time -- and I will have experiments which can run ~24 hours.

Overall I am leaning towards trying to return it, but I am guessing that is going to be a fight.

---

Edit: I at-ed the wrong person.

 

[eidairaman1]

Ambient room temperature has alot to do with performance too

 

[Dolt]

Ambient room temperature has alot to do with performance too

That's a good point. It's about 75 F in my room right now, although it should be a little cooler this Fall/Winter when I'll need it the most.

 

[gerardfraser]

delete

 

[eidairaman1]

That's a good point. It's about 75 F in my room right now, although it should be a little cooler this Fall/Winter when I'll need it the most.

Does it change often?

 

[Dolt]

Does it change often?

In the summer I usually have the air conditioning set to turn on at 78 F, which it can hit some days during the day time. Nights are cooler, but still can be in the 70s. During the winter I usually have the heat set to 64 F during the day and 62 F at night.

 

[unclewebb]

if you read the post, its thermal throttling..

I read the first post and I never saw that. The CPU is only running at 74°C when fully loaded. No reason to be thermal throttling at that temperature.

XTU reports power limit throttling and it shows this throttling is happening when power consumption is 125W. That is the default TDP for this processor. If you do not increase the TDP in XTU or in the BIOS, the 10850K will power limit throttle like crazy and run at a fraction of its rated speed when fully loaded. That is the problem.

@Dolt - Let me know if you need some help getting more performance out of this CPU. They are quite powerful when setup correctly as long as you have adequate cooling.

 

[eidairaman1]

In the summer I usually have the air conditioning set to turn on at 78 F, which it can hit some days during the day time. Nights are cooler, but still can be in the 70s. During the winter I usually have the heat set to 64 F during the day and 62 F at night.

Keep it closer to 75.

 

[R-T-B]

I read the first post and I never saw that. The CPU is only running at 74°C when fully loaded. No reason to be thermal throttling at that temperature.

XTU reports power limit throttling and it shows this throttling is happening when power consumption is 125W. That is the default TDP for this processor. If you do not increase the TDP in XTU or in the BIOS, the 10850K will power limit throttle like crazy and run at a fraction of its rated speed when fully loaded. That is the problem.

@Dolt - Let me know if you need some help getting more performance out of this CPU. They are quite powerful when setup correctly as long as you have adequate cooling.

This. I don't know how everyone went "thermal throttling" when the screenshot literally indicates the opposite.

It's a power limit throttle. That said, more cooling would not hurt your performance.

 

[unclewebb]

A little more oomph after a tweak or two.

With the turbo ratios set to default specs and with both power limits locked to 125W, here is what I get.
@Dolt - Based on that, your computer has some throttling issues. The default 125W power limit is only one of the problems.
Maybe someone at CyberPowerPC needs to go to computer school.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

I am guessing it is a heat issue,

@unclewebb between this statement and the image showing 74°C I assumed (I'm not perfect), does thermal throttling use power limit throttling as a means?

 

[Dolt]

@unclewebb between this statement and the image showing 74°C I assumed (I'm not perfect), does thermal throttling use power limit throttling as a means?

For what it's worth, I noticed two fields in Intel XTU, one for "Power Limit Throttling" which kicks on a few minutes into the stress test, and another for "Thermal Throttling" which never turns on.

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Here is a video that shows the CPU-Z score dropping from close to the reference (~7000) to ~0 about 10 minutes into the stress test. It then slowly starts to increase. Sorry it is tiny, I can re-create if anyone thinks the details would be useful for diagnosing.

 

[Mussels]

oof power limits and thermal limits, welcome to the real word of modern intel

This video will have a lot of relevant info:

Intel's Z590 Motherboard Problem: i7-11700K Power & Thermals Explained

You're going to need to unlock the power in the BIOS, and upgrade the cooling if you want the 'advertised' 5GHz+ perforfmance numbers you see online

Depending on the motherboard and its VRM settings, performance varies *massively*

Intel B560 is a Disaster: Huge CPU Performance Differences, Power Limit Mess