Intel i5/i7 - possible to reduce Turbo multiplier (particularly for mobile CPU)?

aure217

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Nov 8, 2012
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10,510
Hi,
I was wondering if it would be possible to lower the turbo boost multipliers in tablets/laptops with i5/i7 CPUs.

In particular, for the Surface Pro 3.

I don't actually have one (yet?) but I've heard it suffers from heat throttling issues.

I would imagine this can be alleviated by lowering the turbo multiplier so that it doesn't go too high above base?

Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Possible, impossible?
Software/BIOS customization?
Which tools/methods could work/grant access to relevant config?

I don't know anything about over/underclocking/volting, but hopefully someone here does.

I have an i7 laptop and disabling turbo boost makes it sit around 70C with fan on some middle speed (it's not too loud anyways). For me, this is 2.2 instead of 2.8GHz. But I notice that the i7 Surface 3 has a base of 1.7 and a turbo of 3.3, so disabling turbo would be a hilarious drop in performance (whereas decreasing the turbo to ~2.5 would be super awesome even for sustained use).

thanks
 

biflash

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Jan 20, 2014
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10,710
maybe throttlestop will work but not sure

you could possibly also disable the throtling issue with the program at the cost of higher temperature ofcourse

just cheched and it works on my 2630qm
 

aure217

Honorable
Nov 8, 2012
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10,510
Good info and it's cool that you also provide evidence/sample config.

Do you think your methods would be applicable to i7-4650U? I don't expect you to be psychic, but maybe you happen to have some specialized knowledge :)

(I don't see why not, but I know nothing, and I assume that CPUs used in tablets might have more restrictions on them to prevent people from messing up the thermal properties during operation)

thanks again

(I've been researching Surface Pro 3 and people seem to say it overheats and throttles... I'm wondering why this solution isn't popular - decided to make sure it's possible)
 

unclewebb

Guest
Sep 11, 2007
247
1
18,865
The problem with the U CPUs is that they have a high and a low TDP limit. When the CPU gets stuck in TDP Level 1, the low TDP level, performance is horrible. The SP3 with a Core i5 will run fine for a while and then will slow down to a crawl. This on again, off again performance can make some games difficult or impossible to play smoothly. I have not seen any testing of the Core i7 yet but it is also a low power U CPU so you need to be careful.

I asked for some more information on one of the main SP3 Forums but a week later, no one has bothered to post a simple screenshot that I needed to see. It seems like there is an auxiliary temperature sensor within the SP3 that is being used to force the SP3 into low TDP mode.

I cannot afford to spend $1000+ on a device that I don't need so that I can try to solve its throttling problems. It might not be solvable. Do lots of research before buying an SP3 or you might be disappointed. Make sure the store you buy it from has a no questions asked return policy if it is not suitable.
 

leonecam

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Dec 31, 2014
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4,510


Did you ever get the information you needed? I'm happy to send as I'm having serious throttling issues with the i7-4650U.
Also, would settings I try on Throttlestop stick even if I don't open the program after a reboot?