My 2.8 GHz cpu is only ever at .78GHz

iloveglove · Oct 16, 2018

I have a lenovo legion y520 laptop with an intel i7 7700HQ @ 2.80 GHz but it only runs at .78 GHz even when I am playing a game. In power settings I have it set to use 100% when changing and when not charging too. Also the temps are usually in the 30s to 50s.

Darkbreeze · Oct 16, 2018

Download and install HWinfo. Run it, choose "sensors only" and then run a game or something demanding. Take screenshots of the HWinfo sensors from top to bottom. Post images here.

*How to post images in Tom's hardware forums

Bluesh1ft · Oct 16, 2018

That sounds like you need to change your thermal paste. I've had this happen before. The cpu will upclock and downclock to go along with the game. Except if the cpu gets too hot then it either won't upclock or it'll actually downclock to keep itself cool sacrificing the performance of your game.

Darkbreeze · Oct 17, 2018

Obviously, it not Ever "upclocking", since it's not going above 780mhz at all according to his post.

This tells me there is a serious thermal issue, potentially due to damage from previous overheating, or the cooler has entirely failed and without any kind of fan reference signal the system will not allow the CPU to go any higher than the minimum base clock.

Lots of potential problems too, but without actually seeing screenshots of what's going on, it's a waste of time trying to guess.

iloveglove · Oct 17, 2018

Darkbreeze :

Here are some pictures of it while i was playing fortnite. Tell me if I am missing some. Sorry for the delay

Darkbreeze · Oct 17, 2018

Is this laptop still under warranty?

I hope so, because it's hot. The reason you are not SEEING it get hot, is because the CPU is being throttled. Whether that is from CPU overheating or the voltage regulator components overheating, I don't know, but image 3 under CPU (0) shows PROCHOT (Yes) indicating that there is a thermal event.

What's weird is that beside Thermal event, it says No.

I would go into your bios and even though laptop bios are very limited, make sure there is no setting to trigger an overheat warning at lower temps. I'm not certain on Intel mobile processors, but Intel desktop processors are fine until 80°C and won't throttle until some point after 90.

Also, type control into your start menu search box, in the results open control panel. Go into the power options. Click next to the power profile that is selected where it says "Change plan settings".

Click on "Change advanced power settings".

Double click on "Processor power management" or click the X next to it. Make sure the minimum power state shows something like 8-10%. If not, change it to that. Make sure the maximum processor power state says 100%. Make sure the cooling policy is set to active.

Also, can you hear the cooling fan for the CPU running at any time, or all the time? Does it seem different or faster, or not spinning at all, than what it used to do?

Have you ever used or left this unit running while sitting on the bed blankets or anything that might have blocked the cooling vents in the bottom? Even for five or ten minutes?

iloveglove · Oct 17, 2018

Darkbreeze :

Is this laptop still under warranty?

I hope so, because it's hot. The reason you are not SEEING it get hot, is because the CPU is being throttled. Whether that is from CPU overheating or the voltage regulator components overheating, I don't know, but image 3 under CPU (0) shows PROCHOT (Yes) indicating that there is a thermal event.

What's weird is that beside Thermal event, it says No.

I would go into your bios and even though laptop bios are very limited, make sure there is no setting to trigger an overheat warning at lower temps. I'm not certain on Intel mobile processors, but Intel desktop processors are fine until 80°C and won't throttle until some point after 90.

Also, type control into your start menu search box, in the results open control panel. Go into the power options. Click next to the power profile that is selected where it says "Change plan settings".

Click on "Change advanced power settings".

Double click on "Processor power management" or click the X next to it. Make sure the minimum power state shows something like 8-10%. If not, change it to that. Make sure the maximum processor power state says 100%. Make sure the cooling policy is set to active.

Also, can you hear the cooling fan for the CPU running at any time, or all the time? Does it seem different or faster, or not spinning at all, than what it used to do?

Have you ever used or left this unit running while sitting on the bed blankets or anything that might have blocked the cooling vents in the bottom? Even for five or ten minutes?

My max processor state is at 100% and cooling policy is on. This laptop has extreme cooling which turns on loud fans and I always have them on when I play games. I use my laptop on carpet always. I don't think this blocks the cooling vents but it might. As for my bios setting, I have no idea how to navigate to my overheat temps.

Darkbreeze · Oct 17, 2018

Carpet ABSOLUTELY blocks the cooling vents. Laptop should ALWAYS be sitting on a hard flat surface, so nothing can block the fan intakes on the bottom. Even sitting on your pants, in your lap, is a bad idea. Trust me.

As to the bios settings, I would do a little research, should be fairly simple, and find a guide on removing the CMOS battery for the motherboard. Likely it's located in the same area as where the hard drive is mounted. Probably just need to take out one or two screws, remove the cover, remove a couple more screws to free up the hard drive and CMOS battery is likely there connected to a red and black cable. Remove CMOS battery for five minutes, then put it back, put the rest back and power on. Make sure the system is off and unplugged, with the main battery removed, while you do this.

Finding a guide on it will make it a simple process for most systems EXCEPT with systems where the case has to come apart to access it. That is not common, but not unheard of either. This will reset the bios and hardware tables. It might help.

Honestly, I think there has likely been thermal damage of some kind though. I wouldn't swear to it, but that is a distinct possibility.

iloveglove · Oct 18, 2018

Darkbreeze :

Carpet ABSOLUTELY blocks the cooling vents. Laptop should ALWAYS be sitting on a hard flat surface, so nothing can block the fan intakes on the bottom. Even sitting on your pants, in your lap, is a bad idea. Trust me.

As to the bios settings, I would do a little research, should be fairly simple, and find a guide on removing the CMOS battery for the motherboard. Likely it's located in the same area as where the hard drive is mounted. Probably just need to take out one or two screws, remove the cover, remove a couple more screws to free up the hard drive and CMOS battery is likely there connected to a red and black cable. Remove CMOS battery for five minutes, then put it back, put the rest back and power on. Make sure the system is off and unplugged, with the main battery removed, while you do this.

Finding a guide on it will make it a simple process for most systems EXCEPT with systems where the case has to come apart to access it. That is not common, but not unheard of either. This will reset the bios and hardware tables. It might help.

Honestly, I think there has likely been thermal damage of some kind though. I wouldn't swear to it, but that is a distinct possibility.

I don't if this is bad or not but my multiplier is only at 8. Also my CMOS battery is in a case so I don't want to mess anything up.

Darkbreeze · Oct 18, 2018

It's only at 8x because it's being throttled. Like I said, there is a thermal condition and the whole system is in thermally protected safe mode. There is a major problem inside somewhere. Could be paste. Could be the system has an electrical or sensor issue. Something is clearly wrong though. Laptops are not generally easy to diagnose like desktops. My advice would be if it is still under warranty, RMA the unit to the manufacturer.

iloveglove · Oct 22, 2018

I finally fixed it after a long time of looking at forums and it was a simple fix. You go to regedit and go to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power. Click on Power and there should be a thing called Csenabled. Change that to a 0 instead of a 1 and restart your computer. Apparently that makes it so window will actually use your power plan that you made. Hopefully this works for you.

Darkbreeze · Oct 22, 2018

You should not have to do that for Windows to use the power plan as it is configured. If you do, then there is some other issue, but as long as it's working right now then that's all that matters. Good luck to you.

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