XPS 9560 throttling: tried everything, same problem.

Hi all.

So my problem is common. When I game, after a few minutes, the CPU throttles down to 0.78 GHz and stays there, bringing my FPS count to 30-40.

I've read countless threads here and on other websites about this and have tried a bunch of stuff, to ZERO results. I've done a pretty good thermal repaste, added pads on the MOSFETS, undervolted the CPU to -130 and the GPU to -55, and there are NO results when it comes to that 0.78 GHz throttling when I game. The overall thermals are a bit down, around 45° on light usage and under 80° at full load or during gaming (usually 71-72°), but for the life of me I can't figure out what makes it throttle like that, still.

I was just playing some Battlefront while keeping an eye on temps, and it never went about 71°. When the throttle kicked, I was around 68°. Still, lag, stutter (even the sound stops sometimes), 30-40 FPS, etc.

I did some benchmarks earlier today and Heaven ran at 104 FPS with a score of around 2300 (I forgot exactly) on basic, all my stress tests in XTU passed and no temps went over 70-71°.

Would anyone be able to help me? I'm gonna go crazy.

 

Try resetting the BIOS 1st and you probably read all the reasons why not to piss about adding pads where there were none as you heat the chassis up and it will ambient throttle even if it doesn't CPU throttle.

You may have a really bad CPU/GPU and have to get Dell to either replace it with a new laptop if you are within the returns window or run the gauntlet with a motherboard swap.

Have you recorded the entire sensor suite to see what the ambient sensors read?

 

Hey, thanks for the tips.

I'll try resetting the BIOS.

I have read about the pads issue, but I'd read so many great things about them that decided to give it a try. I'll try removing them and run more tests.

I'm a bit new to all of this, could you tell me how to record the sensor suite?

Thanks!

 

If all else fails - running the CPU @ base clock by setting maximum power state to 99% in power options can be done.

 

Thanks, already tried that a while ago and it didn't change a thing.

 

I've also just removed the pads and resetted the BIOS, no change whatsover except very slightly higher temps overall.

 

Yeah often that means things are working better as it may not be clocking down as fast, it could go the other way. The problem is unless you are doing a sterile test with set ambient temps, fans locked to full, cores locked and so on it will vary a hell of a lot as things like fans will run slower and not kick in as much with slightly higher temps as it can tolerate it.


I use AIda64 as you can open the benchmarking app and it starts logging on a graph and also min/max/average temps. Not sure if the demo version will show enough sensors for your purpose though.

HWinfo64 may be enough and that is free.

 

What I don't understand is why none of this throttling happens when I run stress tests and benchmarks. Why only when I play a game?

 

Because benchmarks tend not to exploit the CPU and GPU at the same time. Games when allowed will push the system to it's limits.

 

Ah, I see. Well I just realized that it hasn't always been this way, which leads me to believe that it might not have anything to do with the hardware. Maybe when I did certain updates... I distinctly remember playing Battlefield 1 at a steady 60fps without any drops. I just fired it up again to test (haven't played it in a while) and sure enough, after 5-10 minutes, 0.78 GHz on the CPU even though all temps are below 70 and the CPU utilization doesn't go over 50-60%.

I just... don't get it. I've removed the pads and repasted earlier, same thing, always and forever. I can't believe no one has a similar problem and have found a way to solve it. Or how about people who don't have this post about their power settings, undervolting, etc so I can test similar ones?

 

It's the power limit that's causing this. Install Intel XTU and you can see if the cpu starts to thrill because of the power limit.

It could be a faulty Intel Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework driver, because uninstalling this driver (and making sure that Windows won't automatically reinstall it) will prevent the CPU from throttling because if power limits, ambient temperatures, etc. Only when hitting max temperature on the CPU it will throttle. Suffice to say that's something you simply don't want and is very bad for all the components...

 

I have checked with XTU before and never actually had the "Power throttle" at "Yes" even when it actually throttled to 0.78 GHz. Mysterious.

That driver might be the culprit, as I thinnnnnk the problem got way worse when I updated it after ignoring updates for a few months. I don't feel comfortable uninstalling it though...

A little bit of good news, at least: Dell is sending me a tech on Monday that will replace the motherboard and heatsink (if all goes well). I'm surprised it's so easy with them. Fingers crossed!

 

Have you tried dell command power manager to change the profile as that fixed an issue I had once.

 

Just tried a few different ones. Same problem.

 

try reflashing the BIOS and doing another full reset after.

 

Thanks for the tip! I'll hold off until Monday for the tech, if it doesn't solve it I'll give it a go.

 

Oh god no, do everything possible to rule out a BIOS issue before you let them hack it apart and stick a "refurbished" part in.
You have about a 33% chance in them fixing it and a 67% chance it is a DOA or still has a defect they didn't pick up on so I suggest trying everything you can as you will make the engineers day if you tell them not to come as they still get the flat fee regardless.

 

Fair enough, I'll try it and see how it goes.

 

FYI, should it get as far as a repair and they manage to break something else or show up with a defective part (you need to test it to hell and back b4 you let the tech leave) then you should be demanding a new one built.

And if the new part is DOA make sure they put the old board back in so you have something to use while you wait for the new one

 

Great tips again, thanks so much! I do hope a reflash helps, or that a swap would help, because it's my primary laptop for work and can't be without it for too long. And I know, you're probably cringing a bit right now haha.

 

Alright, just did that and did some tests: same old problem.

It's weird, I felt like I had solved it when I downgraded my GPU driver to the recommended one from Dell's website instead of the newest one from Nvidia. It worked flawlessly for about 2-3 weeks, then after other random driver updates with Dell Command Update, I was back to square one. I wonder if one of those drivers ****ed it up again...

 

Three ways to find out, start to backtrack, create a new partition and install a new windows for testing purposes or format and start again.

To be horribly honest now, how hard would you kick yourself after having the laptop totally stripped down by a tech with no factory training for the faul tto still be there. Then you find out it was a windows issue!

 

Would you say that a Windows 10 "reinstall but keep all your files and apps" is sufficient, or should I really go with the full clean install? The former would be a great time-saver hehe

 

If you have the time try one then resign yourself to the other if needs be?

It can also be fast to just create a small <100gb partition and install a fresh copy to test with? easy enough to delete the partition after, expand the original one and remove the boot entry.

 

Totally missing the point. The actually thing causing TDP limit throttling is Intel Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework. You can uninstall them in Device Manager. Though there's not a good way to prevent system to reinstall them again while online... But if you are playing a single player game, definitely delete them (and also driver files) before gaming. You will find the temp stabling around 95 to 97C but everything works fine without any throttling at all.

 

Weirdly enough last time I tried that, they reinstalled EVEN if I was completely offline, a few seconds later. I even disabled them after uninstalling.

 

Tick delete driver software from this device and do it totally offline. Otherwise system will scan for available driver on the device and reinstall without need to download new driver.

 

Will do, thanks. I'll try that and report back later

 

This won't work at all. Even if I uninstall the devices with their drivers and disable them all while offline, and then reboot, the second I reconnect the internet, they reinstall themselves. Even when I use the "wushowhide" from Windows, they reinstall. No idea what to do now.

 

I wouldn't worry, it's one of the worst idea's I have heard off, why would you want to disable the thermals is beyond me unless you like blowing components.

 

A lot of people said it fixed their problem, so I guess it's worth a try. Even if it's not the best idea, it would at least prove that it's more of a software problem than a hardware one, wouldn't it? If it fixes it, I don't think I'd have to have the motherboard changed.

 

It only apply to offline game...

 

Because it's been proven that it's not related to thermal but load. There's nothing overheating what so ever. My personal experience, as long as it's not throttling at TDP limit 7W, then uninstall and reinstall the DPTF processor component will instantly fix the throttling and it will take the same amount of time for it to start throttling again.

 

It does seem to be related to something else than thermal, as my temps are around 70C when the throttling occurs. And my experience is the same as yours so far. Have you found a solution for yourself? Or any tip that could help?

 

Unfortunately no... I lower the settings to the point when throttling won't affect game play but that's all. So far unable to control DPTF...

 

70 ambient will trigger it.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

Just because the sensors don't show it doesn't mean there is no overheating anywhere, in fact unhealthy VRM mosfet temps were shown.
DPTF is implemented in a rather stupid way, but it is meant to be a safety measure. One mod supposedly did work around this without tripping DPTF. The key is leading enough heat away from the VRM area.

 

Im using the entire back plate to distribute the heat and it will saturate after some time... Vrm now never exceed 73c but looks like still not enough.

 

Perhaps it's time to try one of those cooling pads which blows some air onto the base of the computer?

John

 

Yeah I guess.

 

Just reinstalled Win10 and tested a game and guess what? Yup, same ****. My temps were at about 60. This whole thing is just a big mystery.

 

Let them swap the board then.

 

You sure?

I also just downgraded the BIOS and it didn't help.

Don't you think it could still be software-related? Since I didn't always have this problem... What if Dell releases a new DTFP driver or BIOS that fixes it in a few months?

 

I don't have any further suggestions to add.

 

No problem. I just spoke with the Dell tech who said he will come install a new one in a few hours, not refurbished, and that we can run all the tests I want after, so it's somewhat reassuring. Let's see how it goes. Thanks a lot for your help

 

a) How did you convince them to offer you a non-refurbished part?
b) I doubt you will see difference. I hope you do, but I doubt it. In my opinion, throttling occurs because:

i) the design of the laptop itself
ii) the aggressive thermal management by Dell -both in fan tables and throttling limits
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a) I just asked if it was new or refurbished and he said it's new, but who really knows.

b) You might be right, but I didn't always have this problem, and the temperatures I have are all very low when the throttling kicks in, which might mean a faulty sensor or something like that. Let's see. If it doesn't fix it and I end up at the same point well... that will just be what it is haha.

 

It will be refurbished. :/ Dell agreed to replace my screen at the end of the summer (when I am done travelling at conferences and I had a lengthy chat with them about components. They are all refurbished, expect the battery and a few others small ones.

Good luck! It might be a faulty sensor or it might be summertime, when all components run hotter. ;-)

 

Could be! I'm in Germany though, dunno if that changes anything regarding new or refurbished. Anyway either way, if it works I'll be happy, otherwise we'll just do another one until it's fine hehe

 

Alright so he just left. It was refurbished for sure and had one fan spinning like crazy and another one not working at all haha. He's supposed to come back this week to try another one but I'm thinking of cancelling and just keep hoping it's a software problem that gets solved eventually.