*HP ENVY 17 & 17 3D (2XXX series) Owners Lounge*

While gaming, a Core i7-2820QM should be running at a minimum of 2.3 GHz. That is the default clock speed for this CPU.

When the CPU is operating below the turbo TDP power limit, it should also be using turbo boost to increase the CPU speed beyond the default based on how many cores are in the active state.

3.4 GHz - 1 Core Active
3.3 GHz - 2 Cores Active
3.1 GHz - 3 Cores Active
3.1 GHz - 4 Cores Active

These CPUs are constantly adjusting the amount of turbo boost hundreds of times a second. When power consumption is within the TDP limit, it increases the amount of turbo boost and when it goes over that limit, it turns off turbo boost. This technology works great. At no time when gaming should the MHz be throttling down to 798 MHz or going below the 2.3 GHz default speed.

The second log file posted, after the ThrottleStop fix, shows the CPU continuously using turbo boost while gaming. That's how Intel designed these to operate.

For the Core i7-2630QM, the default speed is 2.0 GHz and here are the turbo speeds.

2.9 GHz - 1 Core Active
2.8 GHz - 2 Cores Active
2.6 GHz - 3 Cores Active
2.6 GHz - 4 Cores Active

 

Gonna test ThrottleStop with GTA IV now, I get back with results

 

Just to change the subject for a moment. I purchased one of these the other day:

Newegg.com - A-DATA Superior Series 32GB S102 USB 3.0 Flash Drive (Titanium Gray) Model AS102-32G-RGY

This drive is incredible...and the Envy 17 USB 3.0 port utilizes it's speed fully. A flash drive that reads at up to 70 mb/s and writes at 40 mb/s...not shabby at all. Benchmarked with CrystalDiskMark.

 

I bought a HDD today with USB 3.0 and damn it was fast I wanted to see the USB 3.0 in action so to say and went for a Western Digital 1TB since the price wasn't to bad, but the speed was sweet

 

Bobmitch, are you still able to return the flash drive for a full refund?


KJ

 

Wow ThrottleStop sure made a difference in the log, not under 2GHz one single time when playing, Had to try with Black Ops instead of GTAIV since that wouldn't even start "/ Have to reinstall it tomorrow.

But the temps are what they were without ThrottleStop, at least it was for now so if it stays this way I'm so gonna use it.

 

Why do you ask?

 

Uncleweb

As you asked...I shut down Turbo Boost gadget and Kaspersky Internet Security and ran Throttlestop and Real temp again with logs. Played more MOH and here are the results you asked for. I think the glitches are caused my Turbo Boost gadget

 

Hey Bobmitch, How did you set your ThrottleStop settings? Did you use the ones Crimsoned said in the Throttle fix thread? Just wanna know so I have them right

 

Just as Crimsoned stated

 

Okay good thank you The multiplier set to Turbo too right? I just don't wanna press the wrongs things in that program haha

 

Here you go

 

Thank you so much!

 

Here's something odd....Coolsense isn't working for me now.

 

In what way? Can you start it?

Since I tried ThrottleStop to I started Coolsense but it seems to be working just fine.

 

Coolsense was working during my test. I just can't open the applet...very odd. When I open HP Hardware Assistant...I get errors. Probably another Microsoft Windows update snafu

 

Might be, I can open mine. did you change it during the test? Is it a good thing to run the coolest option since TS might make the temps go up or is Performance still the setting to go for?

 

No...always left it on performance

OK....reinstalled HP software framework and everything works again...thanks Microsoft...had to be a confilct with a .dll or something...all good now...Whew!

The app ran during the tests, just the programs wouldn't open

 

Uncle -- very interesting read here - many comments and I haven't taken the time yet to read your most comprehensive articles! Accordingly I havent been able to come up with the readers digest version particular to the SB Envy: What is HP doing that throttles these CPUs back, and what does throttletop do to mitiate HP's designed behavior? and you are convinced that this is HP's design and not something inherited from the motherboard mfg?

 

dlleno...

Dell and Asus have throttling as well. It is not just an HP issue...BUT...I imagine that with all the complaints that first generation Envy users had about heat....HP may have made concessions...mainly speed. I don't know why Dell or Asus did it...I have read a lot of Asus threads and was not aware of heat issues in the G73 or G53 JW models....but the SW (2nd gen) machines have throttling, too!

 

repost deleted

 

I've posted this in the past...



The Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 1.5 TB USB 3.0 Ultra-Portable External Hard Drive. Costco has them for $119.00. They are about the size of deck of cards, so not too much bigger than a portable stick. Just think that the 1.5TB size is a good deal.

KJ

 

Believe it or not...I built a 640 GB 7200 RPM Samsung into an eSata / USB 3.0 enclosure...cost me $49 )checked my receipt...paid $49 on sale) for the drive and $29 for the Acomdata enclosure. I use the USB Flash drive to save very important documents...so it is a backup to my documents folder...PLUS I store updated software, etc on it...This little bugger is FAST! I did a benchmark on my USB 2.0 hub on my motherboard as well...

ADATA 32 GB Drive on Envy 17 3D using USB 3.0
Read: 70 mb/s Write 40 mb/s

On Desktop
Read: 35 mb/s Write 35 mb/s

Vs

Patriot 16 GB turbo flash drive

30 mb/s 30 mb/s

 

Thank you Bobmitch for this latest link on SSD optimization. And thank you for your Hybrid Raid Array Fix, your detailed Envy setup (Post #3743), for taking the time to test the Intel SSD Toolbox Optimizer (Post #4223), and all of your other invaluable tips, suggestions, cautions, responses and words of encouragement too numerous to name.

As a result of applying the above posts, the posts of many other contributors, and much luck, I have managed to avoid the pitfalls I easily could have stumbled into and have a super fast reliable system that is such a pleasure to use. I only wish that I had the technical skill to give back. (I did push for the five star rating that this thread so deserved but had long gone unacknowledged.) All I can do is express my utmost appreciation. So many, many thanks to you all.

 

We each make contributions where we can. You have done a few good ones as well. This is such a cool community of people. I have made many new friends and acquaintances here in a very short period of time. Some very genuine people here. Glad things are running well...I absolutely love my Envy 17 3D...there is nothing like it

 

As dlleno stated, do we know what throttlestop actually does do stop the throttling? How does it fix it?

 

Just an FYI...went to the HP Envy 17 3D order page and guess what? When you go to order the SSD / HDD combo...GONE! You can only order with HDD only. 3D glasses are missing too...wonder if they are re-doing the page

 

Yes I noticed that.. Do you think they are updating the ssd?

 

maybe it means a bigger one is coming!

on edit: I see the 160 is still offered for the Dv7 quad. this suggests to me that something nice is coming to the Envy. one can hope, anyway lol

 

A little off topic. Has anyone tried running the witcher 2 on envy?

 

How much bigger can they make this thing...the size of a Toshiba Qosmio??? The Toshiba's are huge and heavy!

 

Noob question but what does that mean Is there a ssd in the envy?

 

oh -- I'd expect to see a 240 ish size at some point. Hi MiRRe89 -- yes the Envy used to be configurable with a 160GB SSD, for the build to order models. none of the quick ships ever had it.

This is going to be interesting....

 

Okay thanks, this is so out of my knowing I feel all dumb but you mean they don't come with them but..? Urgh I don't even know haha ^^

Omg if I start reading the hole post I might understand -_- blaming this one on tired, but I don't even know if my Envy has it or not, when we order in Sweden we don't choose what we want in them you know. It's a kind of hdd right?

 

Maybe they will lower the ridiculous price on it!!!!!

 

So I'm officially done with HP and their Envy. Got tired of waiting for the Dell Precision, so I went to the Dell Outlet store and found an offer that was too good to refuse. Next day shipping and no build time, meaning I'll probably have it by friday

I wanted Nebula Red instead of Stealth black, but considering I save almost $700 and 3 weeks of waiting by not building a new one, I can live with it

 

Sorry to lose you also. But if my laptop acts up I will be looking to Dell also..

 

not to worry! here's the deal. the SSD is a solid state hard drive, made from silicon memory instead of actual disk platters spinning at 5400 rpm or 7200 rpm. If your Envy has only one storage drive, then it isn't an SSD because HP never shipped Envy 17s with that config. Just run hwinfo32 and it will tell you exactly what you have and perhaps even more than you wanted to know, lol. or just check the spec sheet that came with yours

 

Yeah I figured by now that I've given my Envy a fair chance, and more than that, but it's just too much.
I was considering an Alienware before the Envy, but after alot of back and forth, I went for the Envy's aesthetics instead. I guess I should have gone with the Alienware from the start

But I'll definitely hang around this forum to have a chat.

 

great to have had you around, Apoxxx . enjoy that extra cooling capacity

 

Well hopefully you will have fun in the non-throttling life.... Good luck with Dell. What was the straw that broke the camels back.?

 

The throttling for sure. I know throttlestop can fix it, but it's just not a viable option in the long run for me. I just hope the Alienware doesn't throttle, if it does I'm getting a damn Desktop instead, lol

 

It's almost kind of sad. I know my machine is coming in Friday, but yet it's already broken (lol). What to do?

 

dlleno, you are like the silent shark...waiting....for the right moment to strike!!!! I am praying with you that HP will update their click pad to something really amazing, just for you.

KJ

 

aays06 you know after reading through the throttling stuff again, the only thing that I can confirm is that we can look under the hood and see numbers in a log file that are smaller than we want to see.

What we haven't seen is a condition where the usefulness of the laptop has been reduced, or that it does not perform as advertised while it is running real apps. (excepting the crimsoned situation, which was solved with new hardware). The right CPU intensive game should do it, a test that will mean a lot more. someone needs to correlate the small numbers in the log with an performance hit that can be seen and meaningfuly described to someone who does not have the technical depth to understand the numbers only.

 

lol KJ you totally crack me up! yea I'm waiting, and learning from y'all ... hopefully we'll see a mature Sandy Bridge platform soon with an updated clickpad! oh, and a 240GB SSD

you guys are awesome, and I so wish that, having been on this ride since January, that, along with all y'all I could write from Envy experience! lol. hopefully not long..,. !!!

 

Well, I can definitely notice the throttling when gaming. Not so noticeable in games like WoW, where it just makes the FPS drop from 100 to 25, but on Flight Sim, Crysis and more demanding games, it's just unbearable, making it drop from like 30fps to 5fps.

 

On phone with case manager at hp as we speak. Discussing throttling. Will update in a few.

 

great info! so Flight sim is unbearable. Do you have the crimsoned disease or is your Envy operating normally? seems this should be a simple question to answer; should the Envy 17 be able to run Flight sim yes or no?