Tongfang GK5NR-O, GK7NP-R (Ryzen 4000 mobile)

Yes, the fans are running even if they are inaudible, and at least from 20 (10%) they have a definite effect as borne out by my tests.

50 is roughly the treshold for it to be audible and thermal performance is only a fraction worse than 60, so its a great sweet spot to idle on.

Its great to be free from bloatware

 

Ok, so with all the Info here and considering that there are a lot of shortages going on with compoments, I decided to buy this unit again.
I odered it last friday and let's see when it will arrive.

I definitely want to join you here.
1) Do you mean this tool ? https://github.com/sbski/Renoir-Mobile-Tuning
Guys over Computerbase forums recommend this one https://www.ryzencontroller.com/ .
It's open source, too.

2) That is interesting, I wanted to ask exactly that, but you already answered it
Kinda weird though. What happens if the Control Center is not running, or what is under Linux if the tuxedo tool is not running ?
I guess there must be some curve hardcoded, too. But then the app overrides it ... ?

3) Well I could even live with a txt file (I'd even prefer that over all the usual bloatware).
There is already the bloated 1GB+ AMD driver AND the bloated 1GB+ nvidia driver installed on the poor machine ...

Additional things that'd be interesting:
4) If it's in python, could we use it both on Windoze and Linux ?
That'd be really awesome.

5) Is undervolting possible on the 4800H ? Or did AMD already squeeze everything out of the silicon ?
A nice to have thing would be having UV of the GPU, without external tools ...

6) Guys from XMG mentioned, they are working on a brand new CC for the 2021 machines.
And regarding noise/reducing fan noise while gaming they recommend frame limiters to reduce excess heat production. And imho it makes totally sense, all fps over the screen refreshrate are useless.
I'll look more into that, too.

 

Yes, thats the link, although Ryzen Controller should work too. You can't technically 'undervolt' the mobile series, all you can do is set the limits - the processor will boost as high as it can while obeying these limits e.g. short boost 65 W for 5 seconds, long boost 45 W for 30 seconds, base 25W. GPU should be controllable on windows through something like afterburner.

It works on Windows and Linux (with slightly different code) and does not require the control center or tuxedo to run. I havn't given thought to implementing the fan curve yet but it doesn't appear to impose very much overhead and using a text file as input is definitely pretty easy

Some of the next generation of Ryzen mobile is supposedly overclockable (and hopefully undervoltable?) but I'm not sure if they are making it into this chassis

 

Havn't implemented fan curves yet, but I learned enough PyQt to get a rudimentary control UI going.

 

<Edit: Next Version is in next post>

Initial release of the tool (still missing fan curves).
4 python3 files:
tongfangCLI.py: for command line (-i) use; windows will need an elevated cmd
tongfangUI.py: UI version
UI_linux/UI_windows: create system tray icons that have the option to bring up the UI. UI_windows can be compiled to executable with pyinstaller while for Linux you can just run python UI_linux.py&

icons you can drag into the dist folder if you build with pyinstaller

python3 and pip needed for dependencies (pretty much pip install xxx until you get no more error messages).

Only validated on my machine. Should work on everyone with this tongfang model, but you never know. I would recommend running tongfangCLI and using the testCompat or monitor functions just to make sure the values look sane

 

v1 brings with it a better UI esp. on windows overall and some bugs have been squashed, particularly on linux - related to multiple threads reading or writing to the ecram at once. It will still have problems when running alongside the uniwill control center, so it is strongly recommended to uninstall that stuff (or at least not run it at the same time) and use Ryzen Mobile Tuning or RyzenController for power control. It has been confirmed to run on the notebooks from XMG and Aftershock.

'Fan Curves' have been implemented as a proof of concept (i.e. not ready for serious use) with the formula:

fan speed in % = (25 + (temp) * (1, 2, or 3)) / 2
So the extreme curve will run at 100% at roughly 60C while the medium will reach 100% at 87C

It's python so feel free to modify it to your needs. Proper fan curves and code tidying are priorities for a subsequent release

 

Cool, your tool looks really promising and thanks for sharing the source.

I did some research the last few days and checked out the 2 discord servers so get some overview. The discord servers look quite similar to me, and also there are some overlaps between the mod teams.

I found this in one of the discord FAQs.
This is from one of the mods, so I guess I use this as a start and then check out for myself if I'm not happy with the Renoir Mobile Tuning tool.

I found also this quote

So after the initial things work, I'll look more into Zenstates,
though there wasn't any development in the last 1-2 years
https://zenstates.protonrom.com/
https://github.com/irusanov/ZenStates

My laptop should arrive this week (hopefully), so first TODO point is to test the tool

 

Well, the second Laptop arrived yesterday again.
I almost forgot, how loud it was
So it definitely requires some tuning.

Thank you SO MUCH for the tool. It's already great. (and Python needs only 20MB RAM, while the CC takes up around 80MB )

I think I need to add some more logic to it, and then it will fit all my needs.
I gotta plan it through, but basically

1. Some integration of RMT to set the temp limit to 60° automatically (in silent profile/mode).
I just hope RMT has cmdline support, otherwise I got a problem ...

2. In case there is dGPU activity, it should switch to the auto mode. (Maybe increase the cpu temp limit to 80°)
and if there is no dGPU activity anymore, switch back to default/silent profile.

optional:

3. Maybe I'll add fan curves/points with linear interpolation inbetween for each of the profiles.

4. List of saved colors and a nice color picker to be able to easily set color and brightness.

All of those things will require some sort of ini file to store settings. (iirc python has some ini reader module, too, to make things simpler)

 

I looked into the source. Your code is already super tidy, that's great.
(Only thing till now which I did optimize in the windoze version: lambda functions can be used to make the menu list easier and more flexible, no need for defining manual setpoint functions beforehand).

I just got two questions:
1. Why you decided on the windoze UI py to use infi.systray, while the linux uses the pystray module.
pystray could be used on both plattforms, right ?
After correct abstraction of the ec ram r/w functions it could be a unified script for both platforms then.

2. FAN_TEMP2 register seems to be corresponding to the nvidia gpu / fan 2 (kinda to be expected )
At least the values are very similar to what hwinfo64 is reporting.
I just got confused as you wrote, it's set to 0 by tuxedo ...

I think I'll use that as a switch, if it goes over my defined silent temp for the cpu, I'll assume something enabled the nv gpu and I'll use that as a trigger to switch to the auto profile. (and back)

Also I found exactly the cmdline tool I was searching for:
https://github.com/FlyGoat/RyzenAdj
This is the actual basis of all the other tools, and it's lightweight (<1mb), while the ryzen controller is insanely huge compared to that (with its 72mb installer )

I'll use it to set the temperature limits for the silent mode, but it could be also used to adapt the TDP limits.

I'll upload the code when I'm finished.

 

Hello everyone,
I hadn't that much time to tinker around but I at least included ryzenadj to set the target temperatures.
ryzenadj working ok, but something is wrong with the stapm setting, exactly like the warning on their site, it's not setting that correctly.
But setting the temp and long and short limits works ...
It's not really in a state to be released, but maybe next week or so. Getting it all in one exe file was more hassle than expected (as I never used that function before ...)

Now I just need a way to set the GPU, which also leads to a last question:
Have you guys tried the overboost mode on the laptop ?
According to xmg the 2060 should go up to 110W power (instead of 90w, and thus yielding ~15% more performance)
But regardless of what I'm doing, mine seems to limit at 90W (according to gpu-z)

I already contacted the support, and they told me to use the OEMSEV-Tool, but that didn't yield any results.

Also, is the 2060 going to sleep, when not used ?
Mine is still waking up every second (according to hwinfo) and consuming 10-14W, leading to miserable battery life ...

 

I wondered the same question. GPU-z does not show an increase in TDP.
The fact that the operating mode (turbo) is changing can be seen in 3Dmark. Frequencies in turbo mode also holds better.
I overclocked in all three modes. An increase in the frequency threshold is visible.

 

I think I found the solution.
Thanks to this post and the question of the support how the clock behaves.

(I can't correctly quote it,as the thread is closed http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/rtx2060-undervolting-results.830371/page-3#post-10985725
So it seems there wont be any change in the reported power consumption.

I actually plan to undervolt after I find out how that OC scanner in afterburner works... currently it refuses to work.

Anyway, I found out some unexpected performance hits and after I resolved those, I got pretty decent performance out of it:
In short I was using an external screen, just to have the monitoring tools there (gpu-z and hwinfo) but that caused a massive hit on fps (likw 60-70 instead of 110), and that's why I didn't see any improvements of the boost.
With only one screen active, overboost works exactly as intended.

(and on a side note, it seems performance is also better on an external screen than the internal screen 130 vs 110 fps in doom, is there some problem with optimus ?)

 

Some self quoting, lol

So, indeed, there seems to be a quite crazy penalty for Optimus. Sometimes also in conjunction with 2600 Ram, while 3200 ram has less of a hit.
But anyway, that's why there is so much talk about that MUX chip in the successor models.
No real solution possible here, at least none that I'm aware of ...

Seems yes and no. The overboost disabled for me periodically (the led went off), around every 60 sec.
Turned out the script has this update function, via timeToNextReenable.
I guess it should be only invoked on manual control, but there is no need to update it, when it's in auto mode. So I keep it only via UpdateFlag.

I gotta test it a bit more, before I'm confident enough to publicly release it (and I'd actually prefer a rewrite with a control class(but that may take a while due to time constraints).
So if anyone wants to test my version, DM me ...

Btw, I saw a few fan control tools from the other tongfang threads (the 2018 and 2019 models), where users wrote nice looking fan control tools, too.
Does anyone know if these work on this 2020 model ?

 

Are there any linux guys out here ?

I tried to port/copy my ubuntu 20.04 installation to the core 15, and after a while that booted at least but I could have saved the time ...
The linux experience is quite a ****show imho (at least with kubuntu 20.04).
Brightness control doesn't work AT ALL, which now getting more annoying when it's late and I don't want max illumination for my eyes.

So is there any good FAQ/link collection with useful linux tips/howtos for this machine ?

 

Have you checked the tuxedo control center? they have some specific software for supporting hotkeys, fan profiles and stuff

 

Function keys should work with linux kernel greater than 5.8 although I suggest linux kernel 5.11 which is the latest. I'm on linux kernel 5.11 and all function keys are woring (screen brightness, volume, keyboard brightness, etc). When launched ubuntu 20.04 (and its flavors) came with kernel 5.4. Kubuntu 21.04 comes with kernel 5.11.

You should be able to update your kubuntu 20.04 to kubuntu 21.04. I suggest you install timeshift, create a timeshift image, then update to Kubuntu 21.04, reboot the PC, finally confirm that everything is working. If you are not happy with kubuntu 21.04 just restore from timeshift.

 

Thx for your replies

On may 12th, I actually did exactly that and just did a full upgrade to 21.04 to get the latest kernel, bc I didn't want to hassle with this backports stuff ...

Most stuff including the function keys worked indeed. The AMD cpu was ok-ish from the temps, too but also as always slightly too much boosting. The nouveau driver managed to disable the gpu and all it all it was pretty cool, but ext. display didn't work at all.

The nvidia driver was some ****show ... Bc just installing it didn't yield the results I wanted. The external screen still didn't work.
It needed some adaptations in the xorg.conf.d nvidia conf which I found on some random forum post´.
Really a giant waste of time again, I was so angry ...
I used the driver from the nvidia site bc it didn't work with the one from the repo, but I guess the main reason was this config file adaptation.
Also now the dGPU is running all the time which is crappy for battery life and now I manually have to change the damn config file to either have mobile usage and battery life or dpgu & ext. display support.

Also interesting, I never heard of timeshift before and I just used clonezilla as usual (but I'm not really happy with it). I'll definiteiy check out timeshift later. Looks very interesting.

Yes I tried that later, too. It gets at least the cpu temps down by limiting boost.
But I'm not really happy with it, it's pretty bloated (imho, with its 300mb ) and barely works with the xmg ...
I can't set the keyboard background/color either.
And the fan curves are pretty meh/suboptimal ... They cause exactly this fan off and on behaviour that I hate at either 40 or 50°.

So I guess I have to adapt and use the linux version of myhandsareburning's tool bc 300mb and several running processes in the background, just to set the cpu tdp and some meh fan curves isn't really worth it.
I try not to rant about a freely available tool and grateful to tuxedo for releasing it open source, but it just clearly doesn't fit my purpose.

I just don't get it, why it's soooo difficult for all the manufacturers aka tongfang and ALL the vendors to make a sane fan curve. It's not rocket science and obviously not difficult if even I can do it ...
(And meanwhile I think XMG's argument, that the fan manufacturer doesn't gurantee function on low settings is total bs, it obviously works perfectly at the 18 setting.
Guys in the CB forum even asked me when the fan starts, and I said, it's always running, it's just so silent you don't hear it )

Another thing would be undervolting on mobile, too.
I'm currently trying to get some info in the xmg discord server regarding that topic.
I observed the 4800H likes to spike (and stay) at 1.3V cpu core which I think is surprisingly high.
While it seems indeed that it's a lot more efficient in the 1.0V / 25W range.
There seem to be some ongoing threads incl. here http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/undervolting-ryzen-7-4800h-on-a-laptop.835320/
but also that AMD locked it on mobile.

 

This is exactly why I'm running "Pop!_OS" (20.10 right now), it is based on ubuntu so all the CLI commans are the same. You can install .deb files, and Pop! Shop can install, Ubuntu deb, Pop!_OS deb and flatpaks, you can add snaps too. The Nvidia ISO have the drivers built in. You can change between iGPU, dGPU, hybrid graphics or compute unit with a click of a button and reboot. When on hybrid graphics you just right click the app and select launch with dGPU.

https://support.system76.com/articles/graphics-switch-pop/

The built in power settings are very good: Battery saver, balanced and high performance. On Pop!_OS just don't install TLP it will conflict with Pop power manager and the fans wall ramp up. Even on high performance cpu clocks will go down unless needed. On baterry saver frequencies will lock on ~1.6 Ghz

I did not mention Pop!_OS on the first reply as I thought you had a reason to use Kubuntu. I migrated to Pop after 2 years on Ubuntu and I've never looked back.

 

Are you still developing de project?

 

I'm tinkering with it, and added ryzenadj to it, to limit temps of the cpu.
It definitely managed to make this laptop/fans shut up and be quiet, but it's still pretty alpha.
I want to combine the windoze and the linux variant and add proper profiles/fan curves, but that requires some rewrites ...

 

Thanks very much for that golden software. My control center has broken a few days ago and you were the only thing that could replace it without installing windows again. I'd like to say that you software allows me to run the PC even colder and quieter than whatever the Control center was doing ! If ever do some modifications again, keep us update ^^

 

Hey man, it's been a while since you answered on this thread, I wanted to tinker it too but I'm not that competent and you seems to have already developped something interesting. Will you be posting your alpha/beta one day or do you want to keep it private ?

 

Hi, it has been indeed a while. I was fairly inactive in these threads.

Well tbh my version still pretty alpha.
I experienced a few bugs, not sure what the causes are, some seem to be like some sort of Qt lib hickups/freezes, but they happened so rarely, I never bothered to investigate further.
The ryzenadj.exe has some weird bugs recently, too and didn't set my temp limits. I'm testing it now with the latest version.

Sadly I haven't started with my switch to linux, so I haven't even touched that version.
That'd probably require a few hours of integrating my current changes ...
(But if windoze continues to annoy me like that I'll do it in a few weeks)

I'm not sure if I should link it openly in its current state, but as I got it for free, I'm willing to share my copy, too.
Just DM me if you want to test it and I'll pack my current version on the next days/weekend or so.

In general I'm just getting more and more annoyed, that the manufacturer and xmg aren't able to create a sensible fan control/curve, and I/we have to tinker with it. ‍♂️
It's definitely not rocket science.
My preferred solution would be if we could make our own fan curve in the EC file, and we'd need to bother only with ryzen adj to set the amd stapm cpu temp limit.

Also it's quite annoying that AMD doesn't allow undervolting. It seems similar desktop CPUs are able to run on 1.05V instead of 1.2-1.3V ... but no ... our laptop CPU needs to burn up to 50-60W.
Meanwhile I really prefer to keep the CPU locked at 65° and occasionally allow it to 75° during gaming, but I don't see any reason the let it go to 95°, voltage just shoots up for that last measly 500mhz clock increase to 4ghz.

 

Thank you very much for sharing it ! I will send you a pm, your software seems interesting ^^
I'm a simple man that use win10 as I have no need for linux atm. But there is tudexo for the linux community, it seems to have more capabilities than the control center.

My control center has stopped working with the latest bios update and I can't reverse it so that's why I'm trying the community tools now. But I have to admit, our friend's tool is soooo powerfull. The control center only turned on the CPU fan at 40% while idleing. That's so dumb because it made my pc cook like hell and noisy, meanwhile, when I set both fans manually at 20%, it's like absolute silence and the pc doesn't go above 50°C.

Have you disabled the auto boost that makes the CPU overheat like hell ? Because my laptop runs under 50-45 degrees with the fans at 20% with a WQHD external screen. But previously with the CPU boosting all the time, I was at 65° idle on the laptop alone.


(do Efficient Enabled if you haven't done it already, makes temps goes down but gives as much performance as Enabled)

But I totally agree with you with xmg decision. They made a very powerfull control center for the 2021 version but we are left behind with our peasant 2020 model. I guess they move on so fast that 1 year old is already too old to support for them.

Oh by the way, did you manage to recover the GPU boost of the control center ? Since we have a 2060 refresh, it would suck to be stuck at 80w when it's 110w capable.

edit : cannot send pm until I have a more advanced account on the forum, can you send me a message yourself or maybe create a temporary git ?

 

I was also tinkering with this, based on your work you already gave me via DM. The code is quite messy I guess But I have a working fan control + a power control, which scans the system, which programs are running, and adjusts the power and temp limits using ryzenadj. It works quite well I would say.

 

Hey, I guess you could make a git with what you have if you are open to the idea. I'd like to test what you have if you agree ?

 

This is a nice idea, but, you know, this is not work originally done me, but by @MyHandsAreBurning with further optimisations done by @conker_ts . So I don't know if it's ok to create a git with work by someone else. But I guess I could share the result to you via DM if you're interested.

 

Of course, only if they agree to share it too. If you could kindly send me your result via DM, it would be brilliant !

 

Sure. Just DM me and I'll send it to you.

 

Not sure if posting on your profile count as a DM but that's what I did. I coudln't find another way.

 

And me too. my e-mail - [email protected]