CPU stuck at 800MHz under load

Hi,

I've just bought a Scan Vengeance LG17 G-Sync, which is based on a Clevo P670HS-G.

This is my third laptop, after an Alienware 17 R4 (too much backlight bleed) and a Clevo P775DM3 (overheated). So I was hoping I'd finally got a laptop that would work properly.

I love it apart from one annoying issue. Under load, the CPU won't go over 28% usage and clocks down to 800MHz! It feels pretty slow too. The CPU is an i7-7700HQ, 8GB RAM and a GTX 1070 in discrete mode.

I've reset the BIOS settings, set performance mode in Control Center, tried the fans on full speed, but nothing helps. The PSU is the 230w version, and the temps are 41C at idle, and about 51C under load, but the CPU is obviously understressed at the moment.

Any ideas before I send back yet another laptop and give up trying to find one that actually works?

Thanks.

 

What program are you using to stress test it and how are you reading CPU utilisation and temps?

 

I've tried AIDA64 and a smallfft test in Prime95.

HWINFO and the Windows task manager are both showing the speed as 800MHz and the CPU never going over 28%.

I've just noticed warnings in the event logs about the CPU being throttle by the system firmware. It must be getting power throttled, I can't see a way around it.

 

This used to happen a lot with the wrong CCC installed. What version do you have installed?

You could try removing the CCC then use the Obsidian tool to install the correct one
https://www.obsidian-pc.com/en/downloads?___from_store=pt#files/OBSIDIAN TOOL

 

I downloaded the version offered by the Clevo site, which is 5.0001.0.98

I supplied my own OS and hard disk, so I first used it on a clean Windows 10 install without any software at all and it was still throttling the speed.

I only installed Control Center to try and fix this issue.


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Uninstall it and use the one from the Obsidian tool, that will stop the overclocking software from installing and should set the speeds correctly.

Latest one on Clevo site is 5.0001.1.05 as is the one in the Obsidian tool

 

you need to increase your power limit 1/2 and raise your VR Current limit

For more help on how to do this, please post your question here:

Clevo Overclocker's Lounge

 

But he shouldn't have to do that when using the stock settings just to get it to run at the correct speed. This was a problem with earlier CCC's whereby it would underclock the CPU when on full load. I had this same issue on the P775DM3 with earlier versions of the CCC

 

well in my experience CCC if installed with the built in XTU only messes up the fan tables, not the clock speeds. As long as you're on the performance plan and maxed out the power limit 1 an 2 and VR Current limits, the CPU shouldn't throttle. Only if the GPU and CPU are used at the same time, let's say in a Fire Strike Benchmark or in a game, you would get some throttling anywhere between 3.6 GHz and 2.5 GHz if one isn't on the Prema BIOS / Prema EC

Also, for stock clock speeds, the default voltage is a bit high so an undervolt by -100mV to -150mV is recommended to keep the temps down.

 

I tested on multiple chassis's and found the same thing on all of them, early CCC's caused the CPU to throttle. That's why I kept going back to the one ending .50 from the previous model as that one didn't install the XTU and therefore didn't throttle the CPU

 

Check your Windows power settings... High performance and go into the details and check the processor performance threshold.. It should be 100% on battery and AC..

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I can under CCC being an issue, but only if the problem occurred after installing it. The CPU has clocked down straight out of the box on a clean Windows 10 image with no CCC installed. I only installed CCC to help the problem.

Windows and CCC are both set to Performance and maximum settings.

The power 1 and 2 settings are on default settings. If I have to increase them, does that mean there's a fault?

I noticed it's been mentioned that the CPU and GPU wouldn't be able to run at full load together due to power limitation. That sounds like a problem for a gaming laptop!

 

Are you seeing this kind of performance with the AC adapter connected - and is it (the ACA) working?

 

The AC adapter is powered up and connected to it. But its obviously hard to tell if it's outputting its full 230w.

 

Sure. It does sound like a power throttle, the kind seen when running on battery. I would check in with your reseller about it. They may need to examine the adapter and possibly even the main board.

 

It may need a BIOS update, so check to see what version you are on and ask your reseller if they have an updated one.

 

I've boxed it back up now, but I think the bios was on 1.05.something


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Windows power settings are accessible by right clicking the battery symbol and going to power options. These are your basic everyday power settings.

 

Well, I received a new replacement and it's exactly the same! Prime95 knocks it down to 800MHz, and AIDA64 makes it run at 1GHz.

This is really frustrating as there is no other laptop with a GTX 1070 in this price range that I like. I really wanted to like this laptop as the screen and chassis is really nice, but it's completely useless!

 

This is weird. What's your BIOS, EC, and vBIOS versions?

 

I would suspect something else going on to, what's it like in games are they performing properly?

 

I forgot to make a note of the BIOS version etc before I repackaged it.

I didn't try any games on it, although Scan said they tried a few on it and they ran fine before it was shipped.

I literally just ran the stress tests, got annoyed that it was still not working properly and repackaged it straight back up!

 

Scan are trying to blame my software for this problem, so I tried this again today with a fresh Win 10 build. It obviously still doesn't work but I did get the BIOS versions.

The EC and BIOS is version 1.05.01.


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Video BIOS is 86.04.56.00.73


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Can you give us some graphed readouts from a program like XTU like below: