Why does my processor frequency keep varying?

In power options, i have it set to min and max processor state 100%, so that should make the CPU run at full speed all the time right?

Well in Intel XTU, i have multipliers set to 36x for 1 core, 35x for 2 cores and 34 x for 3/4 cores, also a 36x processor cache ratio. CPU is a i7-4700MQ.

So as i understand it, my processor should be running at 3.6 ghz on 1 core all the time under this setup....

Im looking at intel XTU now but the cpu keeps varying between 3.19 ghz and 3.39 ghz when i have a game running and active core count is 1. Temperature is 55-60 degrees celsius. It refuses to go up to 3.6 ghz, why is this?

 

i7-4700MQ maximum Turbo Boost 2.0 frequencies are 3.4GHz for 1 core, 3.3GHz for 2 cores and 3.2GHz for 3 and 4 cores. This CPU will not run at 3.6GHz.

 

Because you are using multithread applications, so its not using just one core. If you are on Windows 7 or 8 64 bit, it will rarely run on just one core in High performance mode. You can force one core via MSconfig.

 

The 4700MQ is partially unlocked so you can go for 36/35/34/34 but you will only see 3.6ghz if no other core is in use at all which is quite rare.

 

But intel XTU is only reporting one core active?

Even if it was using all 4 cores repeatedly, shouldnt the processor frequency be at 3.4 ghz all the time, instead of varying betwen 3.19 and 3.39 constantly? Because the power options are set to "min processor state 100%"?

 

It could be throttling due to high temps. Try monitoring the frequency along with the core temp and see if the spikes in CPU GHz coincide with high temps. Also you can try Throttlestop, its a freeware program created by a user here that can lock in CPU frequency.

Downloads

 

You could also try undervolting the chip to lower the power consumption.

 

The problem is the cpu only hits 60 degrees max when im playing. Thats nowhere near enough to cause it to throttle.

 

Just curious are you doing this just for testing or for some reason only wanting to one on one core? Almost every program and game now is programmed to work off multiple cores so having a single faster core will get you less perfromance then multiple cores running slightly slower.

 

Im not trying to force the laptop to run on one core only.

Basically i noticed the following :

1. Intel XTU never goes past 3.39 ghz even though i have it OCed to 3.6 ghz and XTU is reporting that i have only one core active

2. Even if i have min processor state set to 100% in power options, the processor frequency will keep fluctuating between 3.19 and 3.39 ghz.

Im confused as to why this is happening?

Also there is at least one game that i know of that can't take advantage of one core because it runs on an old version of the source engine (Vindictus).

 

Have you tried to force park the other cores?

 

Yes, not noticed any change though.

 

100% in power options means no less than stock speed (2.4GHz for i7-4700MQ) but can boost to max speed (3.4/3.3/3.2/3.2).

Use Throttlestop 6.00 beta and you can lock in any speed you want.

 

Does this happen only under load? At Idle, are CPU speeds where they should be?

 

The built-in processor controls are varying the clock speed to optimally suit your needs.
Another reason for not staying at the max frequency is the temperature. It obeys the preset temperature settings. When it reaches the threshhold, it reduces the clocks to cool down in time and not cause damage to itself.
Third reason can be power consumption. May not apply in your case.

Last time I remember when processors stayed at the OC frequencies constantly was back when we had 1-core x86 systems. Get that Pentium 4 and set it to 4.0Ghz and it will be like a hot pan waiting for you to drop the omelette for as long as you want it.


EDIT: yeah, throttlestop can bypass the power-saving and boost the max turbo boost out of the CPU. Not sure what happens if you use it in conjunction with OC done in XTU.

 

I agree with the above. On my machine (4900mq), I couldn't get the CPU to maintain 3.6GHz in a stress test. Speeds dropped to 3.4 or 3.3. XTU reported no throttling, but I believe that when you exceed the TDP, the chip automatically scales back. The answer for me was an undervolt. Moving Dynamic CPU Voltage Offset to -50 got it to run at 3.6 under 100% load through the whole test. Now I'm at -75mv and running at 39, 38, 37, 37 multipliers and it runs steady at 3.7MHz with temps maxing at 80. Try undervolting at -50mv and see what happens.

 

How do i do that with throttle stop?

I have it open now but its simply showing CMOD and chip at 100% for all eight threads.

 

You can't adjust voltage with Throttlestop for latest Intel chips (Ivy Bridge, Haswell)

 

I was referring to Intel XTU. That is where the dynamic cpu voltage offset slider is. I think the Haswell Throttlestop is still in Beta form. I'd try XTU first. Try a simple undervolt, -50mv.

 

Im on -50mv but i still dont see any difference in XTU.

 

See this example here:

<iframe width='853' height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hRtFy7FpQF4" frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

You don't see any difference when? It still isn't clear to me whether your speed is varying at idle or only under load. If it varies even at idle, then I don't know what the issue is. If it varies only under load, then perhaps it is an issue that can be addressed with an undervolt in XTU. So you've moved the dynamic cpu voltage offset to -50, when you then run an XTU CPU stress test, what happens?

 

i almost risk to bet it's due to TDP which in case of a P150SM you can't change (even with the early bioses it's hardlocked) so i only oced mine slightly too (1x to every core) and only see the new multis when, of course i'm in the TDP Range, e.g. i reach my OCed settings in RIFT or Planetside 2 cause they are only uses 1-2 cores, on stress tests im mostly at stock clocks or 3ghz due to TDP limit and Temps.

 

The speed varies both on idle and under load. When i run a XTU stress test, the speed goes up to 3.39 ghz and 4 cores active, but when i am playing games, the speed keeps varying between 3.19 and 3.39 ghz.

 

Most games will be GPU limited and wont stress the CPU enough to max it most likely.

It's supposed to vary at idle, bursting to complete tasks quickly and then sleep as long as possible as this uses less power than working on all tasks slowly.

 

Okay i understand thats what its supposed to do. But hypothetically, is there any way to disable the frequency variation?

 

Yes, but that would disable turbo and lock you in at a the lowest frequency.

If you set windows to high performance mode you will reduce the frequency variation about as much as you want to.