CPU not reducing clock when idle

[flibb554]

Hello everyone,

 

I have a little problem with this system I built this summer. Full specs are below, but I have a 10850K CPU always running at 4.8-5.0GHz when idle. Windows Task Manager shows 4% of the system is used by system interrupts. That is about a whole core worth of processing, no wonder the CPU cannot reach power-saving states. I have tried all BIOS options enabled or disabled and nothing has an effect. I even removed the graphics card, cleared CMOS and reinstalled Windows. On the first boot I have the same 4% CPU usage by system interrupts.

 

From a bit of googling, this appears to be a widespread issue with no workaround in Windows. I did find some information on Linux regarding masking interrupts.

 

Using Linux(Debian 10) I found that this issue disappears when masking the gpe6F interrupt. This issue is so widespread that there is now an interrupt masking option added to the Linux kernel.

 

Searching for gpe6F on Google will reveal many cases and some were resolved by BIOS updates.

 

I have a support ticket going on for almost 2 weeks with Asus support and they are not very helpful. They just told me that system interrupts are normal and happen all the time, and that they recommend Windows after I mentioned my Linux troubleshooting.

 

I guess there are many system builders around here. Have any of you come across this issue? Are there any known workarounds or solutions to this issue I may have missed?

 

Here are the system specs. I also attached a screenshot of task manager and system monitor for you to visualize.

 

Thanks!

 

ASUS ROG STRIX B460-H 
CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 32GB (2 x 16GB) (PC4 25600)
Seasonic FOCUS GM-750
Intel Core i9-10850K
Intel 665p Series M.2 2280 2TB PCIe NVMe
MSI GeForce GTX 1060 GAMING X 6G

Corsair Carbide Series 275Q

[CommanderAlex]

Welcome to the forums!!! 

 

What power plan are your using? Go to [Change plan settings] -> [Change advanced power settings] -> [Processor power management] -> and check your minimum processor state. Set it to 1 percent if at 100% and see if that changes anything. 

[flibb554]

Hi,

 

I have tried both Balanced and Power-Saver and restored their defaults. The default is 5%. I changed it to 1% and it made no difference.

 

Inversly if I reduce the maximum state to 1%, the CPU goes to 800MHz.

[Gugglegum]

On 12/19/2020 at 7:18 PM, flibb554 said:

I have tried both Balanced and Power-Saver and restored their defaults. The default is 5%. I changed it to 1% and it made no difference.

Inversly if I reduce the maximum state to 1%, the CPU goes to 800MHz.

Hi! I have exactly the same issue with my new PC. I have the same motherboard as you: ASUS ROG STRIX B460-H, but CPU i7-10700. I checked everything:

 

1. I updated BIOS on 1401 version, then on 1601 (beta).

2. I disconnected and turned off all devices that I could.

3. I Made clean install of Windows 10 Pro -- already on this state of clean install System Interrupts process takes in idle one core thread by 100% (CPU 0) and another one core thread by ~75% (it's usually CPU 5 or CPU 11 or CPU 14). I see it in Resource Monitor that can be ran from Task Manager (link on the bottom of Performance tab).

4. Then I installed all drivers from CD-disc and also more fresh versions from internet.

 

Nothing helped.

 

Also I see either that my CPU is working in boost mode all the time on 4.68-4.70 GHz even in idle. And actually I have no more ideas what I could try. I don't like the fact that almost 2 out of 16 cores of my i7 processor are wasted on incomprehensible things and cannot do useful work. In games I feel it as micro-lags which are happens every few seconds.

 

I wanted to ask you, have you found a solution? I saw you have found solution for Linux kernel. But I need solution for Windows.

[flibb554]

Hi,

 

Unfortunately Asus tech support was not helpful and had me re-install the CPU. I did it late at night and my clumsy hands got some thermal grease in the socket. I decided to upgrade to a Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Elite while it was on sale. I think it had a similar issue on the first boot of my previous Windows installation, but it resolved itself after installing all the drivers and the Intel ME engine. CPU runs at 800MHz when idle now.

 

I think the ME firmware update did it, but it's hard to tell because I installed many things at once. Asus tech support told me to upgrade that, but I installed everything from Asus website and nothing helped.

 

Here's where the Intel Management Engine download is for Gigabyte Z490 Aorus. Maybe you can find the equivalent from Asus, I could not.

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z490-AORUS-ELITE-rev-10/support#support-dl-driver-chipset

[Gugglegum]

On 1/11/2021 at 8:09 PM, flibb554 said:

Unfortunately Asus tech support was not helpful and had me re-install the CPU. I did it late at night and my clumsy hands got some thermal grease in the socket. I decided to upgrade to a Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Elite while it was on sale. I think it had a similar issue on the first boot of my previous Windows installation, but it resolved itself after installing all the drivers and the Intel ME engine. CPU runs at 800MHz when idle now.

 

I think the ME firmware update did it, but it's hard to tell because I installed many things at once. Asus tech support told me to upgrade that, but I installed everything from Asus website and nothing helped.

 

Here's where the Intel Management Engine download is for Gigabyte Z490 Aorus. Maybe you can find the equivalent from Asus, I could not.

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z490-AORUS-ELITE-rev-10/support#support-dl-driver-chipset

Oh, I know, it's a very-very sad situation. But it's still possible to clean the socket. Just need to be very accurate. Look about solutions in the Internet. I think it's possible with a sewing needle and with a medical syringe (for suction). Need a lot of light (headlamp) and magnifying glasses. You can also wash the rest of the thermal grease with a jet of alcohol or acetone, turning the board upside down and directing the jet from the bottom up (in the bathroom). Or use a can of compressed air (gas) with a thin flexible tube (such as those sold in computer stores for cleaning dust). Anyway thermal grease is dielectric (unless it is silver thermal grease or liquid metal), so everything should work even with it. And even if the socket is mechanically damaged, it can be re-soldered (however, if you are from the US, then this may not be advisable due to the high cost of repair services). What did you end up doing with that motherboard?

 

I waste almost a week of my life on solving this issue. At first I installed all needle drivers. Updated BIOS (from the box it was version 1001, I updated to 1401, then 1601 beta). Then made a clean install of Win10 on new empty SSD (saved old OS). Installer doesn't support LAN in this MB, therefore installation was without Internet. Right after first boot the issue appears again. I tried old drivers from the supplied disc. Then updated to the newer from ASUS site. Then updated driver for Intel chipset from Intel site with little more fresh version than on ASUS site. In parallel I was tried to enabled and disable random options in BIOS which may be related to this issue. Tried to boot Windows in Safe-Mode (in this mode the load of CPU 0 was about 30% less but still too big). Tried portable version called Win10PE booted from USB flash. I tried to remove all hardware which is not required, kept only PowerSupply+MB+CPU+RAM+SSD. Then replaced the RAM, replaced CPU. SSD was changed too. Updated Intel ME Firmware. Nothing helped.

 

Then I bought new motherboard ASUS ROG Strix Z490-F and everything solved immediately. Right on first boot of an old Windows 10 installation I never saw this issue again. I installed a couple of missing drivers, updated BIOS and this issue was not appear again. Now I submitted a return request to the store where I bought MB with an issue.

Edited January 15, 2021 by Gugglegum

[flibb554]

Hi,

 

Asus said I can RMA the board, but I do not really care to do it. Especially since you have the same problem. It will come back the same. I have no CPU for it since I have a new motherboard.

 

So sad Asus tech support cannot even troubleshoot their own products.

 

Thanks for your feedback.