i5 6400 i5 6400 power limit throttling with turbo enabled

[TheFerrariMan02]

So, quite frankly, I have a very annoying issue with my CPU. Whenever the turbo boost enables I get power limit throttling wich leads to very bad performance in CPU heavy games like BF1. When I used to get 60+ FPS, I now get 20-40 FPS, wich is barely playable. Graphics settings don't matter, there's virtually no difference between the lowest settings and the Ulra 1440p. The GPU is being bottlenecked, working about 40% in Star Citizen. 

 

I've had this problem since the windows update last spring. At about the same time I installed a new 256GB Samsung 850 SSD. However I don't think that there should be any problem with the SSD, I should have plenty of power available in my PSU.

 

I've already set the CPU to performance mode in the windows settings. I noticed the power limit throttling in the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility, and when I disable the turbo boost, the power limit throttling is gone and the CPU can actually acces more power without it (with it on, it never has the chance to go over about 16 w of usage before the throttling comes in and it goes down again). The only problem is that I'm left with a slightly crippled CPU wich only goes up to 2.7 Ghz, wich really isn't enough for the games I play.

 

I might build a new computer soon, utilising the GPU, RAM and storage from my current, especially if I don't manage to resolve this issue. I might want to wait for the 10nm intel architecture though and that'll probably take a while. Whatever, I'm getting off topic. Anyways, I'd like to resolve this issue.

 

The computer in question is a pre-built Lenovo Ideacentre y700-34ISH.

Specs:

-GTX 1070 8GB

-16GB DDR4 1600 Mhz Memory

-256GB Samsung SSD (C)

-1TB HDD

-256 Samsung 850 SSD (Wich I added myself)

-i5 6400 2.7Ghz (3.3 Ghz turbo boost) stock cooler

-Some random lenovo motherboard

 

I'm far from an expert when it comes to computers, I just know some basic stuff I need to know to play games etc. I am also fairly limited when it comes to bios settings in 

 

Any help is appreciated! Just ask if there's any information I missed.

[Jurrunio]

Can't you crank up the power limits with XTU?

[KarathKasun]

The lenovo board is likely the culprit.  There are boards that have really low power limits because of really bad VRM design.  The board was probably blacklisted and had the power limit reduced with the Windows update through microcode..

[TheFerrariMan02]

34 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

Can't you crank up the power limits with XTU?

Yes, that's actually true, but will that void the warranty?

[KarathKasun]

Just now, TheFerrariMan02 said:

Yes, that's actually true, but will that void the warranty?

AFAIK, no.

[TheFerrariMan02]

1 minute ago, KarathKasun said:

The lenovo board is likely the culprit.  There are boards that have really low power limits because of really bad VRM design.  The board was probably blacklisted and had the power limit reduced with the Windows update through microcode..

Okay, that's interesting. Wierd, since it's a pre built computer and I haven't touched anything really.

[TheFerrariMan02]

2 minutes ago, KarathKasun said:

AFAIK, no.

Right, thanks, I'll go ahead and try that now!

[KarathKasun]

2 minutes ago, TheFerrariMan02 said:

Okay, that's interesting. Wierd, since it's a pre built computer and I haven't touched anything really.

This is pretty common actually.  Though its usually done with BIOS updates... unless Windows also applied a BIOS update, which is possible for OEM's to do now.

[Jurrunio]

2 minutes ago, TheFerrariMan02 said:

Yes, that's actually true, but will that void the warranty?

technically yes, but they cant check for that.

 

1 minute ago, TheFerrariMan02 said:

Okay, that's interesting. Wierd, since it's a pre built computer and I haven't touched anything really.

agree. prebuilts like this often supports the fasted locked i7, which will draw more power than the 6400

[TheFerrariMan02]

2 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

technically yes, but they cant check for that.

 

agree. prebuilts like this often supports the fasted locked i7, which will draw more power than the 6400

Any idea of how much's safe? the default is 15.625 w. Cranking it up slightly actually stopped it from power limit throttling on idle(ish, 10 to 20%)

[KarathKasun]

15w is super low.  It should be ~65w.

[TheFerrariMan02]

Just now, KarathKasun said:

15w is super low.  It should be ~65w.

Well, then that might be my problem. Should I crank up both the "turbo boost short power max" and "turbo boost power max"? Both were set to the same.

[KarathKasun]

Short power max should be ~75w and turbo power max should be the TDP rating of the CPU.

[TheFerrariMan02]

Just now, KarathKasun said:

Short power max should be ~75w and turbo power max should be the TDP rating of the CPU.

I now have no power limit throttling at all .Thank you all so much, I have now fixed the issue in like 15 minutes thanks to you! Internet rules!