AMD APU drops to 2400 frequency when opening game

[Guardino]

Can anyone please tell me whats going on here? I've tried disabling, enabling, overclocking, DE-clocking, nothing seems to make this CPU run harder than 2400 freq, when playing MWO. I assume this game is heavy enough to require a better freq. than that...

FYI, I've run stability tests and the system has no problem bumping up to 3100....

 

[Rookie_MIB]

Well, to start, which APU and motherboard?

 

[RazerZ]

CPU: A8-7600 MB: ASUS A78M-A , in his sig block.

Have you checked the temperatures of the CPU while gaming? It might be throttling down to a lower frequency.

 

[Guardino]

A8-7600 and ASUS A78m-A

 

[Guardino]

The thermal temp runs about 60c -70c the CPU temps stay around 31c and the gpu around 7-10c

 

[Rookie_MIB]

Dang, lost the edit. Noticed the stuff in his sig block after my post.

Check your bios revision on the mobo. For that particular mobo, according to Asus, there are several bios revisions, 0208, 0504, 0701, 1001, 1101. Higher numbers == latest revision. According to the chart of supported CPU's vs bios revisions, support for the A8-7600 started with bios 0701, so any lower bios number could (and probably would) be problematic and lead to the problems you're experiencing.

 

[Guardino]

Dang, lost the edit. Noticed the stuff in his sig block after my post.

Check your bios revision on the mobo. For that particular mobo, according to Asus, there are several bios revisions, 0208, 0504, 0701, 1001, 1101. Higher numbers == latest revision. According to the chart of supported CPU's vs bios revisions, support for the A8-7600 started with bios 0701, so any lower bios number could (and probably would) be problematic and lead to the problems you're experiencing.

I'll do that, and keep the thread updated with results. For some reason I think we I am having problems with drivers altogether. For whatever reason when I click on properties for my "processor" under device manager it tells me my driver is from 2006 (Kaveri APUs made in 2013?!). Anyway, I will double check my driver installs and update.

 

[Guardino]

Dang, lost the edit. Noticed the stuff in his sig block after my post.

Check your bios revision on the mobo. For that particular mobo, according to Asus, there are several bios revisions, 0208, 0504, 0701, 1001, 1101. Higher numbers == latest revision. According to the chart of supported CPU's vs bios revisions, support for the A8-7600 started with bios 0701, so any lower bios number could (and probably would) be problematic and lead to the problems you're experiencing.

Update. Thank you very much for the suggestion on checking the BIOS version. I was running 505 version...real old. After updating a lot of things made sense as to why my overclocking failures were plentiful. My system runs much smoother now. However, I am still getting the same throttle down (this time from 3.7 turbo) to a frequency of about 2400 mhz. Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[Guardino]

Bump.

 

[Rookie_MIB]

Well, at this point since you updated to the correct bios it should be easier to find out what's going on. I saw your post on your your temps - thermals were running 60ish-70ish, is that load CPU temp? If it is, then your problem with the throttling is temp related as you're hitting the thermal ceiling. The issues that could be causing that:

1) Insufficient airflow within the case. The interior of the case is getting too hot and you need to set up a better airflow system for the entire case. What you should have is a main fan blowing into the case from the front, and a fan blowing out of the case from the back. This does the obvious, brings in cool air, exhausts hot air.

2) Improperly mounted heat sink. The heatsink isn't mounted properly to the mounts and isn't making good contact with the CPU heat spreader. Another possibility is insufficient heat sink compound between the CPU and heatsink. Basically your heatsink isn't moving heat from the CPU fast enough and it's hitting the thermal limit.

3) Insufficient heatsink size/capacity. On higher frequency CPUs you need a bigger heatsink. I'm not thinking this is the issue as you don't have an overclocking CPU (Black Edition or /k model) so usually the included heatsink is of sufficient capacity for the CPU.

Take a look at your thermals and clockspeed while loading it (using a program like prime95). Ideally, if everything is working properly, you should be able to hit your max base speed (3.1Ghz) and have it hold there. Remember, turbo is only good while it has thermal headroom, the base speed is what it should run at UNLESS it's thermally overloaded.

 

[Guardino]

Well, at this point since you updated to the correct bios it should be easier to find out what's going on. I saw your post on your your temps - thermals were running 60ish-70ish, is that load CPU temp? If it is, then your problem with the throttling is temp related as you're hitting the thermal ceiling. The issues that could be causing that:

1) Insufficient airflow within the case. The interior of the case is getting too hot and you need to set up a better airflow system for the entire case. What you should have is a main fan blowing into the case from the front, and a fan blowing out of the case from the back. This does the obvious, brings in cool air, exhausts hot air.

2) Improperly mounted heat sink. The heatsink isn't mounted properly to the mounts and isn't making good contact with the CPU heat spreader. Another possibility is insufficient heat sink compound between the CPU and heatsink. Basically your heatsink isn't moving heat from the CPU fast enough and it's hitting the thermal limit.

3) Insufficient heatsink size/capacity. On higher frequency CPUs you need a bigger heatsink. I'm not thinking this is the issue as you don't have an overclocking CPU (Black Edition or /k model) so usually the included heatsink is of sufficient capacity for the CPU.

Take a look at your thermals and clockspeed while loading it (using a program like prime95). Ideally, if everything is working properly, you should be able to hit your max base speed (3.1Ghz) and have it hold there. Remember, turbo is only good while it has thermal headroom, the base speed is what it should run at UNLESS it's thermally overloaded.

Rookie,

I really appreciate your help and insight here. The thermal load is usually at around 64-65c. The CPU temp via ASUS AI Suite reads around 30-35c max. I have three fans inside the case and an XL cooler from an old build with new silver based paste. The rig sits on the concrete basement floor and I've checked via my hand behind the case and the air coming out is as cold as ice. I am pretty sure this should be adequate. I question whether or not the fans are the issue. If I am overheating im concerned as to why...

Now to update further on this since the bios revision: I noticed last night that the CPU was running 3100-3700 freq in game while playing, however if I stopped and stood still the freq would drop to 2400 and it is usually at these points that my FPS drops into the 12-15 range (it is normally around 25-30). I have also since reduced the OC on the memory due to bluescreening 🙁.

Since you appear to be the only one who cares - do you know of a way I can set the minimum frequency to 3100? I'd be happy with that - anything but this 2400 junk where the FPS drops off the face of the earth.

 

[Guardino]

Well, at this point since you updated to the correct bios it should be easier to find out what's going on. I saw your post on your your temps - thermals were running 60ish-70ish, is that load CPU temp? If it is, then your problem with the throttling is temp related as you're hitting the thermal ceiling. The issues that could be causing that:

1) Insufficient airflow within the case. The interior of the case is getting too hot and you need to set up a better airflow system for the entire case. What you should have is a main fan blowing into the case from the front, and a fan blowing out of the case from the back. This does the obvious, brings in cool air, exhausts hot air.

2) Improperly mounted heat sink. The heatsink isn't mounted properly to the mounts and isn't making good contact with the CPU heat spreader. Another possibility is insufficient heat sink compound between the CPU and heatsink. Basically your heatsink isn't moving heat from the CPU fast enough and it's hitting the thermal limit.

3) Insufficient heatsink size/capacity. On higher frequency CPUs you need a bigger heatsink. I'm not thinking this is the issue as you don't have an overclocking CPU (Black Edition or /k model) so usually the included heatsink is of sufficient capacity for the CPU.

Take a look at your thermals and clockspeed while loading it (using a program like prime95). Ideally, if everything is working properly, you should be able to hit your max base speed (3.1Ghz) and have it hold there. Remember, turbo is only good while it has thermal headroom, the base speed is what it should run at UNLESS it's thermally overloaded.

Turns out you were right. Someways more than others. The CPU seems to be downclocking when relatively idle at the max thermal of 70c. However, when the CPU ramps up it seems that the fans kick in and the thermal drops down to 65-69. Not sure why but it looks like this is where my system likes to run at 3700. Seems to me this indicates cooling might not be perfect - but working enough for the system to run up to 3700 nearly all the time.

Now my question is how to get it to stop downlocking THAT far....3100 would be fine with me.

 

[Rookie_MIB]

Sorry it took a bit to respond. What you want to do if you want to 'lock' the processor to a minimum frequency is to disable the appropriate 'power management' or 'advanced power management' or get into the 'apm' settings - whatever Asus might call it in their bios. What you should to do is read the book for your mobo and find the correct settings in the bios - it could be buried somewhere.

What it does is enable or disable the dynamic frequency under load to keep always it between 3100mhz and 3700mhz. Make sure you leave the 'turbo boost' enabled (this allows the 3700mhz operation), but you're not worried about the efficiency which (as mentioned) should be under the apm section which covers the downclocking to save power.

Also, it -could- be controlled by the cool n quiet bios setting. In fact, try that first as it's a single enabled/disabled. Face it, you don't care if it's cool and quiet while gaming, right?

 

[Guardino]

Sorry it took a bit to respond. What you want to do if you want to 'lock' the processor to a minimum frequency is to disable the appropriate 'power management' or 'advanced power management' or get into the 'apm' settings - whatever Asus might call it in their bios. What you should to do is read the book for your mobo and find the correct settings in the bios - it could be buried somewhere.

What it does is enable or disable the dynamic frequency under load to keep always it between 3100mhz and 3700mhz. Make sure you leave the 'turbo boost' enabled (this allows the 3700mhz operation), but you're not worried about the efficiency which (as mentioned) should be under the apm section which covers the downclocking to save power.

Also, it -could- be controlled by the cool n quiet bios setting. In fact, try that first as it's a single enabled/disabled. Face it, you don't care if it's cool and quiet while gaming, right?

With the size/speed of this processor? Heck no. Need more juice!

Thanks again Rookie.