Question CPU below base clock speed while idle and during gaming

[Piffu]

Hi, my i7-8700 which should have a base clock speed of 3.20 GHz is sometimes at 0.9-2.5~ when idle and gaming. I understand that when idle it can go lower which shouldn't be a problem.
My temps seem normal, when idle maybe around 30 C and when I finally can play it's around 60~ C.

I am not sure if it's related to the CPU but if it is, this problem stops games from even launching, downloading and uninstalling. I have reset my bios, reinstalled windows and try to reinstall the games I'm having problems with but nothing seems to work.

I don't for sure know that it's the CPU that is at fault, its just my main guess at this moment
Please help

 

[Order 66]

what are your full system specs? age and model of PSU?

 

[Piffu]

what are your full system specs? age and model of PSU?

my PSU is a Corsair RM750X 750W v2 I bought in 2020

 

[Order 66]

my PSU is a Corsair RM750X 750W v2 I bought in 2020

full system specs?

 

[Piffu]

full system specs?

 

[Order 66]

would you list them please, the image is not loading correctly on my end.

 

[Piffu]

would you list them please, the image is not loading correctly on my end.

Ah my bad


OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Version 10.0.19045 Build 19045
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name DESKTOP-2JUU4GP
System Manufacturer System manufacturer
System Model System Product Name
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU SKU
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700 CPU @ 3.20GHz, 3192 Mhz, 6 Core(s), 12 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0802, 01/11/2017
SMBIOS Version 3.0
Embedded Controller Version 255.255
BIOS Mode UEFI
BaseBoard Manufacturer ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
BaseBoard Product ROG STRIX Z370-H GAMING
BaseBoard Version Rev 1.xx
Platform Role Desktop
Secure Boot State Off
PCR7 Configuration Binding Not Possible
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United Kingdom
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "10.0.19041.3570"
Username DESKTOP-2JUU4GP\elwin
Time Zone GMT Summer Time
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 16.0 GB
Total Physical Memory 15.9 GB
Available Physical Memory 7.60 GB
Total Virtual Memory 18.8 GB
Available Virtual Memory 6.92 GB
Page File Space 2.88 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
Kernel DMA Protection Off
Virtualisation-based security Not enabled
Device Encryption Support Reasons for failed automatic device encryption: TPM is not usable, PCR7 binding is not supported, Hardware Security Test Interface failed and the device is not Modern Standby, Un-allowed DMA-capable bus/device(s) detected, TPM is not usable
Hyper-V - VM Monitor Mode Extensions Yes
Hyper-V - Second Level Address Translation Extensions Yes
Hyper-V - Virtualisation Enabled in Firmware No
Hyper-V - Data Execution Protection Yes

 

[Piffu]

Ah my bad


OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Version 10.0.19045 Build 19045
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name DESKTOP-2JUU4GP
System Manufacturer System manufacturer
System Model System Product Name
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU SKU
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700 CPU @ 3.20GHz, 3192 Mhz, 6 Core(s), 12 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0802, 01/11/2017
SMBIOS Version 3.0
Embedded Controller Version 255.255
BIOS Mode UEFI
BaseBoard Manufacturer ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
BaseBoard Product ROG STRIX Z370-H GAMING
BaseBoard Version Rev 1.xx
Platform Role Desktop
Secure Boot State Off
PCR7 Configuration Binding Not Possible
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United Kingdom
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "10.0.19041.3570"
Username DESKTOP-2JUU4GP\elwin
Time Zone GMT Summer Time
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 16.0 GB
Total Physical Memory 15.9 GB
Available Physical Memory 7.60 GB
Total Virtual Memory 18.8 GB
Available Virtual Memory 6.92 GB
Page File Space 2.88 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
Kernel DMA Protection Off
Virtualisation-based security Not enabled
Device Encryption Support Reasons for failed automatic device encryption: TPM is not usable, PCR7 binding is not supported, Hardware Security Test Interface failed and the device is not Modern Standby, Un-allowed DMA-capable bus/device(s) detected, TPM is not usable
Hyper-V - VM Monitor Mode Extensions Yes
Hyper-V - Second Level Address Translation Extensions Yes
Hyper-V - Virtualisation Enabled in Firmware No
Hyper-V - Data Execution Protection Yes

I assume by looking at this now, I might wanna update my bios huh?

 

[Order 66]

I assume by looking at this now, I might wanna update my bios huh?

You might. Is turbo boost enabled?

 

[Piffu]

You might. Is turbo boost enabled?

It seems like it is, yes

 

[Order 66]

It seems like it is, yes

I would try updating the BIOS and see if that helps.

 

[Piffu]

I would try updating the BIOS and see if that helps.

thank you so much, I've done it and I'll give it a bit and see if it works

 

[--SID--]

Is the RAM that slow or is XMP not enabled?

What's the brand and model of the RAM?

 

[Piffu]

Is the RAM that slow or is XMP not enabled?

What's the brand and model of the RAM?

It's a tad slow at 2666MHz, with XMP enabled I can't even start any games

 

[--SID--]

It's a tad slow at 2666MHz

It's running @2133 MT/s

with XMP enabled I can't even start any games

What's the brand and model of the RAM?

 

[Piffu]

It's running @2133 MT/s

What's the brand and model of the RAM?

Corsair Vengeance LPX Black 8GB (4x4GB) / 2666MHz / DDR4

 

[uWebb429]

@Piffu

Run ThrottleStop when you have a throttling problem.
https://www.techpowerup.com/download/techpowerup-throttlestop/

Post screenshots of the main window, the FIVR and TPL windows. Use imgur or a similar image hosting site.

Check the High Performance box on the main screen of ThrottleStop when testing to switch to the Window High Performance power plan.

Turn on the Log File option so you have a record of your CPU performance. Try to play a game for 15 minutes. When done testing, exit the game and then exit ThrottleStop so it can finalize your log file. This file should be in the ThrottleStop / Logs folder. Copy and paste the log file data to pastebin and then post a link here.

www. pastebin.com

The Core i7-8700 has a 65W TDP rating. When the BIOS is set to default values, this power limit can reduce performance. A log file will help show if this is part of the problem.

 

[Piffu]

@Piffu

Run ThrottleStop when you have a throttling problem.
https://www.techpowerup.com/download/techpowerup-throttlestop/

Post screenshots of the main window, the FIVR and TPL windows. Use imgur or a similar image hosting site.

Check the High Performance box on the main screen of ThrottleStop when testing to switch to the Window High Performance power plan.

Turn on the Log File option so you have a record of your CPU performance. Try to play a game for 15 minutes. When done testing, exit the game and then exit ThrottleStop so it can finalize your log file. This file should be in the ThrottleStop / Logs folder. Copy and paste the log file data to pastebin and then post a link here.

www. pastebin.com

The Core i7-8700 has a 65W TDP rating. When the BIOS is set to default values, this power limit can reduce performance. A log file will help show if this is part of the problem.

Hopfully this helps
Screenshots of ThrottleStop

https://imgur.com/a/766sWtS

View: https://imgur.com/a/766sWtS


Pastebin logs

DATE TIME MULTI C0% CKMOD BAT_mW TEMP VID POWER2023-10- - Pastebin.com

Pastebin.com is the number one paste tool since 2002. Pastebin is a website where you can store text online for a set period of time.

pastebin.com

 

[Bob.B]

Hi, my i7-8700 which should have a base clock speed of 3.20 GHz is sometimes at 0.9-2.5~ when idle and gaming. I understand that when idle it can go lower which shouldn't be a problem.
My temps seem normal, when idle maybe around 30 C and when I finally can play it's around 60~ C.

I am not sure if it's related to the CPU but if it is, this problem stops games from even launching, downloading and uninstalling. I have reset my bios, reinstalled windows and try to reinstall the games I'm having problems with but nothing seems to work.

I don't for sure know that it's the CPU that is at fault, its just my main guess at this moment
Please help

Look at windows power management and make sure max cpu power is set to 100%.

 

[Piffu]

Look at windows power management and make sure max cpu power is set to 100%.

It's already set to 100%

 

[uWebb429]

Screenshots of ThrottleStop

Did you have any throttling problems while you were logging data with ThrottleStop?

The log file shows your CPU is mostly running at 4300 MHz which is the speed it should be running at while playing a game. If you look in the far right column of the log file you will see the odd PL1 show up. This indicates power limit throttling is in progress. This is only slowing the CPU down about 100 MHz so this amount of throttling should never be noticed.

The 8700 has a 65W TDP rating. This slight throttling is helping to keep the CPU from exceeding 65W. If you want to get rid of this throttling, open the ThrottleStop TPL window, clear the Disable Controls box and change Long Power PL1 from 65W to 90W. Your CPU temperatures are well within spec so increasing this power limit is not going to hurt anything.

If you were having problems while testing then perhaps it is the Nvidia GPU that is causing the problem. In the ThrottleStop Options window try checking the Nvidia GPU box so GPU temperature and GPU MHz information is included in the log file.

when I finally can play it's around 60°C

The log file shows when peak power consumption reached 106.9W, the CPU temperature reached 87°C. Some popular monitoring software is not great at reporting peak temperatures when a CPU is loaded. ThrottleStop runs at a higher Windows priority so it can accurately report peak temperatures. If the monitoring software you are using is only reporting 60°C then do not use it.

The MULTI column shows the CPU is using the full 43.00 multiplier. That means it was running at full speed with zero throttling.

   DATE       TIME    MULTI   C0%   CKMOD  BAT_mW  TEMP    VID   POWER
2023-10-27  20:13:23  43.00   70.8  100.0       0   86   1.2062   94.2
2023-10-27  20:13:24  43.00   88.7  100.0       0   87   1.1957  106.9

It looks like you are using the Windows Balanced power plan. If you want your CPU to run at full speed when lightly loaded, switch to the Windows High Performance power plan. If you cannot find this plan in Windows Power Options then you can access this plan by checking the High Performance box on the main screen of ThrottleStop.