CPU Frequency Stuck (w/ Turbo and Speedstep enabled)

[mgoudreault1599]

Hello,

So I have an 8700K w/ an ASUS Prime Z370-A motherboard. I have speedstep and turbo enabled, and I have the CPU cores ratio set to auto. My frequency seems to stay at 4.3 GHz, even when playing resource intensive games, or doing resource intensive tasks. It also stays at the same frequency while idling. Very odd. What settings would I have to change around in bios to get that frequency switching (As it should fluctuate with turbo). Thanks!

 

[zebarjadi.raouf]

Hi, If the clock is stuck, that means something is using it, check task manager, processes, CPU. If you have changed the bios setting or used a software that does it (Asus Ai suite, EZ Tuning, Software OC), consider resetting it.

 

[Solandri]

What's your power profile set at? High Performance locks the CPU clock at its max frequency. You should only use the High Performance setting for testing, or if you're doing some real-time tasks (e.g. computer is sampling monitoring equipment at a high frequency). The vast majority of people should be using the Balanced setting. The amount of processing time lost to dynamically changing the clock speed is minuscule, and undetectable outside of certain real-time tasks.

The i7-8700k is a 3.7 GHz CPU with 6/7/7/8/9/10 boost. That is,

• 
  ■if only one core is being used it can hit 4.7 GHz (3.7 GHz + 10*100MHz = 4.7 GHz).
  ■If two cores are being used it can hit 4.6 GHz (3.7 GHz + 9*100 MHz).
  ■Three cores = 3.7 GHz + 8*100 MHz = 4.5 GHz max.
  ■4-5 cores = 3.7 GHz + 7*100 MHz = 4.4 GHz max.
  ■6 cores = 3.7 GHz + 6*100 MHz = 4.3 GHz max.

So your CPU is running at the proper speed (barring overclock) for having all 6 cores functioning, which would correspond to using the Higher Performance power profile. Boost speeds are also subject to thermal limits. So if the ambient temps are particularly hot or the heatsink isn't mounted properly, you could even see a max 3.7 GHz.

 

[mgoudreault1599]

What's your power profile set at? High Performance locks the CPU clock at its max frequency. You should only use the High Performance setting for testing, or if you're doing some real-time tasks (e.g. computer is sampling monitoring equipment at a high frequency). The vast majority of people should be using the Balanced setting. The amount of processing time lost to dynamically changing the clock speed is minuscule, and undetectable outside of certain real-time tasks.

The i7-8700k is a 3.7 GHz CPU with 6/7/7/8/9/10 boost. That is,

• 
  ■if only one core is being used it can hit 4.7 GHz (3.7 GHz + 10*100MHz = 4.7 GHz).
  ■If two cores are being used it can hit 4.6 GHz (3.7 GHz + 9*100 MHz).
  ■Three cores = 3.7 GHz + 8*100 MHz = 4.5 GHz max.
  ■4-5 cores = 3.7 GHz + 7*100 MHz = 4.4 GHz max.
  ■6 cores = 3.7 GHz + 6*100 MHz = 4.3 GHz max.

So your CPU is running at the proper speed (barring overclock) for having all 6 cores functioning, which would correspond to using the Higher Performance power profile. Boost speeds are also subject to thermal limits. So if the ambient temps are particularly hot or the heatsink isn't mounted properly, you could even see a max 3.7 GHz.

Hi sorry for the late reply. So are you saying it's "normal" to be constantly running at 4.3 GHz? Even when I'm just using an internet browser? Won't that reduce the lifespan of the processor?

 

[zebarjadi.raouf]

No, it won't damage it. Heat (80c+) and high voltage (1.4+) shorten the lifespan, not clock frequency. Also, just like Solandri said, setting your power profile to high performance can lock it too. You can make it more dynamic by going to Power Options > change plan setting > change advanced ... > processor power ... > minimum processor state

 

[Solandri]

Hi sorry for the late reply. So are you saying it's "normal" to be constantly running at 4.3 GHz? Even when I'm just using an internet browser? Won't that reduce the lifespan of the processor?

Putting Windows in high performance mode is basically you telling Windows, "I want my computer to run as fast as the hardware is capable of running, all the time." So yes, in that case it's normal for it to be constantly running at 4.3 GHz, even for internet browsing or sitting idle.

If you don't want it to constantly be at 4.3 GHz, put it in the balanced power profile. Due to the way Intel implements turbo boost, single-threaded tasks will actually run faster in balanced mode than in high performance mode (CPU is able to clock higher when only a single core is in use).