Question CPU limited to 4.6Ghz in games, max frequency is set to 5.1Ghz

[Loki_TSO]

I just noticed that my CPU doesn't no go above 4.6Ghz when running CPU intensive games.
I have an i5-11600K overclocked to 5.1Ghz on all cores, when idle it runs fine at the max frequency, but as soon as I launch a game, the clock speed lowers to 4.6Ghz and stays there.
I'd like to know if this is normal or not, I feel like the frequency is capped somehow and should definitely hit the max clock speed when running games that are CPU intensive.

Thanks for the help!

https://imgur.com/a/I5huUd3

https://imgur.com/a/QD1iFA5

 

[Aeacus]

Performance tab doesn't show CPU thermals. So, what are CPU temps under load? Could be that you're seeing thermal throttle.

Also, use HWino64 for telemetry. FAR better than what is in Win by default,
link: https://www.hwinfo.com/download/

What HWinfo64 shows during load? Both the frequency and CPU temps (package and individual cores)?

 

[rgd1101]

how did you overclock the cpu?

 

[Loki_TSO]

Performance tab doesn't show CPU thermals. So, what are CPU temps under load? Could be that you're seeing thermal throttle.

Also, use HWino64 for telemetry. FAR better than what is in Win by default,
link: https://www.hwinfo.com/download/

What HWinfo64 shows during load? Both the frequency and CPU temps (package and individual cores)?

https://imgur.com/a/UJgmIfQ

It's running a little hot, but it doesn't seem to be throttling, I also tried another game that was using a bit less CPU (around 60%) and was also capped at 4.6Ghz. In Helldivers 2 the only time it reached 5.1Ghz was while loading and it was only a short spike.

 

[Aeacus]

It's running a little hot

More like thermal throttle levels of hotness.

80C and up = thermal throttle. Especially at 90C and up. Tjmax is 100C and your top-end is 95C. Solid thermal throttle area.

Since your CPU doesn't have thermal headroom while under the load, CPU down clocks itself, to maintain below 100C temps. Hence 4.6 Ghz.
On idle, your CPU thermals could be ~70C, where 5.1 Ghz is easy to hold.

So, either:
* increase CPU cooling (better CPU cooler, fans on 100%)
or
* reduce OC

 

[uWebb429]

@Loki_TSO
Use HWiNFO to double check that all of the turbo ratios are set correctly.

80C and up = thermal throttle

Thermal throttling begins at 100°C. HWiNFO shows zero thermal throttling.

 

[Loki_TSO]

@Loki_TSO
Use HWiNFO to double check that all of the turbo ratios are set correctly.

Thermal throttling begins at 100°C. HWiNFO shows zero thermal throttling.

This is what HWiNFO shows me with the overclock... Although I do think my CPU is running hotter than it should, even with the default config (4.9ghz on 1 core/4.6ghz on the others), the idle temp is around 56°C.
The fan curve is set to "performance" in Gigabyte SIV, I have a 240mm AIO from Cooler Master.

https://imgur.com/a/wqT7Kq9

 

[JayGau]

More like thermal throttle levels of hotness.

80C and up = thermal throttle. Especially at 90C and up. Tjmax is 100C and your top-end is 95C. Solid thermal throttle area.

Since your CPU doesn't have thermal headroom while under the load, CPU down clocks itself, to maintain below 100C temps. Hence 4.6 Ghz.
On idle, your CPU thermals could be ~70C, where 5.1 Ghz is easy to hold.

So, either:
* increase CPU cooling (better CPU cooler, fans on 100%)
or
* reduce OC

That’s not how thermal throttling works. The CPU slows down itself when it reaches its max allowed temperature, which is 100c for the i5 11600k. It does not start throttling at 80c to make sure it's never going to reach 100.

 

[uWebb429]

This is what HWiNFO shows

All turbo groups are not set to the 51 multiplier. That has to be properly set in the BIOS. HWiNFO shows that your CPU is limited to the 46 multiplier when 3 or more cores are active. That is why your CPU is only using the 46 multiplier when gaming. You can use ThrottleStop if your BIOS is not setting the turbo groups correctly.

Some Gigabyte boards set the CPU voltage too high. Reduce the voltage in the BIOS and your core temperatures will drop significantly. Default voltage is always more than what is necessary.

 

[Loki_TSO]

All turbo groups are not set to the 51 multiplier. That has to be properly set in the BIOS. HWiNFO shows that your CPU is limited to the 46 multiplier when 3 or more cores are active. That is why your CPU is only using the 46 multiplier when gaming. You can use ThrottleStop if your BIOS is not setting the turbo groups correctly.

Some Gigabyte boards set the CPU voltage too high. Reduce the voltage in the BIOS and your core temperatures will drop significantly. Default voltage is always more than what is necessary.

So...I dug around a bit and decided to overclock using the bios (I was using EasyTune). I have set the Turbo Core Ratios as well as the Turbo Clock Ratio limit to what you see in the screenshot. I don't know why but it's still using the default Turbo values (which are greyed out). I also set the CPU voltage to adaptive 1.39v with a -0.080v offset. I'm quite the noob when it comes to manual overclocking so if you have any advice I'm all hears.

https://imgur.com/a/EyNYNHN

UPDATE: I disabled Frequency Clipping TVB in the bios and now it runs at 5.0Ghz in games!
The CPU hits a max of 1.465v but is still at 1.43v at idle. If you have advices on the CPU voltage settings that might help it run a little cooler it would be much appreciated (it sits at around 47°C while idle, 85-88°C while gaming)