i7 4710HQ Dead Cores? Please Help!

[Rezalis]

i7 4710HQ will not go above 30% utilization, 1Ghz.

My ASUS ROG GL551 is nearly 3 years old now and I have never had this issue. I reset my entire pc with fresh windows and the problem still persists. Never attempted to overclock the cpu, and never tried to do anything abnormal. All drivers and bios are fully up to date. When at idle (1% - 5%) usage, my cpu will read proper 3.4Ghz speeds. Anything above 20% drops speed to 1Ghz and lower. Utilization rarely goes past 30%; never 100% or above 1Ghz. Is there a hardware issue?

 

[Rahul_Ignited]

Check the temperature using something like CPUID HWMonitor (personal favourite) in case it's throttling and check if all cores are detected. Also try this-

i) Go to power options in windows

ii) Whatever power plan is selected click Edit plan settings > advanced power settings.

iii) Go to processor power management > maximum processor state and set it to 100%

 

[Rezalis]

Check the temperature using something like CPUID HWMonitor (personal favourite) in case it's throttling and check if all cores are detected. Also try this-

i) Go to power options in windows

ii) Whatever power plan is selected click Edit plan settings > advanced power settings.

iii) Go to processor power management > maximum processor state and set it to 100%

Already tried that. No change. 🙁

 

[Rahul_Ignited]

Don't worry pal, we'll help you out

Download Cinebench R15 and run the CPU benchmark.

Also did you see all your four cores and eight threads in HWMonitor?

Use the same tool to check the usage while running Cinebench. All the threads should ramp upto 100% usage

You can also try AIDA64

 

[Rezalis]

They do not ramp up to 100%. All 4 cores and 8 logical processors are detected. I think it might be some type of power issue. While running cinebench, it hit 45% usage 1.15Ghz. No higher.

 

[st3v30]

Try to enter BIOS and reset to Default settings.

 

[Rahul_Ignited]

Reset your BIOS to see if that works. If not then you might consider reinstalling Windows

And yes since its a laptop, try connecting the power brick (charger) and then see. Some laptops use some kind of power saving functionality to preserve battery thereby limiting CPU usage

 

[Rezalis]

Reset your BIOS to see if that works. If not then you might consider reinstalling Windows

And yes since its a laptop, try connecting the power brick (charger) and then see. Some laptops use some kind of power saving functionality to preserve battery thereby limiting CPU usage

Before I asked here, I reinstalled windows and updated bios. Updating bios had no effect on the issue and neither did reinstalling windows. There is no change in performance between plugged in and on battery. When my laptop did use 100% of the cpu, the fan would output more heat than it is right now and the laptop would feel warmer to the touch.

 

[Rahul_Ignited]

If you reinstalled windows but still the problem persists, then its surely something related to the BIOS.

Try finding the CPU power/frequency setting in your BIOS and check there.
Also try disabling C-State (if possible) on the BIOS. Although C-State should not cause this issue as it only reduces frequency during idle to save power and not during heavy use, you might wanna give it a try

 

[Rezalis]

If you reinstalled windows but still the problem persists, then its surely something related to the BIOS.

Try finding the CPU power/frequency setting in your BIOS and check there.
Also try disabling C-State (if possible) on the BIOS. Although C-State should not cause this issue as it only reduces frequency during idle to save power and not during heavy use, you might wanna give it a try

Unfortunately, I do not have options like that in my bios. The only thing I can change with the CPU is the allocated memory for the integrated graphics. Should I try and install the first bios revision? I currently have the latest one.

 

[st3v30]

Try to use ThrottleStop and see will it help.
https://www.techpowerup.com/download/techpowerup-throttlestop/

 

[Rezalis]

Try to use ThrottleStop and see will it help.
https://www.techpowerup.com/download/techpowerup-throttlestop/

ThrottleStop tells me that the CPU temperature readings are 85-95C and the reason my throttling is occurring is due to the temps. The voltage fluctuates between 0.6 and 1.0 volts. I guarantee that my CPU is not at 95C. My computer is not hot, it is just how it should be at idle. No more than 9.5 watts is being applied to the CPU. Normal max power under full load with turbo is 47watts.

Looking through GPUz and other "temperature softwares", all read 85-100C on the CPU and the proper 30-40C on the GPU. (860m)

Should I try opening up the computer and cleaning the fans? (This thing is a pain in the a** to open up fully; I would like to first confirm that it's not software that is causing the issue.)

UPDATE: After learning how throttlestop works, I realize that disabling BDPROCHOT and bringing up the voltage by 50mv on adaptive allows me to hit 40% CPU usage before throttling down to 1Ghz. PROCHOT 85C cannot be unchecked. The mark goes checked the moment the CPU reads 85C. At idle, the CPU reads 65C and when put under load (FurMark CPU Burner), it jumps to 85-90C and throttles. I however feel zero change in temperature. The laptop fans do not whir up and the laptop still feels cool.

 

[st3v30]

Have you tried to remove the battery and run in just on charger??
I would advise you to open laptop if you know how to and clean the CPU FAN and the radiator, 3 years is a long time and there is probably tons of dust there that is keeping heat inside and restrict airflow so that why you dont feel hot air blowing out of it.

 

[Rezalis]

Have you tried to remove the battery and run in just on charger??
I would advise you to open laptop if you know how to and clean the CPU FAN and the radiator, 3 years is a long time and there is probably tons of dust there that is keeping heat inside and restrict airflow so that why you dont feel hot air blowing out of it.

There is one fan in my computer that cools both the GPU and the CPU. Both are connected to the same heatpipe. My GPU reads proper temps and the CPU is approx. 40C higher than what it really is. The laptop feels cool. I really do not think that it is a cooling problem. The computer thinks it is much hotter than what it really is. The CPU sits between the touchpad and the keyboard, and it is cool to the touch.

 

[st3v30]

Try running it without battery.

 

[Rezalis]

Try running it without battery.

Zero change. Same result. 🙁

 

[st3v30]

Have you tried using Intel XTU to set CPU Speed and Voltages??

 

[Rezalis]

Have you tried using Intel XTU to set CPU Speed and Voltages??

Yes, it still throttles.

 

[st3v30]

Try to Turn off Turbo and set it to base speed.

 

[Rezalis]

Try to Turn off Turbo and set it to base speed.

Doesn't help. I did clean my computer and I had no change in performance. ThrottleStop shows the CPU temps jumping from 60 to 90C constantly. I'm am sure that the computer is just reading wrong temps from the motherboard. Is there anyway to fix that? Or is it possible to force the computer into thinking it is colder than it actually is?

 

[st3v30]

I'm not sure that is possible since those readings are coming directly from the CPU.You can try to rollback older BIOS to see will it help you out and if that doesn't do any good then there is possibility of hardware issue.
Also try to undervolt CPU with XTU for about - 50 - 70 mV.

 

[unclewebb]

ThrottleStop reads multiple temperature sensors within your CPU and it is telling you that your CPU is overheating. You seem to be in denial about this. It is not reading any motherboard sensors. If the heatsink on your CPU is loose or making poor contact, all of the heat will be trapped in your CPU and none of the heat will be blowing out of your laptop so you cannot judge the temperature of your CPU by how hot your laptop feels. You have to disassemble your laptop to fix this problem. If you cannot do this yourself then you will need to bring it in for service. You can continue using your laptop while running at a fraction of its rated speed but this problem is not going to go away until you do something about it. Do a Google search for how to apply thermal paste. The heatsink is either loose or it is possible that someone did not correctly apply thermal paste between the heatsink and CPU.