Setting Throttlestop to higher priority (Running before all other processes at bootup)

[Laserpewpewpew]

Hello. I have an interesting technical problem I thought I'd ask the community.

Background for question:
I have an Alienware x14 r2 where the program "Intel Speed Step" was throttling back the GPU and CPU when the laptop hit a temperature of 65 degrees C. Of course, this was ridiculous and started to ruin gaming. I went into the BIOS and disabled Intel Speed Step. However, then my CPU was stuck at a speed of 1.2. To fix this, I downloaded ThrottleStop and set the settings to crank the CPU all the way up 24/7. When Throttlestop is run, the CPU speed stays at 3.3.

Question:
What I want to do is cause Throttlestop to activate at the moment the computer is turned on, before everything else. The goal is to cause Throttlestop to be started as soon as possible so the CPU can be at full power in order to load everything else following. I'd like to go from power-on to a fully loaded desktop asap. Being at a cpu speed of 1.2 instead of 3.3 slows this down significantly.

What has been done so far:
So far, I've scheduled Throttlestop with the Task Scheduler program to start when the computer turns on. I also changed the priority to very high by exporting the task, opening the raw data, and changed <Priority>7(low)</Priority> to <Priority>1(very high)</Priority>. I then imported this task and I am currently using it. Even after doing this, Throttlestop's startup still seems to be hit-and-miss. Sometimes it loads sooner and other times it loads much later. When Throttlestop loads later than usual, the missing CPU power slows everything down.

So how would I go about fixing this? Perhaps there is simply a better way to do all this in the first place? I assume that TaskScheduler runs before it runs the tasks scheduled. If so, then Throttlestop's run speed would be dependent on TS's priority. Would I have to edit the priority of the Task-Sheduler itself? If so, how would I go about fixing this?

Thanks!
~K

 

[i7Baby]

Enable start with Windows in Throttlestop.

 

[Laserpewpewpew]

Enable start with Windows in Throttlestop.

Hmmm. There doesn't seem to be an option, unless I am mistaken?

 

[i7Baby]

Well there you go. No option.

I wouldn't even think of using a 3rd party software like Throttlestop. Whatever it does, you should be able to do in bios anyway. The cpu shouldn't get to 65C if you're looking after your pc anyway.

 

[Laserpewpewpew]

Well there you go. No option.

I wouldn't even think of using a 3rd party software like Throttlestop. Whatever it does, you should be able to do in bios anyway. The cpu shouldn't get to 65C if you're looking after your pc anyway.

The root problem seems to be with "BD PROCHOT". I have to uncheck this option in Throttlestop in order to cause the CPU to stay between a speed of 3.1 - 3.3. When the option is checked in ThrottleStop, the CPU is stuck at a speed of 1.2.

Is there a way to fix this?

Thank you for taking the time to help answer my question, by the way. It is very much appreciated.

 

[Laserpewpewpew]

For extra info, here is a link to a thread speaking about the throttling issue we're all having with our laptops. http://www.ideastorm.com/idea2ReadIdea?v=1380965310108&Id=087700000008pLeAAI

For me, using ThrottleStop has become a temporary fix. Things work fine, but I simply wanted ThrottleStop to start as soon as possible.

 

[i7Baby]

Read through your motherboard manual. Contact Dell to get info. Uninstall Throttlestop and don't use it or anything similar again. Figure whether there's a problem. Look up the spec of your cpu. See what speed it's supposed to get to. Then do what you can through Bios or Dell provided software.

 

[Laserpewpewpew]

Read through your motherboard manual. Contact Dell to get info. Uninstall Throttlestop and don't use it or anything similar again. Figure whether there's a problem. Look up the spec of your cpu. See what speed it's supposed to get to. Then do what you can through Bios or Dell provided software.

I have sought to do these things, yes. Dell has no current fix and no current answer. It seems the only two workarounds are:

1.) Flashing the BIOS and installing a custom one with the option to disable the throttling, or...
2.) Disabling Intel Speed Step in the BIOS and using ThrottleStop in order to disable "BD PROCHOT" to keep the CPU at full speed.

These are crappy options, I know. I don't like having to rely on ThrottleStop either. Flashing the BIOS is also, (from what I have read), a significantly risky procedure. I don't currently know how to do that.

I have sought to do everything I could so far. Contacted Dell, searched the internet for answers, purchased a laptop fan cooler to place the laptop on, repasted the CPU with new thermal paste, spoke with tech representatives, etc.

For now, things seem to work alright using the ThrottleStop workaround I've found. The only minor irritation is the slow startup until the scheduled ThrottleStop start-up process runs.

 

[i7Baby]

Flashing the bios - download and install the latest version bios.

If your current version is the latest version, just do a bios reset.

 

[Laserpewpewpew]

Flashing the bios - download and install the latest version bios.

If your current version is the latest version, just do a bios reset.

Yes, but in order to solve the issue, a custom BIOS has to replace the current one. It seems there are settings which are "locked" by default with the normal manufacturer BIOS. People had to "unlock" those settings, which is where I can finally access BD PROCHOT and turn it off like I currently do with ThrottleStop.

 

[i7Baby]

What do you mean 'a custom bios'. Is this one that's ready to go or not? You should be able to just download it from the alien/Dell website for your PC.

 

[unclewebb]

BD PROCHOT stands for bi-directional processor hot. This is a 2 way signal path to the CPU. It allows other components in a laptop like the motherboard or GPU to send a signal to the CPU which tricks the CPU into thinking it is too hot. When this happens, the CPU will immediately switch to its lowest possible speed which kills performance and is going to be immediately noticed, especially when gaming.

The only way to fix this type of throttling is to disable the BD PROCHOT signal path. Disabling BD PROCHOT does not prevent a CPU from thermal throttling and slowing down if it gets too hot. ThrottleStop can not be used to disable this hardware safety feature and that's a good thing.

i7Baby - Unfortunately, laptop manufacturers do not give users access to the BD PROCHOT function in the bios so without using 3rd party software, there is no way to access BD PROCHOT. The only 2 options for most users is to flash a modified bios which will void the warranty and this can also be risky. Some laptops with a modified bios will have access to the BD PROCHOT option in the bios. If a person wants to use this laptop at its full Intel intended speed and you do not want to risk bricking your laptop with a modified bios then ThrottleStop is the only freely available option. If a person chooses to leave BD PROCHOT enabled, this laptop will run at a a fraction of its Intel rated speed and Dell does not have a bios to fix this problem.

That's why Laserpewpewpew and many other users are being forced to use ThrottleStop. BTW, An Alienware M14x-R2 packs a lot of hardware in a small area. It was specifically designed to run a LOT hotter than 65C. Intel CPUs are designed to start thermal throttling when they reach the "maximum safe operating temperature". For a 3rd Generation mobile CPU, that is not until 105C.

Laserpewpewpew - There is no reason to disable EIST in the bios and there is no reason to change the priority of ThrottleStop. It already runs at the highest possible priority so it can deal with these throttling problems.

When you boot up with EIST enabled in the bios and you run a single thread of the TS Bench with BD PROCHOT enabled, does your CPU run at full speed? If your CPU is running at the lowest multiplier with BD PROCHOT enabled during this test, then you have a bad sensor on your motherboard or GPU that needs to be fixed. This usually requires a motherboard replacement.

Normally, the only time BD PROCHOT becomes an issue is after you start gaming. You do not need to disable BD PROCHOT until then so you do not need ThrottleStop to start running until then. With EIST enabled, your laptop will be able to boot up at full speed and then after you log into windows, you can start ThrottleStop. The ThrottleStop Guide on the NotebookReview forum shows how to use the Task Scheduler for this purpose. Its default priority is fine.

 

[i7Baby]

Sounds yet another good reason not to buy Dell/Alienware.