10C contrast in cores!
10C contrast in cores!
I think I should just let it go now... The SSD usage looks like it's been around 4000-4500 hours, and my old Dell stopped working at about 2500 hours with a GPU reflow. It made me worry if it’s nearing end of life or something. Good to hear it can still run longer. Delaying a regular CPU is a big deal for me, especially since the laptop CPU is soldered in—wait, aren’t they already delidded? Thanks!
Thermal throttling refers to the reduction in performance caused by overheating. It can mean lowering the speed below the standard clock rate or simply adjusting to a lower boost level before settling back to base. For laptops, dropping below the base clock is a clear sign of a thermal problem.
When PROCHOT turns red in ThrottleStop, it indicates the CPU has entered thermal throttling. This happens when the processor cools down due to reaching its temperature limit. You can also check the throttling indicators provided by HWiNFO to confirm if a CPU is experiencing this issue. The MHz readings from HWiNFO are less reliable compared to the throttling flags. Most Intel processors begin throttling once any core hits 100°C. Many laptops employ a PROCHOT offset setting, enabling manufacturers to initiate throttling before reaching 100°C when necessary. This laptop uses an offset of 5, causing it to start throttling at 95°C instead of the full 100°C specified by Intel. Some Lenovo models can dynamically adjust this offset up to 40, triggering throttling at just 60°C. Intel users should be aware of these adjustments. In the ThrottleStop Options window, look for a lock icon near the PROCHOT Offset setting on the right side. If it’s unlocked, you can lower the offset from 5 to 0, prompting the CPU to throttle at the full 100°C recommended by Intel. If you’ve observed a shift in temperature differences between cores while they’re all equally loaded, it may be time to replace the thermal paste. Certain high-quality thermal pastes typically last only a week or two when applied directly to laptop CPU chips. Most retailers won’t invest in premium paste unless you request it. Perform this maintenance yourself to ensure it’s done properly.
The issue lies in the fact that most recent chips are designed to reach their thermal thresholds and then return to a lower speed once they surpass the base clock. Unless they fall below the standard timing, this is the expected outcome rather than the common perception of "thermal throttling" (a drop in performance compared to normal operation). I’m not sure if 8th generation chips are advanced enough to have such behavior built in, though it might be intended for newer models.
When the CPU reaches its junction temperature limit, it reduces its speed to keep things cooler. It stays above the minimum clock speed, like 1.6ghz, and even under heavy use, temperatures stay around 65°C. This means it won’t lower to the base speed. Intel’s TurboBoost activates when both heat and power allow for faster operation, boosting performance. In this setup, there’s enough thermal and power capacity for higher speeds, especially since other cores run cooler than the hot one. My concern is finding a way to avoid throttling just because one core gets too warm—I’m considering replacing the thermal paste.