Issues with Intel Xeon e3-1231v3 performance Performance problems detected Hardware not functioning as expected
Issues with Intel Xeon e3-1231v3 performance Performance problems detected Hardware not functioning as expected
Hello everyone, I've recently swapped my i5-4670k for a Xeon e3-1231 and for whatever reason the xeon is not boosting over 3.6 no matter what I do (drops to 3.4ghz under high load) I have a GA h81m-ds2 motherboard, used to get 4.2ghz on the i5. With Bios updated to latest version it lets me set the clock speed to 3.8 but on the MIT status it says Turbo Boost: 36 instead of 38. Tried setting turbo boost manually to all core 38, no luck. There is no thermal throttling, the CPU chills at 60 degrees celsius under high load. Heard someone got it to 3.8 by downgrading Bios, tried that with no luck. I even tried setting it in windows by using ThrottleStop. Disabled all C states/power saving options and windows Power Settings are at maximum possible. I think the motherboard has a locked boost to 3.6 for this exact CPU. Anyone got any ideas of how I could remove this locked frequency?
The processor doesn't allow using the highest multiplier with all cores running. You require a K series CPU and a Z series board for that capability. A screenshot of the ThrottleStop FIVR window should be shared. The maximum speed is 3.80 GHz, but only when one core is active. Disabling C states turns off maximum turbo boost. Xeon behaves differently from a K series CPU. Does ThrottleStop display +0 in the FIVR Turbo Overclocking area?
It's typical for a Xeon E5-2690v4. The processor reaches its peak performance of 2.9Ghz per core, but only achieves a single-core turbo boost up to 3.5Ghz. Unlike Core CPUs, Xeons don't use the same boosting method, so the results seem normal and standard.
These Xeons come with a fixed top performance limit. The turbo enhancement will function identically to regular non-K Core i CPUs.
It's odd the motherboard caps all cores at 3.6 despite being labeled for 3.8. The ThrottleStop-Set multiplier isn't changing, and raising it doesn't produce any effect.
Did you turn on the C states in BIOS as I recommended? Intel non-K CPUs won’t reach their full potential if C states remain off. If your machine is idle at the desk, open the ThrottleStop C states panel and verify they function properly. When disabled, the maximum multiplier drops to 36. Activating them allows higher values—try a simple TS Bench 1 Thread test. You’ll notice multipliers exceeding 36. The Turbo column lists the default max multipliers depending on active cores: 38, 38, 37, and 36. Setting all turbo ratios to 38 via ThrottleStop will be disregarded by the CPU. Turn off C states and only allow the four active cores’ multiplier. The Set Multiplier option in ThrottleStop won’t work if SpeedStep is disabled. It’s fine to turn off BD PROCHOT and C1E, but enable SpeedStep. Some Haswell chips with older microcode versions may skip these limits. You’re running microcode 0x27, and all early workarounds have been blocked by Intel.
It seems disabling certain states can affect performance, though results were mixed. A new issue appeared, and the frequency plummeted to just 2.5ghz during idle. Turning off C1E had little impact. I noticed a temporary boost around 3.8ghz across most cores, but it vanished quickly. There appears to be no straightforward method to lock in a permanent maximum frequency.
The C-states help manage power use when the CPU isn't busy. They allow the processor to lower its speed and reduce energy consumption during idle periods. With a H81-based board, you have limited control over this feature. Turbo Boost should be used sparingly—only briefly or not at full capacity. Running at a steady 3.8 GHz all the time could break the system's 80W power limit.
Everyone using Core i non K CPUs has followed this approach over the past fifteen years. Most forum discussions focus mainly on K CPUs with unlocked multipliers. Are you still running Windows High Performance? Has SpeedStep been enabled? Is the C1E option unchecked? Open your Windows Power Options and click the "Restore plan defaults" button. I own a 4th generation mobile CPU; when C states are active it can still operate at full speed even when idle. Consider sharing a ThrottleStop screenshot that displays lower clock speeds. You can turn off C states, but you’ll miss out on the 38 multiplier advantage when the CPU isn’t heavily loaded. I believe having C states on provides better stability, while a faster CPU is preferable if you prefer higher MHz.