No, it isn't possible to exceed the 25W limit on the i5-8250u with a modified BIOS.
No, it isn't possible to exceed the 25W limit on the i5-8250u with a modified BIOS.
He has some points right. The MSR and MMIO power caps can be adjusted or restricted by software or the operating system whenever needed. You’ve configured them well, yet your CPU continues throttling to 15W. There’s likely another restriction preventing you from reaching the desired limit. The third group of turbo settings is controlled by the EC unit. As long as one of those exists, you should be fine. Many users dive into these tweaks without fully understanding the implications. That would be interesting to see how to surpass the 15W TDP ceiling. Some MSI laptops offer access to the IMON Slope option in their advanced BIOS. You can modify it so the CPU underreports its power draw. For example, setting the Slope to 50 instead of 100 means a 30W load will be shown as only 15W. Once this is done, the CPU won’t need to enforce throttling until it reaches 30W rather than the 15W cap. Intel’s power usage metrics aren’t actual readings—they’re estimates that can be altered via IMON Slope and IMON Offset. If you have access to an advanced BIOS, you might be able to adjust these values. That’s the only method I’ve found to break through the EC-imposed 15W restriction.
I think during extended tests the EC consistently enforces the 15W TDP limit on the CPU. Modifying the BIOS seems unlikely to change this. The best workaround appears to be adjusting the IMON Slope setting. This manipulates the CPU's perception, making it believe power usage is much lower than it truly is. By setting the slope appropriately, you can cause the CPU to operate at full capacity while still reporting reduced consumption. All monitoring tools will reflect a low power draw, and the CPU will stop throttling based on this false reading. Only then will thermal limits take effect if overheating occurs. I’ll look for an example to illustrate this concept.
You're curious about tracking power usage, especially in relation to VRMs and performance metrics. Yes, you can estimate power consumption using the IMON ratio or curve data. It helps you understand how much power is being drawn by your components over time.
Sure, I understand you're referring to a high power limit setting. It seems the default value might be lower than expected for a powerful machine.