Recent performance problems and throttling on the new PC.
Recent performance problems and throttling on the new PC.
I’m wondering if others would mind me inquiring about a pre-assembled setup. I searched online but didn’t find clear solutions. I’ve been assembling my own systems since the early 2000s, yet with today’s parts and prices, I ended up using a ready-made Lenovo model. It’s the Lenovo T7 34IRZ8 with an i9-13900KF, two 16 GB DDR5-5600 modules (total 32 GB), an RTX 4090, and a 1200W power supply. When I powered it on, I downloaded 3dmark to compare it to my previous build—it performed adequately. Still, I noticed other systems with similar specs scored 5–15% higher overall. Then I attempted a small overclock using Intel Speed Optimizer 2.0 (via Intel XTU) and Nvidia’s automated tuning (through GeForce Experience OSD). The score dropped slightly. At that stage, I thought something might be amiss. I checked HWMonitor and the logs in Intel XTU; CPU temperatures were normal, but the CPU frequently hit "Current/EDP Limit Throttling" during tests, while the GPU reached "Power Limit" and "Reliable Voltage Limit." Later, I confirmed these issues also appeared with default BIOS settings. It seems Lenovo has disabled or hidden most CPU-related BIOS options, and limited some Intel XTU features like undervolting. So far, performance isn’t terrible—it’s actually quite strong compared to my old rig. The throttling under load doesn’t cause noticeable FPS drops, which is what mattered most. If the only drawback was a 5–15% drop in power versus a custom build with the same components, I’d be fine. But is that enough? I’m not an expert on Lenovo’s changes, but I’m concerned about long-term reliability. Could this affect the system over time?
I finished and responded in the incorrect thread, and there’s no delete option.
Is the performance dropping below the minimum clock speed? Or does it briefly accelerate before returning to a stable level near the base frequency? Is the system overheating? What's the typical core temperature? If it's just a short burst of higher speed followed by settling back up, that's typical for a BIOS-protected setup with fixed power limits. Or could the power delivery be insufficient or unstable?
Thanks for the reply! I really appreciate the help. 1) It's boosting to a pretty stable 5.5 GHz, with the exception of hitting 5.6 or 5.7 GHz handful of times (just for a second) during the 3dmark runs. 2) CPU temps hover around 60-70 °C during the two graphics tests, and hit 80 °C during the CPU test in the end. These values are for package temp, while the temps for individual P-Cores are sometimes a few degrees higher than that. So there doesn't seem to be any CPU thermal throttling, CPU power limit throttling or MB VR thermal throttling, just the current limit throttling. It's unclear to me at this point how the current limit throttling is actually affecting how the CPU operates. If I look at the CPU Current/EDP limit throttling on the timeline chart in Intel XTU, I can clearly see that as the benchmark progresses, it hits the throttle limit more and more. It basically starts out showing a spike every couple of seconds, and by the middle of the test it's throttling most of the time. I tried overlaying a bunch of different values on the timeline to see if some of them matched this pattern, and the highest correlation seems to be with TDP. The first half of the benchmark, while the CPU hits the current limit throttle only a handful of times, the TDP is between 130-150 W. The second half, when the it's the throttle limit for the most part, the TDP is over 160W. Does this hint towards the board having shit power delivery? Also, does having limited power delivery with powerful components like this affect the longevity of the system? And one more question, is it safe to say that a 1200W PSU should be enough for this system (even if it wasn't 80 Plus certified)? Lenovo states it's "90% efficient" but if it's not 80 Plus certified, that's probably BS?
What you observe is typical Intel Turbo performance on a motherboard equipped with full Intel specifications. By design, the CPUs only activate turbo briefly and then gradually reduce speed to "cool down." Many manufacturers, such as Asus and Gigabyte, produce boards where Z-series chips are available; by default these limits are disabled. The current setting is standard for tightly controlled systems. It seems 12th and 13th generation processors employ TVB (thermal velocity boost) and will continue increasing speed until they approach higher temperatures before stabilizing. For instance, my 11700K on the Strix Z590A draws around 270W continuously when all restrictions are lifted. Restoring the limits would bring it to about 250W for a short time, then settle near 160W. Additionally, my board rarely reaches current limits—it usually exhausts thermal capacity before hitting any thresholds.
Thank you for your time! My knowledge comes mostly from around 20 years ago, when we worked with CPUs at a constant speed and power settings.