Reduce CPU turbo for better cooling efficiency
Reduce CPU turbo for better cooling efficiency
The Dell G5 5587 experiences thermal issues unless the service panel is removed and a fan installed. It throttles to 5fps before recovering or crashing. The new thermal paste didn’t help. It resets the processor to 98% utilization and frequency to 3.3GHz instead of the intended 4.1GHz. Staying at 4.1GHz isn’t viable since it can’t maintain that speed. The i7-8750H is adequate, but you’re losing significant performance by forcing this configuration.
Download 3dmark and check. Perform a test before setting your maximum clock limits and again afterward. Note, performance varies across applications.
If your system is constantly throttling performance, simply lowering its clock speed won't necessarily resolve the issue. Thermal throttling occurs when the CPU can't maintain a stable temperature under load, so reducing the speed doesn't help if it's already operating below safe limits.
Uncertain about Dell's approach, it seems the CPU drops to 0.89GHz when frame rate hits 5fps, then jumps back up to 2.8 or 3.8 after cooling down. From what I understand, this is likely the main factor affecting my performance. The GPU stays around 78°C, and the 180W power supply appears to be handling it well. While the cooling isn't ideal, I think Dell may have overlooked the 5587 cooling design during development. Running HWinFO64 with BeamNG Drive showed a max temperature of 93°C on the i7 cores after reducing turbo frequency, compared to 99°C before. The 3D mark could help, but it's not a core issue for everyday use. I haven’t done extensive undervolting yet, and once Dell releases updates, all settings reset, making it hard to track changes. My laptop uses Type-C connections for external devices and travels with it. Usage is split: 70% general tasks, 10% gaming, 20% office work. Removing the service panel or doing factory resets isn’t something I prefer.
Several Dell laptops featuring 8th Gen CPUs, such as the 8750H, face significant throttling issues. This marks the introduction of Dell’s updated power cap throttling system for the first time. Cooling systems often fall short. When the processor operates at its maximum rated speed, overheating occurs, activating power limits that restrict performance to around 5 watts or less via an embedded controller. This forces the CPU to run at a minimum speed of 800 MHz, drastically reducing frame rates and rendering these devices unsuitable for gaming. This behavior is typical for these models. I usually recommend enabling ThrottleStop and activating the log file feature so you can track CPU performance during such events. If you share a log with me, it will help clarify the situation. https://www.techpowerup.com/download/tec...ottlestop/ The log will reveal the exact process at play. There’s no permanent solution; if you reach out to Dell, expect silence as they’d prefer not to acknowledge the issue. The main concern is the substantial performance loss this causes. What thermal paste did you install? Many users report problems with MX-4 when used directly in laptops, especially if it’s a direct die setup. It can degrade rapidly—sometimes within two weeks or less—and temperatures rise sharply afterward. Noctua NT-H2 tends to perform better in hot environments.
Thanks for the update, it clarifies why that strong i7 performance suddenly drops so much. It just doesn’t make sense they cap it at 4.1GHz when it struggles to maintain speed. Clearly their engineers know about the six-core setup and hyperthreading up to twelve cores, but thermal demands aren’t being addressed. Have they not tested this during development? I’ve seen varied responses on Dell’s official support site—some claim it’s built for basic office tasks like Excel and Word, while others admit they worked on it and released updated Power Management software with tighter cooling controls. It feels like a missed opportunity. I’m not trying to offend the gaming community, but I find managing power limits and throttling frustrating. I prefer keeping power output stable rather than constantly adjusting settings. Right now I’m considering taking it apart myself to clean the fans, as a local shop recently did for thermal re-pasting. Based on what they sell, it looks like Artic Silver or Thermal Grizzly paste. I suspect they used those materials. This 5fps issue appears to be an ongoing problem even after previous repairs, so I’ll test again tomorrow with Halo Infinite, hoping the service panel fix resolves it.
The Dell forum seems to be more of a joke. I was removed from it a while back because they grew tired of me sharing these troubles. They also claim there’s no point in playing games unless you buy one of their Alienware machines. Engineering doesn’t have much choice if the rest of the company isn’t supportive. Cooling for a CPU with a 45W TDP could have added $5 to $10. Instead of fixing it, they pushed a throttling solution that’s free. They risk losing customers who might look elsewhere next time. Many don’t see these problems as one-off incidents. Dell laptops have faced throttling issues since the Core 2 Duo era before 2008. I’ve been tracking this for years. Each year it happens again. People keep buying Dell so there’s no incentive to change a profitable model. There’s no real solution. You might need to cap the CPU speed below its rated rate to prevent it from reaching 5W - 800 MHz. Other laptops don’t do this—only Dell does. They’ve disabled CPU voltage control on many of their machines. ThrottleStop is useful for logging temperature, speed, and power use in one file, plus any reasons for throttling. Some monitoring tools generate huge data files, but ThrottleStop focuses on the clear signs of trouble your laptop is experiencing.
The post about the 5587 seems to reflect a strong opinion, possibly shared by someone with a similar perspective. It criticizes both the product and the approach taken, suggesting that blaming customers is inappropriate. The author emphasizes proper engineering and design, pointing out that hardware limitations are normal for any device. They compare it to other products like iPhones, which manage heat better due to design choices. The overall tone is dismissive of ineffective solutions and hints at reconsidering brand choices for future purchases.
It might have been me! I concur. If a seller charges for a 45W CPU and the laptop handles it smoothly, it should sustain that performance without throttling or power limits. Most Dell models and similar devices fail this test. When temperatures rise too high, they usually need more heatsink power or stronger fans. If a machine can't meet its advertised speed or power, it shouldn’t be sold. Cap it at 30W or whatever the cooling system can safely handle. Avoid promoting specs that are unachievable. Picture an auto maker fitting 400 HP engines but limiting them to 40 HP before overheating—this would get intense scrutiny on TV and news outlets. A solution is essential. In laptops, throttling issues are often overlooked and ignored year after year. There’s no regulation or oversight to ensure manufacturers deliver advertised performance. Most review sites stay silent for fear of losing access to test machines. Dell isn’t alone; many brands face similar problems. Now you’ll know what to check before buying a laptop. Test it yourself and return any that don’t meet the requirements.
After lowering it to 3300MHz, the system appears stable. Temperature has dropped below 85°C and it’s running smoothly at about 2800MHz. The program shows no throttling, though the CPU never drops below 1995MHz or stays locked at 3300MHz. It seems the service panel is back on, and I hope it won’t freeze now.