[RIVE] CPU does not go past 4.2Ghz for everything except stress test programs

[Darkzero]

I am using the 4804 BIOS, and my CPU max boost ratio is set to 43 for 4300Mhz target. However, I have noticed lately that the CPU only runs at 4300 Mhz the first 30 seconds to a minute or so after booting into Windows, then as SpeedStep kicks in, the CPU clock starts to fluctuate anywhere between 1200 Mhz and 4200 Mhz, and it only ever goes back to 4300 Mhz if I throw a stress test program like Prime95, the Windows WEI test, etc, at it, and for everything else including games and even 3D Mark, it always stay at 4200 Mhz. I could force it to run at 4300 constantly by turning of SpeedStep or choosing High Performance in Power Options but I don't want to do that. Does anyone have any idea as to why the CPU behaves like this?

[Arne_Saknussemm]

I was going to say the same thing about the VRM...4.2 is a typical throttled frequency so maybe jury rig a fan on the VRM just for experiment's sake.

Also ballanced power plan does this if I recall...what happens if you set performance power plan and go into advanced settings and edit the plan for "minimum processor state" to 10%...which will give you performance power plan but let speedstep work?

[twisted1]

The VRMs get hotter then you think. And on watercooling you probably don't have a lot of airflow around the VRM like you would on air.

It's worth trying with a fan like Arne proposed.

I never use tests like prime but I know they put great stress on the cpu. However being prime stable doesn't mean it's stable for everything else.

[Darkzero]

But it does go to max boost clock, just that I have to run something really stressful to make them run at max with Balanced power plan. So it's not throttling.

Arne Saknussemm wrote:
I was going to say the same thing about the VRM...4.2 is a typical throttled frequency so maybe jury rig a fan on the VRM just for experiment's sake.

Also ballanced power plan does this if I recall...what happens if you set performance power plan and go into advanced settings and edit the plan for "minimum processor state" to 10%...which will give you performance power plan but let speedstep work?

I'll try that later tonight and report back.

P.S. I noticed that when I run the Windows 7 WEI test, Windows would automatically change the Power Plan to Performance which would make the CPU run at max boost and change it back to Balanced after the test.

Edit
High Performance with minimum processor state at 10% worked. Thanks to everyone for your replies!