[GL702VM & similar] Solution to Performance issues / Overheating / Throttling / Whine

[onjax]

Hi guys, I bought GL702VM and was upset with its ability to handle games and high load. I had immediate temperature jump to over 85 jump and throttling / frame drops in games. So I decided to understand how to improve things, even though, I already lost my warranty due to my experiments, but at least I can answer for everyone, that:
- the main problem of this notebook is inefficient, insufficient cooling system with too thin fans, too small heatsinks, vent holes in a wrong places (aside, not above the fans).

To prove this, I first changed the thermal interface to liquid metal. That doesn't solve the issue. This proves, the thermal contact is ok, but heat dissipation is bad. Second, I ran stress tests with back cover removed - helped a lot, about 15-20 degrees off. The proves that air intake is wrong in this system.

I also removed an antidust tape with holes covering all the intake holes. That helped by around 5 degrees and also brought down air noise.

Then I came to idea of downvolting CPU and GPU, thanks to devs of ThrottleStop and MSI Afterburner, we can do this with relative ease.

The result: Fan noise reduced by half. Temp drop is huge. More speed due to ability of CPU/GPU to properly boost to max speed.

For your information - CPU is responsible for about 30% of heat, GPU - for 70%. So best idea is to undervolt the GPU, but for best results go for both.

THE GUIDE - CPU
Variant A - Install Intel Xtreme Tuning Utility

• Go to Advanced Tuning tab and Change Dynamic CPU Voltage Offset to negative value (move slider to the left). -100mV is a good starting point. Leave Mode to Adaptive.
  
• Apply changes.
  

My CPU holds -150mV well.

Variant B - Install Throttle Stop 8.3 or above

• On main window click FIVR button
  
• Under CPU Core Voltage move Offset Voltage slider to the left. -100mV is a good starting point. The lower value the less heat.
  
• Click Apply. On the same window you can save settings to make them apply every time you start the app.
  

THE GUIDE - GPU

• Download and Install MSI Afterburner 4.3 or above
  
• In settings turn on Unlock voltage control and Unlock voltage monitoring
  
• Close MSI Afterburner
  
• Download my Voltage Profile for GTX 1060
  
• Extract profile to some folder and then copy file to "C:\Program Files (x86)\MSI Afterburner\Profiles". Click continue as Administrator when Windows asks permission to write.
  
• Run MSI Afterburner, click on profile 1 (out of 5). Then press Ctrl+F. (1 - least heat, but may be unstable for some... 2, bit more voltage etc till 5.)
  
• You will see my Voltage Curve (screenshot). What you'll see that it's flat until 1050mv. that means. 1050 will never be used, so will never be used any voltage except 831mV @ 1860 MHz and below.
  
• Click apply to test this curve
  
• If this curve is not stable for you - edit it to your taste: Click on 831mV dot and move it lower, so that lower freq will be used for that voltage, and for 1860 freq next available voltage will be used. Etc. Work with leftmost voltage dots to make everything stable.
  

This curve drops heat of GPU by at least 30%, which is huge.

THE GUIDE - COIL WHINE
Workaround described here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/975530

Perform only these steps as Administrator:
1. At a command prompt, run the following command:
reg add HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Processor /v Capabilities /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0007e066
2. Restart the computer.
3. Run ThrottleStop v8.3 or above and uncheck C1E. Click save.

In theory, it will make CPU a bit hotter while system is idle, because it disables some advanced C-states, but i didn't notice that in monitoring app.
That solved like 99.9% of the noise, and in addition, disabling C1E in ThrottleStop solved noise issue completely.

[Gamanek]

Isn't this just a downclock?
I think it should just not happen.

Looks like a lot of these models are literally faulty pieces.
I'm thinking about sending it back and ask for a refund and buy something else.

[Sfonks]

There is no need to undervolt the CPU, just have to turn off Intel Turbo Boost Technology since that broken and is the cause of the overheating.
You can do this by creating a custom power plan in windows and changing the MIN and MAX Cpu usage to 99%, then the turbo will not be used because it only activates at 100%.
I have been using this method for a while and it works great.
Source thread: https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?88828-GL702VM-Heavy-GPU-throttling

[onjax]

Sfonks wrote:
There is no need to undervolt the CPU, just have to turn off Intel Turbo Boost Technology since that broken and is the cause of the overheating.
You can do this by creating a custom power plan in windows and changing the MIN and MAX Cpu usage to 99%, then the turbo will not be used because it only activates at 100%.
I have been using this method for a while and it works great.
Source thread: https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?88828-GL702VM-Heavy-GPU-throttling

Hi!
1. Turbo boost isn't broken, it just can't fire up due to excessive heat.
2. Disabling Turbo will also drop voltage by itself (you can monitor that). So I don't see any problem to lower voltage by myself but with turbo enabled.
3. We all paid for 3.5 GHz, it's just wrong to sit at 2.9Ghz to me
4. As I said, 70% of heat goes from GPU, so, it's essential to do something with GPU

[Sfonks]

onjax wrote:
Hi!
1. Turbo boost isn't broken, it just can't fire up due to excessive heat.
2. Disabling Turbo will also drop voltage by itself (you can monitor that). So I don't see any problem to lower voltage by myself but with turbo enabled.
3. We all paid for 3.5 GHz, it's just wrong to sit at 2.9Ghz to me
4. As I said, 70% of heat goes from GPU, so, it's essential to do something with GPU

What I thought that the problem was is that the CPU Turbo was on even if the temperatures are too high, and it should only be on if the laptop is cool enough.
My question is, with this method of lowering the voltage, isn't this underclocking the system? Which makes it so that you won't hit 3.5ghz anyway

[onjax]

Sfonks wrote:
What I thought that the problem was is that the CPU Turbo was on even if the temperatures are too high, and it should only be on if the laptop is cool enough.
My question is, with this method of lowering the voltage, isn't this underclocking the system? Which makes it so that you won't hit 3.5ghz anyway

Turbo frequency means also higher voltage. The problem is, when notebook operates on the edge it's going like this:

2500 MHz - 70 degrees
ok, go turbo
...
3500 MHz 85 degrees
3500 MHz 90 degreeps
oops. scale back for cooling
2400 Mhz 85 degrees

Underclocking means lower frequency & lower performance. My sole reason to write this guide was to maintain intended (maximum) performance of CPU and GPU. That is not underclocking.
Screenshot of CPU and GPU staying on maximum frequency at AIDA stress test. Temperature of CPU/GPU won't exceed 80 degrees. CPU is always on max turbo frequency for 4 cores. You can also notice CPU VID at 0.91V.

[hectorbastida]

@onjax Hello I have a Asus GL502VS and tried to use your method, cant get msi afterburner to show the voltage its always 0, any ideas?

[mtl44]

hectorbastida wrote:
@onjax Hello I have a Asus GL502VS and tried to use your method, cant get msi afterburner to show the voltage its always 0, any ideas?

It does work, even if it shows 0.
You can check Gpu-Z to make sure it worked.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[onjax]

hectorbastida wrote:
@onjax Hello I have a Asus GL502VS and tried to use your method, cant get msi afterburner to show the voltage its always 0, any ideas?

Hi, if your GPU is GTX 1070 then you can't use my profile for GTX 1060, but you can create yours:

Step 0. In settings turn on Unlock voltage control and Unlock voltage monitoring. Exit MSI Afterburner
Step 1: Go to your MSI Afterburner Profiles folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\MSI Afterburner\Profiles)
Step 2: Copy the file named "VEN_10DE&DEV..." to desktop
Step 3: Open the file in notepad and replace everything you see with this:

[Startup]
Format=2
CoreVoltageBoost=
PowerLimit=
ThermalLimit=
ThermalPrioritize=
CoreClkBoost=
MemClkBoost=
[Settings]
VDDC_Generic_Detection=1

Step 4: Copy file back to profiles folder, overwrite the existing file. Click Continue when Windows ask about Admin permission.
Step 5: Run MSI Afterburner and click CTRL+F. This will open Voltage curve. Now you should be able to set voltage.

[Matt2097]

Awesome guide - thanks for taking the time to write/share it.

Out of interest, if you've checked the "apply at windows startup" icon in the tool, do you need to load up the MSI Afterburner tool, or will it apply the changes silently in the background?