Topic by klaberte

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Topic: BIOS Missing SpeedStep on HP laptop

Hi all!

I ordered the below laptop, an HP EliteBook.  I have looked through the BIOS very carefully (included some screen shots here https://photos.app.goo.gl/fpIy1MmRRaAAW8QC2), and cannot find any BIOS options to disable Intel SpeedStep or related cpu throttling options.  There is an option for "Enable turbo boost on DC", but that is not selected. (perhaps I misunderstand this option?)

Doing some online research suggests that HP may have intentionally not offered BIOS options for CPU speed regulation, as they want to prevent overclocking, and/or they think more customers will return the laptop for short battery life if they intentionally/accidentally put the laptop in high performance mode, at least in the BIOS.

Is this common for HP across their laptops?  Should I avoid HP if I want to adjust CPU speeds in the BIOS?

I know there are ways to address this within the OS, both for linux and windows, but if possible, I'd rather just take care of it once and for all in the BIOS, as it seems others have done.


Here is the laptop in question:
HP EliteBook 840 G1 14" HD Business Laptop Computer Ultrabook, Intel Core i5-4300U 1.9 GHz Processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, USB 3.0, VGA, Wifi, RJ45, Windows 10 Professional (Certified Refurbished)

Reply by EvilDragon

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Re: BIOS Missing SpeedStep on HP laptop

It's pretty common to offer a very reduced set of options in UEFI on laptops, this has been the case for years. You can try to find an unlocked UEFI if it exists for your laptop and flash it...

In any case if you run Windows at High Performance power profile, you automatically shouldn't have CPU throttling happening.

Hard work and guts!

Reply by klaberte

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Re: BIOS Missing SpeedStep on HP laptop

EvilDragon wrote:

In any case if you run Windows at High Performance power profile, you automatically shouldn't have CPU throttling happening.

Thanks, EvilDragon.

When I ran on Win10, even after checking that High Performance used the 100% for both max and min, I still saw some shifting of the CPU speed, even from within the performance tab of PTq.  The variation was much smaller, e.g. shifting from 1.9 GHz to 2.3 GHz and back, and while I had fewer issues actually playing PTq, LatencyMon still saw problems, and the audio issues were not 100% fixed.

This made me question: Is the issue that

A) Windows is slowing down the CPU to its lower load (i.e. steady-state PTq playing), then PTq will have need for a big spike in CPU power, and the CPU can't ramp up fast enough?
or
B) Any change in CPU speed creates a risk of pops and cracks in the audio stream?

If it is A, then I can understand while keeping at High Performance, the clock never really slows down too much, and so it is ready to respond to a high spike in CPU work.  In this case, the changing from 1.9 GHz to 2.3 GHz creates fewer problems than letting the CPU slow further.

If it is B, then it seems that any switch from 1.9 to 2.3 GHz is a potential issue, and needs to be further addressed (beyond what I have done so far).

Interestingly, I also added Ubuntu Studio to the same HP laptop.  I noticed that even when the CPU frequency changes drastically, e.g. 0.9 GHz to 1.9 GHz, PTq still works without noticeable audio pops and clicks (at least from my very limited trial so far).  Made me think that its low-latency kernel means that, even under load, the PTq process can get enough work done to keep the audio buffer from emptying, while it quickly throttles up the CPU clock.  Thoughts?

Reply by music_guy

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Re: BIOS Missing SpeedStep on HP laptop

Well the CPU does support SpeedStep per Intel, but the processor base speed is 1.9GHz, 2.9GHz turbo (1 core), 2.6GHz turbo (2core):

https://ark.intel.com/products/76308/In...o-2_90-GHz

I would check to see if you have the latest BIOS.

You might also be able to tweak performance with free ThrottleStop. I have a somewhat newer laptop and get best latency performance disabling SpeedStep, disabling c-states. That allows my CPU to run on Turbo with a stable clock (2.6GHz turbo on my 2.2GHz base unit). YMMV.

If you make adjustments keep an eye on your temps just to make sure they stay reasonable

You should research the ThrottleStop Guide thread a bit for laptops in your Haswell generation to get a better idea of what the different buttons do and what is applicable (e.g. SpeedShift did not exist on Haswell and the disable turbo may be for older CPUs).

Do NOT undervolt the dGPU as that can cause latency issues.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads...t-10582927

You can confirm if SpeedStep is currently enabled by using free HWiNFO64 software (if the code EIST is in red then SpeedStep is disabled).

Reply by klaberte

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Re: BIOS Missing SpeedStep on HP laptop

This specific laptop is going back.  It was advertised as SSD, but came with a spinning HD.

Still, these posts are very helpful for pointing me to good tools and information!  Thanks!

Reply by music_guy

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Re: BIOS Missing SpeedStep on HP laptop

A used desktop will run circles around a laptop and cost less money.

If you decide on another laptop, you might look at the higher performing processors, say 45 watt CPUs. You don't need very latest generation as Intel has dragged its feet for years now. . .

Reply by klaberte

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Re: BIOS Missing SpeedStep on HP laptop

music_guy wrote:

A used desktop will run circles around a laptop and cost less money.

If you decide on another laptop, you might look at the higher performing processors, say 45 watt CPUs. You don't need very latest generation as Intel has dragged its feet for years now. . .

That's what I was thinking as well.  But wonder why that is.  If the specs show the same CPU and memory, why would there be differences in performance?  Is it just that the system is designed to be power efficient (as it is designed to run on battery)?

I am looking now at used desktops, although I'd prefer a small footprint.  Here's one: http://a.co/7uqLKwP

I'm also going to look back at the forum to see what solutions have been recently discussed.  I'm also inclined to go with Ubuntu Studio.  Your (or others') suggestions are most welcomed.

Last edited by klaberte (07-05-2018 23:54)

Reply by music_guy

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Re: BIOS Missing SpeedStep on HP laptop

Intel has different bins of CPUs based on performance. The higher performing CPUs go to the higher performance desktops. Desktops can also run higher wattage with better quality power supplies, better cooling, fewer compromises in motherboards, etc. This is not truly nefarous as desktops can run good chips closer to the limits.

Lower binned chips, compromised motherboards/power supplies, limited cooling go down the chain to the cheap laptops.

That said, Intel's naming scheme like i7 is confusing. There are good i7 and there are garbage i7 CPUs at any given time. For example, a"K" i7 CPU is a different beast compared to a "U" i7.

Can't comment on Linux for audio latency. No reason it can't run fine assuming your interface and software is well written.