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4 Posts
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167952
March 2nd, 2015 07:00
Alienware 17 i7 4710hq Turbo question
Good morning,
I just recieved an Alienware 17 laptop. Specs are:
i4710hq
gtx980m
16 gig ram
windows 8
1tb + 128 SSD
My question is about the turbo process and how its activated and/or if I have to enable it. I have been doing a ton of research about this but cant seem to find a solid answer.
. The i7 4710hq sits at 2.4 Ghz (goes to 3.5 if Turbo).
. With the Alienware graphics Amplifier it automatically gets boosted to the 3.5 rating. I did not opt to buy it because of budget at the time.
. According to intels website, wiki and a few more tech forums I have come across. The i7 4710hq will automatically boost itself to or close to the 3.5 if need be.
Under the BIOS settings it showed it to turbo whenever a graphics amplifier is plugged in and showed a specific set of options pertaining to the graphicis amplifier. But it only shows these turbo options for the graphics amplifier.
Right below those set of options mentions an option for Intel CPU overclocking over ride and it shows it being . Do I need to enable this for in order for the Turbo to be active? Or is this something different entirely?
Thank you
beamermt79
6 Operator
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2.3K Posts
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March 2nd, 2015 11:00
From my experience it should list differently. There should be a selection to turn off/on the Turbo Boost feature in the BIOS. Here is the site for the manuals online:
I did not see Turbo Boost listed anywhere in the BIOS set up section of the manual. That would tell me that either A. Its automatic and you can not disable it (thus it wouldn't be in BIOS) or B. Its permanently disabled unless you get the Amplifier, although that wouldn't make any sense to me. Hopefully someone else might have a better answer?
beamermt79
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2.3K Posts
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March 2nd, 2015 10:00
Intel's Turbo boost technology should have come from the factory enabled in BIOS. All the overclocking stuff should be disabled unless you want to overclock your CPU which is a whole different topic. So as long as the BIOS option for Turbo Boost in enabled you should be fine.
Xenomorph84
4 Posts
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March 2nd, 2015 11:00
Thank you for the reply BEAMERMT79,
I did gather and understand that thats how Intels chip set works from what Ive researched but the question remains though.
When looking at the BIOS, the only mention of the Turbo Boost feature was under the Alienware graphics amplifier. It states its enabled when the amp is hooked up and thats it. There is no other seperate listing or anything stating about the Turbo feature without the amp.
The way im reading it is its only going to boost with the amp. Even though the chipset is supposed to do it with our without the amp. Shouldnt it list differently?
Xenomorph84
4 Posts
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March 2nd, 2015 13:00
The way the wording is confusing,
As it shows in the manual;
Advanced-Performance options with Alienware Graphics Amplifier (displays this in BIOS as well)
From the first line in the maual it starts with Overclocking Feature and goes down the list to Apply New Bus Frequency. Those are grouped together in the BIOS and makes it seem like those pertain to if you have the Amp.
But then on the bottom, it lists Intel Graphics Turbo Overclocking and Memory Override Support. Would that be the feature to enable the Turbo boost? Or is it all still grouped together under the AMP?
beamermt79
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2.3K Posts
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March 2nd, 2015 15:00
Hmm, the way I read it was those options were for overclocking your laptop in general. I do know that the Intel Graphics Turbo stuff are for the integrated graphics on the Intel chip and not the chip's overall turbo function as far as I can tell. Again in all honesty, every time I've looked into the BIOS in computers I've used, the turbo boost function is its own separate line item.
Xenomorph84
4 Posts
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March 3rd, 2015 07:00
Good morning,
I wanted to do a follow up and update what i found.
You are right Beamer about your first statement in regards of it not listing it in the BIOS. It does come with it automatically and I was able to confirm it with the benchmark test to show it going to the 3.4ghz. Apparently in the older generation chip sets it was listed to enable/disable. With the newer ones its automatic. So there is no need to enable it.
Another thing I wanted to bring up was about disabling it. If you go thru your power settings, then under advanced, processor management, then set the percentage below 100% (ive seen people recommend 99%-96% I honestly dont know the formula or the reason.)
By doing so it doesnt Turbo and it will save you CPU temps from rising.
Perfectoxps
2 Posts
1
June 18th, 2015 16:00
Just to clarify you should be able to overclock the 4710hq cpu so it turbos to 3.7 on 1 core or 3.6 on 2 cores or 3,5 on 4 cores (2 dim overclock) in addition to the standard turbo feature. However this is only possible when the graphics amp is installed, annoyingly. It may be possible to use internal extreme overclocking software....
danwat1234
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September 11th, 2015 12:00
Yea, it's all marketing that you need the Graphics Amplifier installed in order to overclock the CPU beyond regular turboboost. It doesn't have to do with the temperature of the CPU at all, nor power. Because it *should* be able to dynamically underclock, and undervolt cores of the GPU and CPU (and shut off portions of it) if the power requirements exceed the 180w or 240w of the AC adapter. Basically bring the CPU back to normal speeds (disregard BIOS overclocking config) if power is being exceeded and go further is power if still exceeded. This can be accomplished in software (think hwinfo64 monitoring temps and power and acting on it) or more of a hardware solution.
But instead they require the GA. And now with the refreshed late 2015 15/17 Alienware laptops with a 'Dynamic Overclocking' system, it should definitely not lock out the overclocking option in the BIOS with the GA not installed, or not need the settings at all and max out the turboboost whenever possible on it's own. But who knows until someone tests it out.