CPU frequency throttled on XPS 15 9520 (i7-12700H)

Sathors · 2022-12-12 20:29:40

Hi,

I've been having a recurring problem for the past few months, I think it happened after an update, because I hadn't noticed the problem before.

Whenever the CPU gets a bit hot for a prolonged period, the CPU frequency gets blocked at 400MHz (the minimum) for around 5 minutes, making the whole desktop really sluggish. It doesn't have to be that hot for it to happen, I think that with a temperature of ~65C° for 15 mins, then throttling happens.
My main gripe is that it stays stuck at the lowest frequency. It would be okay if the frequency got lower, but not that low, for such a long time.

I have an Nvidia GPU that is disabled with https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/hybrid … udev_rules

I'm using intel_pstate, I've also installed thermald, to see if it helped fix the problem. First I thought that it had fixed the problem, but it happened again. I've tried changing intel_pstate governos from the default powersave to performance, without luck.

I haven't been able to make fan control work on that model, so that's out of my control for the moment being.

I'm using inux-zen 6.0.11.zen1-1.

Here are the loaded modules, in case it may help:

Module                  Size  Used by
uinput                 24576  1
cdc_mbim               20480  0
cdc_wdm                36864  1 cdc_mbim
cdc_ncm                49152  1 cdc_mbim
cdc_ether              24576  1 cdc_ncm
uas                    32768  0
usbnet                 61440  3 cdc_mbim,cdc_ncm,cdc_ether
usb_storage            86016  1 uas
mii                    16384  1 usbnet
snd_usb_audio         409600  1
snd_usbmidi_lib        49152  1 snd_usb_audio
snd_rawmidi            49152  1 snd_usbmidi_lib
snd_seq_device         16384  1 snd_rawmidi
usbhid                 77824  0
rfcomm                 94208  7
ccm                    20480  6
cmac                   16384  3
algif_hash             20480  1
algif_skcipher         16384  1
af_alg                 36864  6 algif_hash,algif_skcipher
bnep                   32768  2
btusb                  69632  0
btrtl                  28672  1 btusb
btbcm                  24576  1 btusb
btintel                49152  1 btusb
btmtk                  16384  1 btusb
bluetooth             991232  44 btrtl,btmtk,btintel,btbcm,bnep,btusb,rfcomm
ecdh_generic           16384  2 bluetooth
hid_sensor_als         20480  0
hid_sensor_trigger     20480  2 hid_sensor_als
industrialio_triggered_buffer    16384  1 hid_sensor_trigger
kfifo_buf              16384  1 industrialio_triggered_buffer
hid_sensor_iio_common    20480  2 hid_sensor_trigger,hid_sensor_als
hid_sensor_custom      28672  0
industrialio          114688  4 industrialio_triggered_buffer,hid_sensor_trigger,kfifo_buf,hid_sensor_als
hid_sensor_hub         32768  4 hid_sensor_trigger,hid_sensor_iio_common,hid_sensor_als,hid_sensor_custom
joydev                 28672  0
mousedev               24576  0
intel_ishtp_hid        28672  0
iTCO_wdt               16384  0
intel_pmc_bxt          16384  1 iTCO_wdt
iTCO_vendor_support    16384  1 iTCO_wdt
hid_multitouch         32768  0
mei_hdcp               24576  0
mei_pxp                20480  0
intel_rapl_msr         20480  0
dell_wmi_sysman        57344  0
firmware_attributes_class    16384  1 dell_wmi_sysman
wmi_bmof               16384  0
dell_laptop            32768  0
dell_wmi               32768  1 dell_laptop
dell_smbios            32768  2 dell_wmi,dell_laptop
dell_wmi_descriptor    20480  2 dell_wmi,dell_smbios
dcdbas                 24576  1 dell_smbios
intel_tcc_cooling      16384  0
x86_pkg_temp_thermal    20480  0
intel_powerclamp       20480  0
kvm_intel             405504  0
kvm                  1220608  1 kvm_intel
irqbypass              16384  1 kvm
crct10dif_pclmul       16384  1
crc32_pclmul           16384  0
polyval_clmulni        16384  0
polyval_generic        16384  1 polyval_clmulni
gf128mul               20480  1 polyval_generic
ghash_clmulni_intel    16384  0
aesni_intel           397312  8
crypto_simd            16384  1 aesni_intel
cryptd                 28672  3 crypto_simd,ghash_clmulni_intel
rapl                   16384  0
intel_cstate           20480  0
intel_uncore          225280  0
pcspkr                 16384  0
psmouse               229376  0
xt_nat                 16384  5
xt_tcpudp              20480  0
uvcvideo              163840  1
videobuf2_vmalloc      20480  1 uvcvideo
videobuf2_memops       20480  1 videobuf2_vmalloc
videobuf2_v4l2         40960  1 uvcvideo
veth                   36864  0
videobuf2_common       90112  4 videobuf2_vmalloc,videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo,videobuf2_memops
videodev              323584  4 videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo,videobuf2_common
mc                     77824  5 videodev,snd_usb_audio,videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo,videobuf2_common
snd_hda_codec_hdmi     90112  1
xt_conntrack           16384  3
nft_chain_nat          16384  5
xt_MASQUERADE          20480  4
nf_nat                 61440  3 xt_nat,nft_chain_nat,xt_MASQUERADE
nf_conntrack_netlink    61440  0
nf_conntrack          192512  5 xt_conntrack,nf_nat,xt_nat,nf_conntrack_netlink,xt_MASQUERADE
nf_defrag_ipv6         24576  1 nf_conntrack
nf_defrag_ipv4         16384  1 nf_conntrack
xt_addrtype            16384  2
nft_compat             20480  14
nf_tables             311296  199 nft_compat,nft_chain_nat
libcrc32c              16384  3 nf_conntrack,nf_nat,nf_tables
nfnetlink              20480  4 nft_compat,nf_conntrack_netlink,nf_tables
br_netfilter           32768  0
bridge                393216  1 br_netfilter
snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl    16384  0
stp                    16384  1 bridge
llc                    16384  2 bridge,stp
snd_sof_intel_hda_common   180224  1 snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl
soundwire_intel        53248  1 snd_sof_intel_hda_common
soundwire_generic_allocation    16384  1 soundwire_intel
soundwire_cadence      45056  1 soundwire_intel
snd_sof_intel_hda      20480  1 snd_sof_intel_hda_common
snd_sof_pci            24576  2 snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl
snd_sof_xtensa_dsp     20480  1 snd_sof_intel_hda_common
snd_sof               319488  2 snd_sof_pci,snd_sof_intel_hda_common
snd_sof_utils          20480  1 snd_sof
overlay               184320  2
snd_soc_hdac_hda       28672  1 snd_sof_intel_hda_common
snd_hda_ext_core       36864  3 snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_soc_hdac_hda,snd_sof_intel_hda
snd_ctl_led            24576  0
snd_soc_acpi_intel_match    73728  2 snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl
iwlmvm                561152  0
snd_hda_codec_realtek   184320  1
snd_soc_acpi           16384  2 snd_soc_acpi_intel_match,snd_sof_intel_hda_common
soundwire_bus         131072  3 soundwire_intel,soundwire_generic_allocation,soundwire_cadence
snd_hda_codec_generic   114688  1 snd_hda_codec_realtek
ledtrig_audio          16384  4 snd_ctl_led,snd_hda_codec_generic,dell_wmi,dell_laptop
snd_soc_core          413696  4 soundwire_intel,snd_sof,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_soc_hdac_hda
mac80211             1384448  1 iwlmvm
snd_compress           28672  1 snd_soc_core
ac97_bus               16384  1 snd_soc_core
snd_pcm_dmaengine      16384  1 snd_soc_core
snd_hda_intel          61440  4
libarc4                16384  1 mac80211
snd_intel_dspcfg       36864  3 snd_hda_intel,snd_sof,snd_sof_intel_hda_common
snd_intel_sdw_acpi     20480  2 snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_intel_dspcfg
snd_hda_codec         200704  5 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_soc_hdac_hda
snd_hda_core          122880  9 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_ext_core,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_soc_hdac_hda,snd_sof_intel_hda
snd_hwdep              20480  2 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm               180224  13 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec,soundwire_intel,snd_sof,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_compress,snd_soc_core,snd_sof_utils,snd_hda_core,snd_pcm_dmaengine
iwlwifi               512000  1 iwlmvm
snd_timer              49152  1 snd_pcm
spi_nor               135168  0
snd                   139264  25 snd_ctl_led,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_seq_device,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hwdep,snd_hda_intel,snd_usb_audio,snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_sof,snd_timer,snd_compress,snd_soc_core,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi
i2c_i801               45056  0
coretemp               20480  0
mtd                    94208  3 spi_nor
i2c_smbus              20480  1 i2c_i801
soundcore              16384  2 snd_ctl_led,snd
cfg80211             1155072  3 iwlmvm,iwlwifi,mac80211
mei_me                 53248  2
intel_lpss_pci         28672  0
mei                   176128  5 mei_hdcp,mei_pxp,mei_me
intel_lpss             16384  1 intel_lpss_pci
idma64                 20480  0
rfkill                 36864  9 iwlmvm,bluetooth,dell_laptop,cfg80211
processor_thermal_device_pci    16384  0
processor_thermal_device    20480  1 processor_thermal_device_pci
ucsi_acpi              16384  0
processor_thermal_rfim    20480  1 processor_thermal_device
intel_ish_ipc          32768  0
typec_ucsi             57344  1 ucsi_acpi
processor_thermal_mbox    16384  2 processor_thermal_rfim,processor_thermal_device
intel_ishtp            73728  2 intel_ishtp_hid,intel_ish_ipc
thunderbolt           425984  0
typec                  94208  1 typec_ucsi
processor_thermal_rapl    20480  1 processor_thermal_device
intel_rapl_common      36864  2 intel_rapl_msr,processor_thermal_rapl
igen6_edac             32768  0
roles                  16384  1 typec_ucsi
wmi                    40960  5 dell_wmi_sysman,dell_wmi,wmi_bmof,dell_smbios,dell_wmi_descriptor
i2c_hid_acpi           16384  0
i2c_hid                40960  1 i2c_hid_acpi
dptf_power             16384  0
int3403_thermal        20480  0
int340x_thermal_zone    20480  2 int3403_thermal,processor_thermal_device
intel_hid              32768  0
int3400_thermal        24576  0
sparse_keymap          16384  2 intel_hid,dell_wmi
acpi_thermal_rel       16384  1 int3400_thermal
acpi_tad               20480  0
acpi_pad               24576  0
mac_hid                16384  0
vboxnetflt             32768  0
vboxnetadp             28672  0
vboxdrv               622592  2 vboxnetadp,vboxnetflt
i2c_dev                24576  0
crypto_user            20480  0
acpi_call              16384  0
fuse                  188416  7
bpf_preload            24576  0
ip_tables              32768  0
x_tables               61440  7 xt_conntrack,nft_compat,xt_tcpudp,xt_addrtype,xt_nat,ip_tables,xt_MASQUERADE
ext4                 1056768  2
crc32c_generic         16384  0
crc16                  16384  2 bluetooth,ext4
mbcache                16384  1 ext4
jbd2                  192512  1 ext4
rtsx_pci_sdmmc         32768  0
mmc_core              241664  1 rtsx_pci_sdmmc
nvme                   65536  2
nvme_core             217088  3 nvme
serio_raw              20480  0
atkbd                  36864  0
nvme_common            24576  1 nvme_core
libps2                 24576  2 atkbd,psmouse
vivaldi_fmap           16384  1 atkbd
spi_intel_pci          16384  0
xhci_pci               24576  0
crc32c_intel           24576  5
rtsx_pci              114688  1 rtsx_pci_sdmmc
spi_intel              32768  1 spi_intel_pci
vmd                    24576  0
xhci_pci_renesas       24576  1 xhci_pci
i8042                  53248  1 dell_laptop
serio                  28672  6 serio_raw,atkbd,psmouse,i8042
i915                 3420160  38
drm_buddy              20480  1 i915
intel_gtt              28672  1 i915
video                  65536  3 dell_wmi,dell_laptop,i915
drm_display_helper    196608  1 i915
cec                    90112  2 drm_display_helper,i915
ttm                    98304  1 i915

Thank you for your help or advice.

Last edited by Sathors (2022-12-12 20:34:52)

ugjka · 2022-12-12 20:50:25

Do you get something like this

intel_powerclamp: Start idle injection to reduce power

In dmesg or journal

Sathors · 2022-12-12 21:52:41

Nothing is returned by running

$ journalctl --grep=intel_powerclamp

I add some more info, in case it could be useful.

- I've tried to update the kernel from 6.0.8.zen1-1 to 6.0.10.zen2-1, it didn't change anything.
- I've done the BIOS upgrades through Windows, it should be relatively up-to-date (ie 1 month ago)
- setting /sys/module/processor/parameters/ignore_ppc to 1 temporarily doesn't change anything either. It was recommended in the Arch article to prevent the BIOS from intervening.

I'll try to reproduce it on Windows, to see if it could be a BIOS problem. It doesn't happen while I'm playing games though. I'll try to explicitly stress the CPU further.

Last edited by Sathors (2022-12-12 21:57:49)

cfr · 2022-12-13 03:08:18

What output are you looking at when you say the power is throttled?

What does

sensors

say while the power is throttled?

Before the problem occurs, stop the thermald service, and run

thermald --dbus-enable --adaptive --loglevel=info --no-daemon

to get some more info and see what, if anything, thermald is doing.

ugjka · 2022-12-13 09:20:43

Sathors wrote:

Nothing is returned by running
$ journalctl --grep=intel_powerclamp
I add some more info, in case it could be useful.
- I've tried to update the kernel from 6.0.8.zen1-1 to 6.0.10.zen2-1, it didn't change anything.
- I've done the BIOS upgrades through Windows, it should be relatively up-to-date (ie 1 month ago)
- setting /sys/module/processor/parameters/ignore_ppc to 1 temporarily doesn't change anything either. It was recommended in the Arch article to prevent the BIOS from intervening.
I'll try to reproduce it on Windows, to see if it could be a BIOS problem. It doesn't happen while I'm playing games though. I'll try to explicitly stress the CPU further.

Run sudo dmesg -w and see if anything gets printed when it happens

Last edited by ugjka (2022-12-13 09:20:56)

Sathors · 2022-12-20 22:02:11

I'm finding it quite hard to reproduce the issue, thus it's hard for me to debug the problem. It happens when I work, but when I try to reproduce it, I'm not able to. I've found it to be much more common when I have Google Meet open, in chromium. I don't see how it could be related though.

I still haven't found a possible cause.

In the BIOS, there are some Power settings, I've tried to change them to Ultaperformance, which should power up the fans and the CPU, but the "throttling" still kicks in.

Nothing appears in `dmesg` when throttling happens.

Right now the CPU I have been somewhat stressing the CPU, it has been at 100° for 20 minutes, and the problem doesn't happen right now.

I find that the throttling occurs much more often when the ambient temperature is higher, which usually happens in the afternoon, because I have a big window with a lot of sunlight.

Could it be that another component getting hot may have an impact somehow?

Sorry for not yet being able to give more details on the problem.

Sathors · 2023-02-07 16:19:25

I haven't been able to find an explanation, but what ended up fixing the problem for me was to add a 30s delay to the systemd unit thermald.service, using "ExecStartPre".

Last edited by Sathors (2023-02-07 16:21:00)

ugjka · 2023-02-07 17:10:36

Unrelated, but i had the same problem and it turned out a bad heatpipe that needed a replacement. (20$ from AliExpress)

Last edited by ugjka (2023-02-07 17:11:07)

Sathors · 2023-02-07 18:05:38

Thanks @ugjka for the input. My pc is still under warranty, I'll try to get it replaced because apart from this CPU problem, there is quite a lot of coil noise.
And I have had problems with the charger not working in the past as well.

Arch Linux

#1 2022-12-12 20:29:40

CPU frequency throttled on XPS 15 9520 (i7-12700H)

#2 2022-12-12 20:50:25

Re: CPU frequency throttled on XPS 15 9520 (i7-12700H)

#3 2022-12-12 21:52:41

Re: CPU frequency throttled on XPS 15 9520 (i7-12700H)

#4 2022-12-13 03:08:18

Re: CPU frequency throttled on XPS 15 9520 (i7-12700H)

#5 2022-12-13 09:20:43

Re: CPU frequency throttled on XPS 15 9520 (i7-12700H)

#6 2022-12-20 22:02:11

Re: CPU frequency throttled on XPS 15 9520 (i7-12700H)

#7 2023-02-07 16:19:25

Re: CPU frequency throttled on XPS 15 9520 (i7-12700H)

#8 2023-02-07 17:10:36

Re: CPU frequency throttled on XPS 15 9520 (i7-12700H)

#9 2023-02-07 18:05:38

Re: CPU frequency throttled on XPS 15 9520 (i7-12700H)

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