Dragon Age 2 players, clock speed/turbo boost question

Edit: My original inquiry is no longer a concern; my 740qm will drop my multipliers to stock when I run the game and there is nothing I can do about it. Now I am wondering whether the 920xm would stay at max multiplier (24x?) or drop. I'm pretty sure I will be buying it, but as of now I am curious.

Below is my original post which can be disregarded.
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There is another thread dedicated to DA2 performance but I'm hoping to get some help with this specific issue.

I get significantly lower frame rates than others who have either the i7-740QM or GTX 460m, but I haven't found frame rate comparisons from anyone who has both of these. I am trying to figure out whether it is my video card or my processor holding me back.

One key note is that my CPU always uses turbo boost. When I run DA2 (or DA:O) my CPU clock speed drops down to default (around 1.8 GHz). I understand that turbo boost can cut back clock speed when the cores get heavier use, but I'd like to know, does your CPU use turbo boost when you run DA2? Please list the clock speed as well. I don't understand how turbo boost benefits me if it isn't raising my CPU clock speed when I need it the most.

P.S. I'm done playing the game, but I'd like to try to figure this out for future gaming. Thanks in advance!

 

Try using to throttlestop to lock modulation at 100%. I have no issues with the game, but I have an AMD card.

In the end though, it's all on your video card for performance in this game. Are you running DX9 or DX11? What settings? SSAO can really cut your performance, most people run with it off, so that's a good place to start if you have it enabled.

 

throttle stop doesnt do anything for a 740qm i believe...only XM chip

 

You can't change the multipliers or the power ceilings, but you can stop it from throttling by setting the clock modulation to 100%.

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I tried setting clock modulation to 100%. I also checked Set Multiplier to see if it would keep turbo on when playing. My clocks still drop down to stock when I start up DA2.

Any other ideas? Maybe in the end I'll just have to be happy with what I have, but I'm hoping that there's something I can do to keep my clocks running faster when I fire up the game.

 

Nothing can stop it from going to stock under load, because the CPU only has 45w to work with. Clock modulation will only stop it from being dropped lower than stock under higher temps.

Do a 3Dmark Vantage run and see what you get. You also didn't post what settings you were running the game at.

 

After a [very] brief amount of reading I think I will be getting a 920xm. I think that will make a big difference in gaming performance if I can keep clocks above 3GHz like I'm reading.

I will have to do plenty more reading as I haven't messed with OC'ing in over five years, but I figure that there are plenty of guides on here. If you guys have any input on this I'd appreciate it.

 

If you do get an xm series processor (920xm or 940xm), Throttlestop, bu UncleWebb, will be your friend.

Joe