Take Full Control of your Razer Blade w/no PL Throttling

Originally Posted in the Razer Blade 15 RTX Thread, posting here too for others with 2017+ Razer Blade models.

***This is entirely at your own risk. By doing any of the BIOS section mods, YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO BRICK YOUR BIOS. I am not responsible if you brick your BIOS. If you're unsure about any step in the process, ask. Be careful and check everything twice.***

Razer uses the AMI BIOS, pretty generic version. Razer also is using a modified version of Windows 10. Before we modify the BIOS to unlock the hidden menu system, we must first get around what "Razer Central" and modified Windows 10 has added to the registry. This includes multiple registry edits and you'll need to add a new register to the registry. It will allow you to adjust "core parking", that will solve the 99% throttle by windows. Every edit will only work when in "Balanced Mode" in Synapse because of Razers Firmware setup. Also, be sure before you begin that your Blade can thermally handle this. Anything above 85c, probably reconsider? Or; laptop cooling pad, repaste?

Disable/delete ThrottleStop and/or Intel XTU before proceeding with BIOS tweaks and mods. You’ll BSOD due to lack of voltage after completing them quote from Hackness, “ThrottleStop's Core and cache's undervolt offset and the BIOS undervolt offset need to be cleared before setting the AC and DC loadline to 1, only very little undervolt is allowed on the cache with AC and DC loadline to 1, around -43mV~-65mV, otherwise it'll crash straight away with voltage offset like -165mV on the cache.”

Registry Edits

1. Windows + R, "regedit" hit Enter.
2. (Copy and Paste after 'Computer') \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Power
   
3. Power should be highlighted and open.
4. Click on CsEnabled and change the hexidecimal value from 1 to 0. (This allows other performance options to be shown after we point the registry to it).
5. We have to edit another register. (Copy and Paste after 'Computer') \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Power\PowerSettings\54533251-82be-4824-96c1-47b60b740d00\0cc5b647-c1df-4637-891a-dec35c318583
6. Click 'Attributes' and change the hexidecimal value to 2.
7. Exit Regedit.
8. Open CMD, Run as Administrator.
9. We are going to add two new performance modes, High Performance and Ultimate Performance to the registry via CMD. Copy and Paste 8 and 9 into CMD.
10. High Performance. powercfg -duplicatescheme 8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c hit enter.
11. Ultimate Performance. powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61 hit enter.
12. Restart your computer for changes to take affect.

Power Options Bypass of Razer Central

Now since your computer is restarted, we have to trick Windows and Razer Central/Synapse.

1. Right-click Battery Icon and select 'Power Options'.
2. Open 'Show additional Plans'. There should be High Performance and Ultimate Performance. For both plans the steps 3-7 are the same.
3. Click 'Change plan settings'
4. Click 'Change advanced power settings'
5. In the drop down, click the "+" for Processor power management.
6. Click the '+' for Processor performance core parking min cores'.
7. Change "Plugged in" from 100% to 0%. Leave it at 100% for battery or your battery life will crash so hard.

Using either, High Performance or Ultimate Performance power plan modes in conjunction with "Balance Mode" in Synapse, you'll have a slight performance gain across all aspects, GPU, CPU, R/W of SSD (~.1v increase, yeah, really Razer?) On Battery power I recommend you keep your Windows power option to "Balanced'.

BIOS IMAGE Mods/Tweaks/Changes

*** Warning, these changes have the potential to brick your system. If you don't know what you're doing, DO NOT DO THIS. I am not liable or responsible for any outside changes you make to your own BIOS. You make these changes at your own risk.***

Please ensure ThrottleStop and Intel XTU are Deleted/disabled before continuing.

This first step, you are going to have to dive to google and google these programs, (licensing issues and I do not know the policy for uploading them here). The programs you will need to find are:

1. AMIBCP
2. AfuWinGuix64 5.x or higher.

As Razer doesn't key unlock or encrypt their BIOS, they "hide" the options from us. Using those programs, you'll be able to download your BIOS from memory, Edit your BIOS, and reflash your BIOS in windows.

After you have both downloaded and in a single folder:

1. Open AFUWINGUIx64.
2. Click 'Save' and give your .rom a file name or use the option it gives you.
3. Once your BIOS image is saved, make a copy of it, call it "Original_BIOS" and save it.
4. Open AMIBCP.
5. Click 'File" -> Open, select your BIOS image.
6. Once your BIOS image is loaded, make sure you're in the "Setup Configuration" tab.
7. In the left pane, click the '+' next to the un-name folder.
8. Click the '+' for Setup -> Advanced -> Power & Performance.
9. Click 'CPU - Power Management'.
10. In the right pane, you'll changeable options in "Access/Use" clicking on a line will give you options to change. Copy the option changes from my screenshot to match yours. View attachment 171129
11. Click 'Power & Performance' copy my screenshot. View attachment 171130
12. Click 'CPU VR Settings' copy my screenshot. View attachment 171131
13. Click 'File' and Save.
14. Close AMIBCP.

The BIOS image has been edited and modified to show additional settings in BIOS. Now its time to take the modified BIOS version and reflash it to the BIOS chip.

***Before proceeding make sure you are on AC power, not battery.***

1. Open AFUWINGUIx64.
   
2. Click 'Open'.
3. Select your edited BIOS you just made and open it.
4. You should be in the 'Setup' tab of AFUWUNGUIx64.
5. The ONLY thing that should be check marked is "Main BIOS Image".
6. Click 'Flash", let it read, write and verify. Can take a minute or two.
7. Once it's finished. Reboot to BIOS.

BIOS Changes

F1 to enter your BIOS.

Changing the IMON settings solve automatic overvolting and also tricking the computer into thinking you're half the wattage you really are. Technically in theory you could do 80-90 watts to the 8750H all while the computer thinks its really 32ish watts but your CPU voltage at load will be 1.180-1.2v.

1. Navigate to Advanced -> Power & Performance -> CPU - Power Management Control -> CPU VR Settings -> Core/IA VR Settings.
2. AC and DC Loadline change value to 1. This change prohibits Balanced Mode in Synapse to effect voltage throttling in the background.
3. IMON Slope value change to 50.
4. IMON Offset value change to 31999.
5. IMON Prefix to [-] (negative) MUST DO.
6. VR Current Limit value change to 800.
7. TDC Enable set the value to Disabled.
8. F4 save and restart.

It will take about 30 seconds for the computer to boot up after saving.

Once booted into Windows, Set your Synapse to "Balanced Mode", Windows Power option to High or Ultimate Performance. Enjoy the full capabilities of your Razer Blade!

***EDIT: Added ThrottleStop and Intel XTU Warnings of BSOD from @hackness comment. Thank you!

 

Nice

 

First try failed Blade 15 gtx. I mean it’s done as the guide but there’s still Power Limit throttling, BSOD (unstableness, since idle cpu temperature is better before with undervolting), and overclocking menu still doesn’t show.
But there’s some other some interesting find, they seems set too many guard on bios Blade 15 2018 compared 2019 tried multiple flashing that damn OC menu on Bios still doesn’t appear .
Okay today enough tomorrow or later later will try again, won’t stop me , there’s still games to finish, today have to be satisfied with default 1200+ Cinebench aiming extra 50+ or more

 

You forgot to add a warning for that the ThrottleStop's Core and cache's undervolt offset and the BIOS undervolt offset need to be cleared before setting the AC and DC loadline to 1, only very little undervolt is allowed on the cache with AC and DC loadline to 1, around -43mV~-65mV, otherwise it'll crash straight away with voltage offset like -165mV on the cache.

 

This, yes please add it @David Kirchik it gave me bsod even on -100mV, usually mine on -140mV.

 

Thank you for the catch. I've never truly used TS or XTU outside of pre-planning overclocks. I completely spaced on it and thank you Hackness!

 

There’s a new cinebench r20 on the windows store. CPU only, more intense. I PM’d you as well about your bios

 

3 situations if you didn't clear the undervolt offset before setting Ac and DC loadline to 1:

1. If it is undervolted using XTU, once it BSOD it revert all back to 0.
2. If it is undervolted using ThrottleStop, and if the program is set to load on start up, Windows will BSOD or Freeze when the ThrottleStop is loaded. Way to fix it is to get into Safe mode and delete the .ini file in the ThrottleStop folder.
3. If the undervolt is done in the BIOS, and if the full CMOS clear procedure on your laptop doesn't clear all settings back to default, your laptop becomes a brick as you don't have anyway to get into the BIOS menu unless you reflash the BIOS chip using your full BIOS backup file.

No.3 is generally not recommended.

 

if you found a way to get the oc menu in bios to appear on the gtx models of the blade 15, i would like to know how i dont want to rely on throttle stop for undervolting .. -.- and razer completly removed the entry for OCmenu in Bios so you cant easily set it to user editable

 

I’ve actually been working on exactly that for the GTX models. Fingers crossed haha

 

For GTX Model PL throttle is really solved on gaming mode, balanced mode I see some but less than before tweak. I’m now searching how to keep 45 watt (any clue, @David Kirchik?), since it max only to 37 watt, though the important one all cores often hitting 4,1ghz.
Other thing to notice doing undervolting is not to putting too low value like before tweak, I’m stable at -50mv, it may go lower but on -100mV it was not stable.

 

If I do a clean install on the blade, do I still go through the same steps for registry edit (since you mentioned Razer has its modified version of Windows).

 

You don’t have to, only do it if you want the high/ultimate performance modes.

 

Well, after BIOS customization i've got like ~40% of CPU performance increase (from ~2100 to ~2900 in Cinebecnh R20), also thermals was pretty ok, only near 90c.
But, i don't understand what paramater changes what?
As i understand VR Current Limit is about maximum power package for processor(?), but what AC\DC loadline, IMON and TDC are stands for?
I'm asking just because i want to tune this under my needs, due to i don't need such big perfomance upgrade, and i'll prefer better thermals =)

 

@David Kirchik & @Joikansai

the last step cant be done on RB15 2018, the Menu is still hidden.

What do you think, is it safe to set these option direct in AMIPCB and flash the rom?

 

It’s safe doing this as long as you don’t ruins other setting. Which step do you mean? VR core option should be able to unlock with those steps, on Blade 15 2018 only overclocking menu (for configuring cpu undervolting, ASPM etc, the menu isn’t popping as it should, probably they erased this on 2018 model, on 2019 rtx model apparently it is there (unlockable)).

 

what do you think? is it ok or did i something wrong there?

 

@Joikansai It is working on a Razer Blade 15 2018!

Just edit the VR Settings im AMIBCP and flash the Bios. After Restart, went into your Bios and now you have the : Power & Performance -> CPU - Power Management Control -> CPU VR Settings -> Core/IA VR Settings

All values are wrong dont know why, so i ve edited to correct values:



Made a reboot and started Cinebench, wtf... no throtteling CPU stick at 3.9 ghz and i got an awesome reult for a balanced mode ^^ :

 

Today i ve did some tests to check temps while in idle, i set the C-State 10, so on idle or normal use the CPU Package is between 2.2 and 3 Watts. Before modding i got 1.1 - 1.6 Watts, but temps are still okay at 47-53 C.Fans start working at 50 C. My goal is to achive temps around 50C because this is my working device in office and i dont want to hear my fans in normal use.

Again: repasting with Liquid Metal was the best solution to keep Temps lower. Here are my results from CB15 run in Ultimate Mode and undervolting to -50MV.




A hint for the Gamers: i use a second Throttlestop Profile where all cores are locked to 2500 Mhz, in most games this is still more than enough to get 60fps, the power drain is at 50% so i get very low temps.

For Example: i am playing Rage 2 with capped CPU, overclocked 1070 and get 75-90 Fps, the CPU Temps are around 78-80C after playing an hour.

Razer Blade 15 is still an awesome device... i realy love it on Business trips

Thanks to @David Kirchik for this great tutorial.

 

I'm a bit dim when it comes to this side of computing. Can someone explain in the simplest terms what's actually being done here? I've been strongly considering getting a Razer, but have been disappointed looking at benchmarks on reviews vs other laptops such as the m15. Can what is being done here be done to them as well, so the gap essentially remains, or is this just removing a restriction Razer had put on their laptop that the other manufacturers haven't?

The part I've read that particularly bothers me is on the notebookcheck review on the stress test, where the CPU in benchmarks is held at pretty low temperatures but suffers performance wise. Is that likely to occur when I'm using the laptop for physics simulations, and if so does what is displayed here "cure" it?

 

I’m quite sure notebookcheck runs it on balanced mode where tdp lock on 25 watt on this mode, on gaming mode it’ll be higher like 45 watt but because cinebench or cpu stress test put it on 100% cpu usage power limit throttling kick on that made it runs on lower frequency bu on real gaming where I cpu won’t hit 100% it often hits 3,9 ghz.
This imon tweak let the cpu runs on highest 3,9ghz all cores resulting better cinebench score. But on gaming it’ll be similar performance.

 

Thanks. So what does this tweak actually do to enable this? Does it put temperatures at levels that might cause problems or is the cooling on the Razer good enough?

 

Depends on your model, I think 2019 has better cooling. I tried on my 2018 Blade 1070, i can score cinebench r20 I think 2800~ and r15 1200~ but on gaming I noticed temperature is higher than stock with not much FPS gains so I reverted again stock bios. I prefer better cooling. Keep in mind my unit still on default paste and always set Turbo boost on 3,9 all cores. Maybe by limiting that and repasting it’ll better, but I can manage atm runs on 80ish cores temperature, some titles push to low 90ish but never saw mid 90ish by playing around with Synapse performance mode, fans depends on the games.

 

Thanks. Have you undervolted at all or is that all as stock? What r20 and r15 scores do you get with how you have it now?

 

People shoul dbe careful though, it is unknown as of this time if the power delivery circuit is made for this.

 

Idk about r15, but r20 yesterday runs around 2450, undervolting-130mV on gaming mode. Around 400 lower than imon tweak.

Maybe it translates to 1150cb r15. I don’t really care about cb personally they change bios setting often, sometimes without imon tweak I got 1200~ before, maybe due users claiming higher cpu temperature they lower the power limit. But I saw one moderator on Razer Insider keep fighting to increase this with engineering team, let’s wait there’s a lot good games come .

Yes I’m agree, I runs it around a month nothing smelly though But I prefer cooler temperature.

 

with tweak and a untervolt at -70mv on CB20 i get:



with still nice temps:

 

Nice temperature, is it factory default paste? Yeah I wasn’t getting over 2900, probably due worse cpu temperature.
Edit: NM I forgot you’re with LM.

 

I have seen 3075 cb20 max score and cb15 it was like 1223 with tweak. I was 2900 without tweak r20 and 1263 without tweak r15 so go figure. This is with undervolt btw.

 

I'm looking at buying a Razerbade 15 Advanced model withe the 9th gen 9750H, and in the reviews I was reading about all the power limit throttling and etc. When doing the BIOS mod, is all of this reversible, or is it a once you do it, it's done kind of deal? Also, when you talk about creating those separate windows profiles, if you were to switch back to battery saver or balanced, will using the laptop be like not having done anything to it all? One of the main selling points for me is that the Razerblade has decent battery life, and I would love to know that there is a way to keep this performance while still having the option of a decent battery life.

 

You'd simply go back into the BIOS and revert the settings to what they were originally, or else you'd flash an official BIOS again. It's all reversible.

At least as far as Windows goes, yes.

 

I was disappointed in my performance with the new 9750H not any longer. Holy Crap what an improvement!

 

Has anyone tried this on a Razer Blade Stealth 2019?

 

Is it suitable for 9th gen?

 

Its literally 2 posts above yours......

 

Remember I told you I used it on mine as you can see by the post he’s referring to haha...


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What cinebench scores did you get?

 

1266 which I found to be really close to a bone stock 8700K .


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1266 is a crippled score from stock 8700K. Either crippled/wrong settings in firmware, unfinished bios or full of bloat.

 

Sure is buddy. Thanks for your input.


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9750h with power limits removed is actually pretty close to stock 8700k, it scales almost linearly with frequency, I'm getting 8700k/9750h ~ 1390/1290 CB15 ~ 4.3/4.0 GHz full turbo frequency. Around 7% slower than desktop, pretty good in my book. I'd get rid of the desktop if it wasn't for Nvdia drivers crashing my system twice a day with 2080Ti in Core X. Vega FE is perfectly stable in the same setup, but too slow

 

Sure.

38 and 39x http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...gtx-1080-upgrade.814711/page-66#post-10763864



40x http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...5-owners-lounge.815492/page-147#post-10763407


41x http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-w-i9-8950hk-to-the-max.820711/#post-10773495


Stock clocks (43x on all cores)


Edit... [email protected] +1300
https://hwbot.org/submission/3964437_kill4l_cinebench___r15_core_i7_8750h_1308_cb

 

But I'm not sure what you're trying to prove? So your 8700k in fine tuned laptop with custom BIOS has CB15 score 70 points higher than my own, bog standard 3 year old desktop, is that such a big deal?

 

You don't need custom bios to perform correct in benchmarks with stock or below clocks. 70cb is +2 bin. And for the records.. The 8700K was used in an laptop from 2015. Aka +4 years old.

 

My desktop is actually two years old, from 2017, right after official 8700k release. And I wasn't comparing stock to below clocks but my Razer Blade 15 to my desktop. Both not setup specifically to run benchmarks and sure as hell I'm not going to strip every piece of background software now. Besides you have some golden sample running with -200mV. Even taking your score into consideration, the 9750h is within 11% of 8700k which is still pretty damn close, considering how much less power it consumes.

And whats with that 2015, Skylake was released at that time.

EDIT - the max power in throttlestop, was it really 52W@4GHZ? Damn, you have some magic CPU that can handle voltage that low.

 

@Papusan - That's my 8700k at 4GHz during CB15 at stock voltage. Whatever you have, I wouldn't call it a stock 8700k.

 

My chips is binned 5.3GHz. But this doesn’t matter with stock clocks or below in benchmarks. Low vid due binned Cpu + great undervolt as well low temps will reduce package power.

See above. Voltage doesn’t matter in bench with low clock speed and well below throttling temp.

 

You should also take temperature into consideration, as the chip will run more efficient.

 

Come on buddy I was jumping happy knowing my jokebook cpu having almost similar Desktop performance
Happy enough though can move super tight Razer Power Limit and surpass 1200 marks

 

That’s correct brother. People forget efficiency. See... The power consumption rises with temperature (because of I2R loss). So if his chips run the same test but at much higher Cpu temp, the power consumption will be higher due higher temps.

Same will happen if you run sub zero temp with phase cooling etc. Chips running -30C vs 0 and you’ll see lower power consumption. This isn’t magic science.