[Guide] How to take full control of the i7-8750H (Advanced version)

[hackness]

Greetings fellow members,

I'm Hackness from NBR, as NBR is closing, I have decided to migrate the posts I've written from NBR to here.

If you are looking for full control in Windows over the C-state and the multiplier in the Turbo boost mode and also to let the Speedshift run correctly, then this guide is for you.

Firstly, you'll need to download ThrottleStop to perform the steps in this guide.

Secondly, you need to unlock your BIOS, if you are coming from other brands, you may need to look for a way to unlock it. These are the items you need to have access to in your BIOS:

Intel (R) Speed Shift Technology
Software Guard Extension (SGX)
CPU Flex Ratio Override
CPU Flex Ratio Settings
CFG Lock in the View/Configure CPU Lock Option page.

//////////////////////////////////WARNING!//////////////////////////////////

For MSI users, it’ll be much easier and safer, there’s a key combination to unlock the BIOS.

Please use this key combination with extra care and at your own risk, some of the settings inside can get your laptop bricked. So if you don't have anyway to perform full CMOS reset, just don't touch anything you don't know, and most importantly, never touch anything related to "Internal graphic" "SG" "Muxless" "Undervolt" "Primary Display""Output Policy", if you go too far undervolting in the BIOS and caused the CPU to crash upon powered on and you don't have anyway to perform full CMOS clear, SPI programming or RMA is your only option. So if any of those happen, it is a brick for sure!!

The combination is: Once you are in the BIOS, Hold Left Alt + Right Ctrl + Right Shift and then press F2.

I'm not responsible to any bricking or anything that caused damage to your laptop, use this guide at your own risk!

Edited on 2019/06/20: @xLima has found a way to perform full reset for the GS65 2019 model, I believe it works the same way for the GS65 2018 model, go to here for more Info:
 

Spoiler

Maybe this helps someone.

Steps I did that caused it.

Precursor: installed RAM and new SSD.
Booted and reformatted the SSD all good.
Decided to OC new RAM and use timings of OEM RAM.
OEM RAM timing were incompatible with new RAM timings/OC
Found stable RAM timings that allowed both unmatched sticks to run 19 20 20 49 at 3100MHz 1.25V
Used and tested for a few hours.

Issues:

I decided to tightening timings
18 20 20 48 @ 1.25V

Booted successfully into windows, got a intel program error and something else (a net framework update was pushed by WU prior to reboot and tightening timing) however as soon as I tried to test timings BSOD and rebooted.

Stuck on MSI LOGO unable to enter BIOS. ::This lasted for about 45 min to an hour, all the while I tried to troubleshoot::

Steps to troubleshoot.

1. Held down 60s rebooted and did the 3 reboot loops as customary, did not go past splash screen.

2. Tried 5s reset - same thing

3. Pressed EC Reset button - no progress still got the same 3 reboot MSI logo and then stuck on logo

4. Removed CMOS battery, disconnected laptop battery and removed AC for maybe 5 min - nothing

5. Removed new RAM hoping failed timing would at least allow OEM RAM to boot since this timing worked on OEM RAM - nothing

6. Swapped the OEM RAM into the other empty slot. - nothing

7. Removed new SSD, New RAM and left CMOS Battery and laptop battery unplugged (all together this was 25 minutes where cmos battery was unplugged.)

8. Laptop is now stock, all upgrades removed, CMOS and battery plugged back in and AC connected and FINALLY booted into BIOS. Date is reset.

9. LOAD OPTIMISED DEFAULT SETTINGS BEFORE PROCEEDING!!

>>>>>This maybe irrelevant but will post what I did next. <<<<<

10. Booted back into Windows just to see if I could. Then shutdown.

11.Reinstalled all upgrades back in and booted back into BIOS and LOADED OPTIMISED DEFAULT SETTINGS.

12. Rebooted back into windows, checked HWINFO to see if upgrades were detected and timings were still back to default.

11. Rebooted into BIOS, redid BIOS Tweaks (IMON Slope, Loadline Calibrations, PEG0 ASPM, SGX, CFG Lock, etc. + LAST STABLE RAM TIMING).

12. Successfully booted back into windows, double checked HWINFO and ran TM5 to test memory OC: Passed 🙂

//////////////////////////////////WARNING!//////////////////////////////////

====Chapter 1: The ability to set the C-state in Windows====
 

Spoiler

This mod requires BIOS modding.

Go to BIOS > Advanced > Power & Performance > CPU – Power Management Control > View/Configure CPU Lock Options

Set CFG Lock to Disabled.

Now, go into ThrottleStop, you’ll find the C state is no longer locked and can be change as desired.

In my case I use C1 for Plugged-in Mode and C8 for Battery mode.

====End of Chapter 1====

====Chapter2: Unlock the minimum multiplier down to 8 in the Turbo Ratio Limits====
 

Spoiler

 

 

This mod requires BIOS modding.

The lowest multiplier forced in the GS65 is x11, but this mod can get you past that, to go down to as low as x8.

Go to BIOS > Advanced > CPU Information

Set CPU Flex Ratio Override to Enabled.
Set CPU Flex Ratio Settings to 8.

Load Windows and load ThrottleStop

Now, go into ThrottleStop, you’ll find the minimum value you can go down to in the Turbo Ratio Limit in FIVR is no longer locked to 22 and can go down to 8, please set them as you desired.

Just remember to turn on Turbo Boost to control the multipliers.

If you run Firestrike you may find the MHz of your CPU detected by the Futuremark spec tool shows 800MHz. But that is not a problem.

In my case, I set 10, 10, 10, 9, 9, 8 in FIVR for the Battery mode, but to use these multipliers correctly, you’ll need to enable core parking for that, which is disabled by default in Windows 10, we’ll talk about it later in chapter 3.

You can do some silly multipliers, like 41, 41, 25, 20, 10, 8, it is all up to you.

Please note that it won’t go lowered than x8 even if you forced it in the BIOS.

Please note that even-though the multipliers you have set are well below the Non-Turbo limit, you still need Turbo to be enable to work those multipliers.

====End of Chapter 2====

====Chapter 3: Enable Core Parking====
 

Spoiler

This mod does not require BIOS modding.

Open Regedit and go to:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\54533251-82be-4824-96c1-47b60b740d00\0cc5b647-c1df-4637-891a-dec35c318583]

And set Attribute to 2.

Now, close the regedit and go to Power Option > Go to your Power Plan > Advanced Power Option > Processor Power Management

Set “Processor performance core parking min cores” to 0%.

As to set a limit how many cores are allowed to parked:

For 8 cores CPU it should be 13%, 25%, 38%, 50%, 63%, 75%, 88%, 100%.

For 6 cores CPU it should be 17%, 34%, 50%, 67%, 84%, 100%.

For 4 cores CPU it should be 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%.

For 2 cores CPU it should be 50%, 100%.


Now you should able to see that the multiplier can to go up to the higher multiplier you set in the FIVR when some of the core usage goes as low as 0.1 in ThrottleStop.

What this does is to allow the CPU to shut off the cores when not needed, and this also triggers the function of Less core active leads to higher MHz.

This is especially useful in the Battery mode, let’s say you want to set x8 when 6 cores are in use and x16 when 3 cores are in use or x40 when 3 cores are in use (Just for the fun), this makes it become possible and highly flexible.

====End of Chapter 3====

====Chapter 4: Make the way the Speed Shift to work as it should be ====
 

Spoiler

This mod does not require BIOS modding.

Many of you already know that you can set the EPP value in the ThrottleStop, but not many people know that Windows is also battling with the EPP value you set in ThrottleStop, it is because the Windows also has their own EPP, but it comes in %, however, instead of having them both battle each other, you just need to set both into the same setting, so no matter which side Wins, the CPU is still listening to the same value.

But to do that, you must first get the Windows EPP option to show in the Power Option first, to do that, go to:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\54533251-82be-4824-96c1-47b60b740d00\36687f9e-e3a5-4dbf-b1dc-15eb381c6863]

And Set Attribute to 2.

Now, go to Power Option > Go to your Power Plan > Advanced Power Option > Processor Power Management

And you’ll see there’s a new option called “Processor energy performance preference policy”, the setting comes in %.

Now you are wondering what does the % mean, it actually relates to the EPP in ThrottleStop but only comes in %, this is what I’ve posted before in the GS65 owner thread, the ratio table of Windows EPP vs ThrottleStop EPP:

1% = 2
2% = 5
3% = 7
4% = 10
5% = 12
6% = 15
7% = 17
8% = 20
9% = 22
10% = 25
11% = 28
12% = 30
13% = 33
14% = 35
15% = 38
16% = 40
17% = 43
18% = 45
19% = 48
20% = 51
21% = 53
22% = 56
23% = 58
24% = 61
25% = 63
26% = 66
27% = 68
28% = 71
29% = 73
30% = 76
31% = 79
32% = 81
33% = 84
34% = 86
35% = 89
36% = 91
37% = 94
38% = 96
39% = 99
40% = 102
41% = 104
42% = 107
43% = 109
44% = 112
45% = 114
46% = 117
47% = 119
48% = 122
49% = 124
50% = 127
51% = 130
52% = 132
53% = 135
54% = 137
55% = 140
56% = 142
57% = 145
58% = 147
59% = 150
60% = 153
61% = 155
62% = 158
63% = 160
64% = 163
65% = 165
66% = 168
67% = 170
68% = 173
69% = 175
70% = 178
71% = 181
72% = 183
73% = 186
74% = 188
75% = 191
76% = 193
77% = 196
78% = 198
79% = 201
80% = 204
81% = 206
82% = 209
83% = 211
84% = 214
85% = 216
86% = 219
87% = 221
88% = 224
89% = 226
90% = 229
91% = 232
92% = 234
93% = 237
94% = 239
95% = 242
96% = 244
97% = 247
98% = 249
99% = 252
100% = 255

Every time you set a new value in the “Processor energy performance preference policy”, you’ll need to go to ThrottleStop to set the corresponding EPP value again.

Currently, I’m using ThrottleStop EPP 63 (25% for Windows) for plugged-in mode and ThrottleStop EPP 127 (50% for Windows) for Battery mode.

By the way, make sure you have ticked the “Enable Speed Shift when ThrottleStop starts”.

And if you can, you can set Intel (R) Speed Shift Technology in the BIOS to enabled to have the SST enabled on start-up.

====End of Chapter 4====

====Chapter 5: Disable Software Guard Extension (SGX)====
 

Spoiler

This mod requires BIOS modding.

To disable SGX

Go to BIOS > Advanced > CPU Information

Set Software Guard Extension (SGX) to Disabled.


====End of Chapter 5====

====Chapter 6: Limiting the number of cores allowed to activate during Battery mode====
 

Spoiler

This mod does not require BIOS modding

This mod influences the wattage spent the most when you are constantly running app that utilizes 12 threads all the time but you don't need the application to run that smoothly.

For best practice using it together with the chapters came before hand is suggested, namely the following mods:

 

 

1. Chapter 1: The ability to set the C-state in Windows
2. Chapter 2: Unlock the minimum multiplier down to 8 in the Turbo Ratio Limits
3. Chapter 3: Enable Core Parking
4. Chapter 4: Make the way the Speed Shift to work as it should be

Firstly, once you are in Windows, open regedit and go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\54533251-82be-4824-96c1-47b60b740d00\ea062031-0e34-4ff1-9b6d-eb1059334028

Set Attribute to 2.

Close Regedit.

Open up Power Option, go into your power plan and click on Advanced power options.

Scroll down to the CPU section and look for an option called Processor performance core parking max cores.

This option allows you to specify the maximum allowed unparked core, it comes in %, specific % might need to be set for this option to work, for 6 cores CPU, it'd be

1. 84% for max 5 cores unparked.
2. 67% for max 4 cores unparked.
3. 50% for max 3 cores unparked
4. 34% for max 2 cores unparked.
5. 17% for max 1 core unparked.

For 8 cores CPU it should be 13%, 25%, 38%, 50%, 63%, 75%, 88%, 100%.

For 4 cores CPU it should be 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%.

For 2 cores CPU it should be 50%, 100%.

There's one small issue with this mod, let's say you want to only 4 cores to be unparked and 2 cores are parked, when the 4 cores are utilized, it'll be using the 5th core's multiplier.

For example you have set up a multiplier group of x15, x14, x13, x12, x11, x10.

And you have 4 cores unparked, in theory it should pick x12 because we are telling the OS to tell the CPU to utilize only 4 cores, but in the real situation it'd pick x11, reason being the 5th core isn't really fully parked, you'll still see single digit small CPU usage happening on the 5th core ( the 9th and 10th thread). So if you want to see x12 when 4 cores are running, you need to set the 5th core to be x12 as well. For example x15, x14, x13, x12, x12, x10.

====End of Chapter 6====

====Chapter 7: Overclocking the RAM====
 

Spoiler

/////////////////////////WARNING!!///////////////////////////
I do not take any responsibility if anything happens.
You are on your own risk for doing this.
/////////////////////////WARNING!!///////////////////////////

===========Small Chapter 1:unlocking the Over Clocking menu in the BIOS=============

Go to Advanced > OverClocking Performance Menu

Set OverClocking Feature to Enabled.

===========End of Small Chapter 1============

===========Small Chapter 2: Test if CMOS clear resets the RAM timings============

Go to Advanced > OverClocking Performance Menu > Memory Overclocking Menu

Set Memory Profile to Custom Profile.
Increase the number of tREFI by 10.

Save and reboot to see if the number takes effect.

Now shutdown and hold the power button for 45 seconds.

Once released, press again to boot up

Once boot up go into the BIOS menu, go check if RAM timing has been reverted to default but still on custom profile.

If it does then it means you can clear the RAM settings using the full CMOS reset technique.

============End of Small Chapter 2===========

============Small Chapter 3: Raising Uncore to +125mV============

Edit: As of 2019/06/20, +125 worked during my testing and has been stable for more than 3 weeks already.

Memory controller is one of the areas that the the uncore is managing.

By raising the uncore voltage, your laptop's memory controller will be more stable when running high frequency RAM.

Uncore is acknowledged as System Agent in the ThrottleStop.

So once you raise the uncore voltage in the BIOS, you need to boot into Windows and raise the System Agent's voltage to the same offset value to prevent crashing once ThrottleStop is loaded.

To raise the uncore voltage go to:
Advanced > OverClocking Performance Menu > Uncore

Set Uncore Voltage Offset to 125.
Make sure Offset Prefix is set to "+".

Now go into Windows and set the System Agent in FIVR tab for all your profiles in ThrottleStop to +125mV.

============End of Small Chapter 3=============

============Small Chapter 4: Raising the Frequency to 3467MHz===========

Edit: As of 2019/06/20, I have been running @3467MHz stable @1.2V for my Samsung RAM for more than 3 weeks already.

RAM timing research is long and painful, there are many trial and errors

Thanks to @Johnksss and @Falkentyne for the help during the research.

This is my RAM's part number:

Here are the parameters:

If anything goes wrong, hold power button for 45 seconds to clear the RAM timings.

Please note that you can push tREFI to 65535 to increase the speed on Read.

If it doesn't boot, try raising the tRFC by 10~20 and see if it boot. If it doesn't, try raising for more, or you can raise the tCL, tRCD/tRP, tRAS to see if it boots, if the all the timings you have tried are already reaching the max, it means your RAM simply can't run at 3467MHz

For your own knowledge:

tRAS = tCL + tRCD/tRP + tRTP

tCWL: Usually =tCL or =tCL-1

tREFI: Larger RAM size will need more frequent recharge, setting this one too high may cause constant freezing.

tRFC: Setting this one too low will cause the laptop not being able to boot.

tWR: Remember that tWR is always twice more than tRTP, if you set it less you will have high chances getting black screen.

If you see any blue screen or error it means your tRFC timing is too tight.

If you see any Freezing it means your tREFI is too loose.



Now go get some memory testing tools to test and see if you can pass their tests without any errors.

=============End of Small Chapter 4=============

Good luck fellow members!

====End of Chapter 7====

====Chapter 8: Possible fix for C-state not going above C3====
 

Spoiler

This mod requires BIOS modding.

Some of you are facing the problem where your CPU is stuck at C3 and wouldn't go deeper, you can try this mod. However, it's not guaranteed that this would fix your problem.

Go to Power & Performance > CPU - Power Management Control > View/Configure Turbo Options

Set Energy Efficient Turbo to Enabled.

====End of Chapter 8====

====Chapter 9: Possible fix for frequency dipping below max in game when SST is set to 0====
 

Spoiler

This mod does not require BIOS modding.

If you found that your CPU is often not running on the max frequency in game even if you set your speedshift value to 0.

Try disabling C1E through ThrottleStop, you should see the frequency staying at max when your speedshift value is at 0.

I've had this issue when running FFXV benchmark.

====End of Chapter 9====

====Chapter 10: Cross Flashing VBIOS for Gen 10 NVidia GPU====

Spoiler

///////////////////////////////WARNING!/////////////////////////////////////

VBIOS flashing always comes with a risk of bricking.
I do not hold responsible to anything if anything happens!

///////////////////////////////WARNING!////////////////////////////////////

==============Small Chapter 1: Backing up the vbios / Flashing the vbios ================

First of all you need go here:
https://www.techpowerup.com/download/bios-modding/

and download the NVFLASH with Board ID mismatch disabled.

Extract it to some where like C:\

And then run cmd as administrator.

Let's say you have downloaded one named nvflash64_patched_5.541.0 and you have extract it to C:\

input the followings in the cmd:

cd C:\nvflash64_patched_5.541.0\

Enter nvflash64_patched_5.541.0.exe --save GiveName.rom

Replace the GiveName with whatever name you want to give to it.

It'll start saving the vbios.

once it is done, type exit to exit the cmd.

Now explore to C:\nvflash64_patched_5.541.0\

You should see the .rom file you have just backed up.

Look for the file size.

For GS65 1070 Max-Q you should see 167KB.

Well we are doing the above just to make sure yours is really 167KB and also to leave an original back up.

If it is 167KB,

Go to here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/206876/206876

Download the vbios,

the size of the vbios found in the link should be 166KB.

As long it is within 166~167KB they should be fine, if it is less or more than that then I have no idea.

Rename the vbios to whatever you feel the most comfortable to see.

Move the full GTX1070 mobile vbios to C:\nvflash64_patched_5.541.0\

Let's say you have named it GTX1070_115W.rom

Now, open up device manager and disable the GTX1070 Max-Q

And then Run cmd as administrator.

input the followings in the cmd:

cd C:\nvflash64_patched_5.541.0\

Enter nvflash64_patched_5.541.0.exe -6 GTX1070_115W.rom

It'll ask you the subvender is mismatched, you do want to proceed?

Type in y to proceed.

And then it'll ask you the Board ID is mismatched, type in capital letters YES to proceed.

Type YES to proceed.

And then it'll ask you do you want to replace the vbios with the new vbios, it'll show version of the vbios on there, do you want to proceed?

Type y to proceed.

And then it'll start flashing, if you hear any beep it's normal.

Once it's done flashing it should say something like the followings:

Verifying...

Flash successfully.

If you see this then you have flashed successfully.

Now, open up device manager and enable the GTX1070 Max-Q.

Reboot.

See if the followings is performing normally

1. Optimus
2. Memory Clock
3. Can you read the clock with GPU-Z?

If the above are all normally then you have successfully flashed.

If not it means you have activated Falcon reset.

If you have activated Falcon reset,

You'll need to restart the laptop twice.

And then flash back to the original Max-Q vbios and use it until you have found a new full mobile vbios to try out.

==============End of Small Chapter 1 ================

==============Small Chapter 2: Limiting the wattage pulled =============

Open up MSI Afterburner and perform the followings:
 

As MSI Afterburner breaks Optimus,

You can have MSI Afterburner run on start up and kill the MSI Afterburner using taskkill maybe 30 seconds after an user has logged in (You'll need to set up a task performing the taskkill in Task Scheduler).

By the way you have to quit the game immediately and reload MSI AB again if you have noticed that the driver has been reset, otherwise you might see the wattage shoot to 120W, I'm not sure if 120W can be handled by the GS65 in long term use, as the GS65 has less R22 regulators.

==============End of Small Chapter 2 ================

====End of Chapter 10====

====Chapter 11: Unlocking CPU TDP Limit====

Spoiler

 

/////////////////////////WARNING!!///////////////////////////
I do not take any responsibility if anything happens.
You are on your own risk for doing this.
/////////////////////////WARNING!!///////////////////////////

Get in the BIOS and unlock the BIOS,

Then go to Advanced > Power & Performance > CPU - Power Management Control > CPU VR Settings > Core/IA VR Settings

Set IMON Slope to 50
Set IMON Offset to 31999 (This step is not necessary, the Reported TDP will already be halved by doing the IMON Slop to 50)

Set IMON Prefix to "-", This is important, if you set it wrong you'll throttle like no tomorrow.

Save and Reboot.

What this does is to have only 50% value on the reported TDP,

So the CPU will be tricked and thinks that the TDP limit has not been reached.

This is one of the methods brought to us by @Falkentyne .

====End of Chapter 11====

Edited January 31, 2022 by hackness
Added Night mode compatibility.

[Ishayin]

20 hours ago, hackness said:

Greetings fellow members,

I'm Hackness from NBR, as NBR is closing, I have decided to migrate the posts I've written from NBR to here. ...

Thanks for the cross-post! On the inverted theme here the black text at the start is almost invisible, and that in the quote/hidden sections is completely invisible. So I don't know if that is something that needs tweaking with the formatting that got copied over from NBR, or if it something that should be raised with Hiew. In case you also hadn't noticed it, he just pointed out to me the "Preview" button on the far-right of the formatting toolbar.

 

EDIT: I see Aaron already raised this on NBR here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/all-technologyguide-forums-will-close-jan-31-2022.837524/page-64#post-11140652

and he suggests: "if you cleared the black text color (so it just uses the theme default) I think it would be fine."

[hackness]

3 hours ago, Ishatix said:

Thanks for the cross-post! On the inverted theme here the black text at the start is almost invisible, and that in the quote/hidden sections is completely invisible. So I don't know if that is something that needs tweaking with the formatting that got copied over from NBR, or if it something that should be raised with Hiew. In case you also hadn't noticed it, he just pointed out to me the "Preview" button on the far-right of the formatting toolbar.

 

EDIT: I see Aaron already raised this on NBR here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/all-technologyguide-forums-will-close-jan-31-2022.837524/page-64#post-11140652

and he suggests: "if you cleared the black text color (so it just uses the theme default) I think it would be fine."

Thanks for the feedback, I've changed all black text to automatic mode, hopefully this works.

[Ishayin]

Perfect, thank you!

[Kostyarik]

Hey Hackness! Will this guide also work for 8850? Or the numbers will be different?

[skonner]

good morning Hackness! nice guide!

I have a problem with chapter 2, i enable CPU Flex Ratio Override, but i can't modify the CPU Flex Ratio Settings

You know why this happen to me?

Thanks you very much!

[kill4l]

that's great that we have back those topics, I'm missing our previous forum... glad that we are back 😄 just found this alternative