Power gadget frequency lower than expected on 16'' MBP with 2.3 Ghz i9

[johnalan]

I have a 2.3Ghz i9 in my new MBP 16, I expected to see it turbo to 4.8, but it only gets to 4.6 or so...

is this normal? I paid nearly 4K for this machine, so want to ensure it's performing correctly. FWIW benchmarks seem ok... and on par with other numbers reported, only for this frequency being lower.

 

[venom600]

You get 4.6? I thought I was the only one... but mine never goes above 4.5. The system is requesting 4.8 but it never reaches that, ever, even when it's cold. When I run the "maximum frequency" test in that app it never goes above 4.5.

Is this going to be another thing?

 

[DrGreenCat]

Turboboost frequency is dependent on temperature. The thermals of thin and light laptops are not quite good enough to sustain the near 5Ghz limit on the chips. My 2.4Ghz doesn't turbo much higher than your 2.3Ghz.

 

[johnalan]

You get 4.6? I thought I was the only one... but mine never goes above 4.5. The system is requesting 4.8 but it never reaches that, ever, even when it's cold. When I run the "maximum frequency" test in that app it never goes above 4.5.

Is this going to be another thing?

Mine peaks to 4.7 for a split second but then goes to 4.4->4.5 during max freq test (looking at the max core value)...

I guess this is in range of normal if we are both seeing it? Have you seen others with better when you say you thought you were the only one?

 

[venom600]

Turboboost frequency is dependent on temperature.

Right, which makes sense, except my computer was off all night sitting in a room that was 50 degrees overnight and was cold to the touch. The fans aren't even ramped up. It never hits the advertised 4.8Ghz. If the thermals don't support the speeds, the machine shouldn't be advertised as supporting them.

 

[johnalan]

Right, which makes sense, except my computer was off all night sitting in a room that was 50 degrees overnight and was cold to the touch. The fans aren't even ramped up. It never hits the advertised 4.8Ghz. If the thermals don't support the speeds, the machine shouldn't be advertised as supporting them.

Yup, have you seen better results from other folks with the same machine as us?

 

[bsbeamer]

2.4GHz 8‑core Intel Core i9. Spike was when switching between MAXIMUM FREQUENCY and ALL THREAD FREQUENCY in settings for Test > CPU Test.

Your POWER report for wattage looks like it might have been on battery vs. AC connected power.

 

[venom600]

Yup, have you seen better results from other folks with the same machine as us?

Never asked. When I saw your post I said that because I had noticed the same thing and figured it was an aberration in my machine alone.

 

[leman]

I have a 2.3Ghz i9 in my new MBP 16, I expected to see it turbo to 4.8, but it only gets to 4.6 or so...

No wonder. The "4.8Ghz" is marketing scam from Intel. The i9-9880H has a maximal turbo boost of 4.6Ghz for all reasonable intends and purposes. The remaining 200Mhz is what Intel calls "Thermal Velocity Boost" (TVB), and it only applies under very narrow conditions like temperature being under 50C-60C or so... So even if it does kick in, we are talking about few ms. duration max and only if you environment is chilly etc... not something you can rely on.

Still, it is a crazy fast CPU, just the per-core efficiency hasn't changed that much from a couple of years ago.

 

[johnalan]

No wonder. The "4.8Ghz" is marketing scam from Intel. The i9-9880H has a maximal turbo boost of 4.6Ghz for all reasonable intends and purposes. The remaining 200Mhz is what Intel calls "Thermal Velocity Boost" (TVB), and it only applies under very narrow conditions like temperature being under 50C-60C or so... So even if it does kick in, we are talking about few ms. duration max and only if you environment is chilly etc... not something you can rely on.

Still, it is a crazy fast CPU, just the per-core efficiency hasn't changed that much from a couple of years ago.

right so you think its normal enough so I guess, sustaining 4.5ghz actually with IPG / Max Freq Test...