MSI Titan GT77HX 13980HX Max CPU Wattage 120 Watts

[lctalley0109]

Hey everyone. I have seen where others were able to get 160 to 170 watts when doing CPU only programs like Cinebench R23. Mine seems to be limited to 120/125 watts max whether in hybrid or discrete modes on extreme performance in either Auto or Cooler Boost with max fans. Was there a recent update that limited the amount of wattage going to the CPU or something that needs to be changed in the BIOS or in MSI Center to unlock more potential?

Thank You

 

[Downey Rob]

Can you provide the result score of Cinebench R23? It is suggested to check your performance score first.
From notebookcheck review, the multi score of Cinebench R23 should be around 33052.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/MSI-Titan-GT77-HX-13V-Review-Ultimate-Gaming-Laptop-with-RTX-4090-Core-i9-13950HX.691460.0.html

You also can use HWinfo tool to monitor tempearture at the same time to check if power is limited by high temperature.
As I know, this laptop will activate thermal throlling when CPU temperature is over 95 degree.

 

[lctalley0109]

With extreme performance and discrete graphics cinebench r23 was around 27900 out of the box and 29500 with a slight undervolt. Temps were in mid to low 80s. Throttling accord initially but the wattage never got over 125 watts and hung out at 120 for the majority of the test. I feel like the cpu is locked to 120/125 watts but not sure why.

 

[lctalley0109]

The same results with max fans.

 

[lctalley0109]

Can you provide the result score of Cinebench R23? It is suggested to check your performance score first.
From notebookcheck review, the multi score of Cinebench R23 should be around 33052.
View attachment 170157

https://www.notebookcheck.net/MSI-Titan-GT77-HX-13V-Review-Ultimate-Gaming-Laptop-with-RTX-4090-Core-i9-13950HX.691460.0.html

You also can use HWinfo tool to monitor tempearture at the same time to check if power is limited by high temperature.
As I know, this laptop will activate thermal throlling when CPU temperature is over 95 degree.

My power seems to be limited as you can see in the testing below. The temps do not change much at long durations, but the wattage is capped out lower than it should be I believe. The first 2 I did not take temperatures.

Cinebench - 26,790 (Single Run) (Stock)

Cinebench - 28,801 – (Single Run) (Extreme Performance Max Fans) - undervolt -75

Cinebench - 29,780 (Single Run) (Extreme Performance Max Fans) - undervolt -100/-100/-60 (Average only 115 watts with a max of 126 watts) – Average temps 72C

Cinebench - 29,752 (10 Minutes) (Extreme Performance Max Fans) - undervolt -100/-100/-60 (Average only 120 watts with a max of 133 watts) – Average temps 82C

Cinebench - 29,548 (Single Run) (Extreme Performance Auto Fans) - undervolt -100/-100/-60 (Average only 119 watts with a max of 134 watts) – Average temps 83C

Cinebench - 29,701 (10 Minutes) (Extreme Performance Auto Fans) - undervolt -100/-100/-60 (Average only 119 watts with a max of 134 watts) – Average temps 82C

 

[Downey Rob]

My power seems to be limited as you can see in the testing below. The temps do not change much at long durations, but the wattage is capped out lower than it should be I believe. The first 2 I did not take temperatures.

Cinebench - 26,790 (Single Run) (Stock)

Cinebench - 28,801 – (Single Run) (Extreme Performance Max Fans) - undervolt -75

Cinebench - 29,780 (Single Run) (Extreme Performance Max Fans) - undervolt -100/-100/-60 (Average only 115 watts with a max of 126 watts) – Average temps 72C

Cinebench - 29,752 (10 Minutes) (Extreme Performance Max Fans) - undervolt -100/-100/-60 (Average only 120 watts with a max of 133 watts) – Average temps 82C

Cinebench - 29,548 (Single Run) (Extreme Performance Auto Fans) - undervolt -100/-100/-60 (Average only 119 watts with a max of 134 watts) – Average temps 83C

Cinebench - 29,701 (10 Minutes) (Extreme Performance Auto Fans) - undervolt -100/-100/-60 (Average only 119 watts with a max of 134 watts) – Average temps 82C

Undervolt???
Did you perform CPU undervolt?
If so, it is suggested not to perform undervolt and confirm again.
Ensure you have already installed the latest BIOS.

 

[lctalley0109]

Undervolt???
Did you perform CPU undervolt?
If so, it is suggested not to perform undervolt and confirm again.
Ensure you have already installed the latest BIOS.

I have tried it both ways. Without a undervolt cinebench reads around 27,000 and the temperatures are a little higher. I have the latest BIOS. If it was safe I would roll back bios to see if that is the issue.

 

[lctalley0109]

Undervolt???
Did you perform CPU undervolt?
If so, it is suggested not to perform undervolt and confirm again.
Ensure you have already installed the latest BIOS.

I was told by a user that there was a mistake in the new bios that needs to be fixed.

"Basically, MSI's goal was to prevent super high accidental CPU TDP combined with GPU loads. But they nerfed both types of CPU load, dual and cpu only by accident. They said the intention was to let people go up to 200W of CPU power in CPU only loads."

 

[Downey Rob]

I was told by a user that there was a mistake in the new bios that needs to be fixed.

"Basically, MSI's goal was to prevent super high accidental CPU TDP combined with GPU loads. But they nerfed both types of CPU load, dual and cpu only by accident. They said the intention was to let people go up to 200W of CPU power in CPU only loads."

Not sure if it's a BIOS issue yet, the result may be related to the settings or test environment. It is uncertain what the actual temperature is and whether it's thermal throttling due to high temperatures. It is recommended not to run other software during the stress testing process. Can you record data using HWinfo without undervolting while testing Cinebench R23? I can see the changes in power and temperature during the testing period from the data recorded.

 

[lctalley0109]

Not sure if it's a BIOS issue yet, the result may be related to the settings or test environment. It is uncertain what the actual temperature is and whether it's thermal throttling due to high temperatures. It is recommended not to run other software during the stress testing process. Can you record data using HWinfo without undervolting while testing Cinebench R23? I can see the changes in power and temperature during the testing period from the data recorded.

No need to. I already confirmed with a reviewer who spoke with someone at MSI who said it is a problem in the bios E17Q2IMS.108

 

[hdpe1215c202dd]

This is an BIOS issue. I just received my laptop back from MSI for another issue and it came with 108. Now I can not pull more than 120W either.

 

[christian.wild158b02d8]

Great I will also get this [***CENSORED***] when I get it back from RMA with the same issue as hdpe1215c202dd.976161 has. Great lol and then I’m worried to even do a bios update again when they release a fix as it can stop midway bricking the bios again

 

[Abel Lopez]

That is really weirld. I also have Titan GT77HX 13980HX but the maximum of power can reach around 18X~20X while running Cinebench R23.
If it is the BIOS problem, I should have the same result. I am considering it might be related to the test procedure and related power setting.

I always install the drivers and software on MSI website since those drivers are verified by MSI. You should check if it is caused by the incorrect drivers or software.
GPU Switch: MSHybrid power
Usage Scenario: Extreme performance
Power mode: Best performance
Do not perform the other software or program while running Cinebench R23 and allow the laptop to cool down before testing.

 

[hdpe1215c202dd]

The problem occurs only when the dGPU is active. I can pull 200W in the integrated mode for example, but when in dGPU mode, it’s not possible at all. Even when the dGPU is only consuming 10W. As someone mentioned above, they probably messed up the logic to identify when the GPU is active. They shouldn’t be throttling the CPU to 120W unless the GPU is above 150W ideally.

 

[Downey Rob]

Basically, testing Cinebench R23 in Discrete graphics mode does not correspond to real-world usage scenarios. Switch to Discrete graphics mode since you want to obtain higher GPU performance. When power is provided to the GPU, it is natural to limit the CPU wattage. If you want to test the limits of the CPU, of course, you will avoid the GPU taking away some power and causing the test results to be distorted. Therefore, I don't think this is a problem. If you want full power for your CPU, it is recommended to switch to MSHybrid mode. Therefore, I don't think this is a problem. There must be a purpose behind MSI's design for this.
In addition, if you have no issues running heavy software or games, there is no need to fuss over this behavior.

 

[martin.wiede12f802b4]

Basically, testing Cinebench R23 in Discrete graphics mode does not correspond to real-world usage scenarios. Switch to Discrete graphics mode since you want to obtain higher GPU performance. When power is provided to the GPU, it is natural to limit the CPU wattage. If you want to test the limits of the CPU, of course, you will avoid the GPU taking away some power and causing the test results to be distorted. Therefore, I don't think this is a problem. If you want full power for your CPU, it is recommended to switch to MSHybrid mode. Therefore, I don't think this is a problem. There must be a purpose behind MSI's design for this.
In addition, if you have no issues running heavy software or games, there is no need to fuss over this behavior.

So MSI contradicts itself a bit when it praises the discrete graphics mode on the website, that the performance will increase by up to 35 percent (https://www.msi.com/blog/msi-discrete-graphics-mode-explained). Or is it different? Now I don't even know if it's worth the money. Why hasn't it been like this since the start of sales?

 

[Downey Rob]

So MSI contradicts itself a bit when it praises the discrete graphics mode on the website, that the performance will increase by up to 35 percent (https://www.msi.com/blog/msi-discrete-graphics-mode-explained). Or is it different? Now I don't even know if it's worth the money. Why hasn't it been like this since the start of sales?

I believe the explanation here refers to a 37% improvement in performance while gaming, which is understandable because most games are GPU-intensive. Therefore, switching to the discrete graphics mode will enhance the GPU's performance.

 

[martin.wiede12f802b4]

View attachment 170479
I believe the explanation here refers to a 37% improvement in performance while gaming, which is understandable because most games are GPU-intensive. Therefore, switching to the discrete graphics mode will enhance the GPU's performance.

So if I'm in hybrid mode, the processor will run at more watts, but the graphics card won't be as powerful?

 

[lctalley0109]

That is really weirld. I also have Titan GT77HX 13980HX but the maximum of power can reach around 18X~20X while running Cinebench R23.
If it is the BIOS problem, I should have the same result. I am considering it might be related to the test procedure and related power setting.

I always install the drivers and software on MSI website since those drivers are verified by MSI. You should check if it is caused by the incorrect drivers or software.
GPU Switch: MSHybrid power
Usage Scenario: Extreme performance
Power mode: Best performance
Do not perform the other software or program while running Cinebench R23 and allow the laptop to cool down before testing.

Maybe it is a driver issue. Might try to reinstall drivers when I get a chance as I am working long days right now and don't have much time. This did not work for me in the new bios. On Hybrid mode it pulls the same watts no matter if I have preferred graphics set to auto-select, High Performance Nvidia Processor or Integrated Graphics. It pulls 120 to 125 watts with or without a undervolt. Even with bios set to default. Either way it should work in hybrid mode as well when you are not utilizing much of the nvidia graphics card. Hopefully they fix it soon and fix this issue with the bios bricking people.

 

[hdpe1215c202dd]

I rolled back to 105. Much better performance overall. Never going to update again.