Windows 10 Power Settings Intel Dynamic Power Limit Level

Windows 10 Power Settings: Access Basic Power Options The first thing you’ll need to do is access the power settings. The easiest way to do that is to simply tap and hold (right-click) the battery icon in the system tray then select Power Options from the menu that appears. According to Intel XTU I have power limit throttling when my GPU is under load. During the regular tasks my cpu is working at about 3,25 GHz. When I'm trying to stress my cpu with real work like video converting or even with XTU stress test - cpu goes at solid 3,08 GHz and everything works perfect for a very long time without any throttling.

Despite the fact that virtually all modern Dell laptops (and probably others) are supposed to have the Intel Dynamic Platform & Thermal Framework Driver installed, I couldn't find any end-user documentation about what exactly the settings do, and what the 1-5 levels mean for each:

The thermal design power (TDP), sometimes called thermal design point, is the maximum amount of heat generated by the CPU that the cooling system in a computer is required to dissipate in typical operation. -- Wikipedia

So I can guess what 'Config TDP Level' means. But beyond that,

  • What exactly is 'Acoustics Limit'? Does '1' mean quietest fan and 5 loudest, or the other way around?
  • What exactly does the 'Low Power Mode Setting' do?
  • What does the Power Limit mean? Undervolting?

(as you can imagine, the mouseover tooltips are fantastically useless; e.g. 'Specify the acoustics cooling limit for Intel(R) Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework')

Again, hundreds of thousands of laptops with this thing installed, and no clear search result when Googling for any of this.

Hennes
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Dan DascalescuDan Dascalescu
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2 Answers

These settings adjust the power and cooling limits of your processor.

  • Config TDP Level (cTDP) determines the maximum power which may be used by the processor. This feature was introduced in Ivy Bridge. Not all processors support all settings. See: Ivy Bridge Configurable TDP Detailed.

    • High TDP (cTDP up) increases the power and clock rate limits to enable higher performance, but requires additional cooling and reduces battery life.

      • This setting is primarily limited to types M and H (high-performance mobile and all-in-one) processors, although some higher-power type U processors support it as well.

    • Nominal TDP operates the processor at its specified TDP and clock rate.

    • Low TDP (cTDP down) reduces the power and clock rate limits to extend battery life and reduce heat output, at the cost of some performance.

      • This setting is primarily limited to types U and Y (Ultrabook low-power and extreme low-power) processors. However, it is also available on type M Extreme Edition processors (e.g. i7-3940XM, i7-4930MX) as a means of limiting power consumption.

  • Power Limit specifies the maximum power allowed for the processor. Higher values allow for higher core voltage and allow higher operating clock rates at the cost of power consumption, heat, and battery life. This setting provides a means to fine-tune the performance-power balance.

  • Acoustics Limit specifies the maximum allowed fan speed. Higher values increase the maximum fan speed for better cooling; lower values limit the maximum fan speed for lower noise.

  • Low Power Mode Setting places the processor into a special low-power mode and is used where power consumption is critical, such as when maximum battery life is required.

More technical information is available in pages 71-76 of this document for Haswell processor types M and H and in pages 61-65 of this document for Haswell processor types U and Y.

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Intel Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework Settings are for managing power to the CPU vs temperature. Keeping CPU temperature down while still delivering adequate performance is its purpose. In Power Management Settings, there is a category for 'Intel Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework Settings', with sub categories:'Power Limit' with 'Level 1-5' as options (1 being the lowest amount of power & 5 the highest), and'Acoustic Limit' with 'Level 1-5' as options. (1 being the slowest fan speed & 5 the highest)..

This allows you to control CPU power/performance & fan speeds for better consistency during gaming or other heavy loads..

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Hi William,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I understand the inconvenience caused to you. I will be glad to assist you for the issue.

I would suggest you to change the Power save option to avoid the computer go to sleep with in 2-3 minute.

Follow the steps:

1. Right click on the start button and select Control Panel.

2. Next select Power option (search in the search bar option if unable to found).

3. Click on the Power saver and then select Change Plan Settings.

4. Make the changes according to you and save it.

If you are still facing the issue then try running troubleshooter for Power. Follow the steps below:

  1. Press Windows + X key.
  2. Select Control panel.
  3. In the search box, type Troubleshooter and then click Troubleshooting.
  4. Click on Power and click on next.
  5. Follow the onscreen instruction.

Try the above suggestion and let us know if it helps. For further assistance feel free to post your queries in Microsoft forums. We will be glad to assist you.

Thank You.

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Intel Dynamic Sdn Bhd

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This is neither a problem of HP nor Microsoft.

The culprit is Intel.

DowngradeIntel ManagementEngine Interface driver to 9.5.24.1790 (search Intel site).

I had same problem on my Pavilion 15

Running alright after I ran the driver upgrade to INTEL

The problem is with Intel ManagementEngine Interface driver ver 11x.

Download driver from......

Both the Shutdown & Sleep problem solved

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Sangeeta apparently you didn't read my question.

My power settings have already been changed to those values noted above. These settings were respected by Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 on this same device. Upon upgrade to Windows 10 these settings no longer have any impact. No matter what I change them to the machine goes to sleep after 2.5 minutes of inactivity.

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Thanks Mary but I'm not using Intel Management Engine Interface Driver 11x. As far as I can tell that has only been released for a NUC motherboard.

I am using version 9.5.0.1428 on my ASUS Core-i7-4700HQ laptop.

I believe that is the most recent version available.

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Hi William,

Thank you for keeping us updated.

Intel Management Engine Interface Driver 11x.

I would suggest you to install the same driver in compatibility mode for previous version of Windows.

a. Right click the driver installation file and select Properties then tap or click the Compatibility tab.

b. Place a check in the Run this program in compatibility mode for: box.

c. Tap or click the drop down box and select a previous operating system, then tap or click OK.

d. Try installing the driver and check.

You may refer to: Make older programs compatible with this version of Windows (information holds good for Windows 10 as well)

Windows 10 Power Settings Intel Dynamic Power Limit Level

Hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to reply in case you face any other issues with Windows in future.

Regards,
Niranjan Manjhi

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Thanks Niranjan, but this had no effect.

The laptop still goes to sleep after 2.5 minutes regardless of power settings.

What makes you think this has something to do with the Intel Management Engine Interface Driver?

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We are still waiting for some kind of resolution to this issue.

I can no longer execute any long running builds, download large updates or other any process unattended.

Windows 10 rating: 1 star - Don't install if you use any automated processes such as downloading software.

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I am having the exact same issue on my ASUS G75 Laptop. I have set every advanced setting to prevent any form of sleep, timeout, or hibernation under any circumstance and the system still sleeps after approx 2.5 minutes of inactivity. It is extremely frustrating. Is this issue being addressed at all?

My Intel Management Driver is version 11.0.0.1157.

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Having the same issue.

'Sleep After' is set to 'never'

Lenovo ThinkPad E440

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yes, me as well. an msi gt70, with no intel management interface driver installed at all.

**edited for politeness

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