Upgrading HP EliteDesk 800 G5 SFF Part II

[NonSequitur777]

Dear Forum, @IT_WinSec, @Paul_Tikkanen,

This is a continuation of my prior HP EliteDesk 800 G5 SFF upgrade project -see link: Solved: Upgrading HP EliteDesk 800 G5 SFF - HP Support Community - 8545942.

Today I upgraded the i7-9700KF with an i9-9900KF, and benchmarked it -please bear with me: there is a question coming:

Link: HP EliteDesk 800 G5 SFF Performance Results - UserBenchmark.

Even though I am happy with the i9-9900KF performance (99.8%), yet I noticed that the upper processor multiplier which should have been 50x aka Max Turbo Frequency at 5.00 GHz:

Link: Intel® Core™ i9-9900KF Processor

Was, however, throttled at 47x aka 4.70 GHz:

I disabled "Core Isolation" in order to run Intel's XTU, but since HP prohibits OC-ing, that wasn't much help either.  There was no thermal or power throttling either, btw.

There isn't much help online (including: i9-9900k does not boost to 5GHz anymore - CPUs, Motherboards, and Memory - Linus Tech Tips), so I would really appreciate it if someone could explain why a certified 5.00 GHz processor is throttled at 4.70 GHz.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[DGroves]

intel does not guarantee that all cpu's will boot to the max published speed

direct from the intel website document i have linked to below, note the wording "POTENTIALLY"

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology can potentially increase CPU speeds up to the Max Turbo Frequency while staying within safe temperature and power limits. 

Note that depending on its situation, a given CPU may not always reach its Max Turbo Frequency. The dynamic increase in speed changes depending on the workload and the thermal headroom available.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/gaming/resources/turbo-boost.html

[NonSequitur777]

@DGroves,

Like I mentioned: I didn't observe any thermal or power throttling whilst benchmarking the i9-9900KF.

It has been a while since I purchased it, but I am going to install an upgraded CPU heatsink/cooling fan combo, with HP p/n: L04397-001 (L30413-001) "HP Heatsink Gen Intel 95W Ent18 S / HP SPS-HEATSINK INTEL95W ELITEDESK800 G4 SFF", just in case it would make a difference.

And given your feedback, I am contemplating to install the "Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 Driver 1.0.0.1035 64-bit" from here: https://drivers.softpedia.com/dyn-postdownload.php/1c5a3b8ed447f4fe0b82da018ac6cb92/649f915a/946a2/4....

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[NonSequitur777]

Dear Forum,

Replaced the standard EliteDesk 800 G3/G4/G5 SFF 65-watt CPU heatsink/cooling fan combo:

With the 95-watt version:

And noticed little difference.  Probably have to switch the top-down pushing air cooling fan to the rear panel to make a difference.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[NonSequitur777]

Dear Forum,

Tried to install Intel's Turbo Boost Max (ITBM), but that didn't work:

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[NonSequitur777 · Accepted solution]

Dear Forum,

Rotated the 95-watt CPU heatsink/cooling fan combo 180° and added an external booster cooling fan on the back panel, both blowing air in.  This made a difference in keeping processor temps down -except beyond 47x aka 4.70 GHz:

And was able to approach 5.00 GHz (50x): 4.87 GHz (~49x) but that ended up in thermal throttling:

@DGroves: lesson learned: in order to run 50x consistently on this bad boy, will need an AIO water cooler, such as from DeepCool or Arctic.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[DGroves]

even AIO cooling may not work for this is due to the thermal mass of most AIO systems cooling plate/pump block

your cpu most likely is able to output heat in a large quantity that simply swamps the cooling plate's thermal mass dissipation with more heat than it can dissipate into the AIO's cooling water, also the AIO pump is not going to be able to move the necessary volume of water to/through the radiator due to the hose tubing size and the pump itself being limited in it's volume output

a dedicated AIO will overcome these limits but the cost is quite high for such a system not to mention fitting said setup into a SFF case

if you go the AIO route then check the reviews carefully, there are a handful of high end AIO kits that do stand out from the majority of commonly available AIO models

two that i know of iare the  The Asetek 690LX-PN liquid cooler and the Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora

[NonSequitur777]

@DGroves,

This SFF rig is fast enough for what it was intended to do, 'towering' over its distant rivals, so to speak.

Don't mind experimenting with liquid cooling, but on further reflection, not with/for this system.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[NonSequitur777]

Dear Forum,

Nevertheless, decided to upgrade my RAM -currently 4x8GB Single Rank (1Rx8) 1.20V, Samsung DDR4 PC4-25600, 3200 MHz, Non-ECC, Unbuffered, DIMM, 288-pin (p/n: M378A1K43EB2-CWE), for 2x16GB Dual Rank (2Rx8) 1.20/1.35V, Timetec DDR4 PC4-25600, 3200 MHz, Non-ECC, Unbuffered, DIMM, 288-pin (p/n: B07QRVNB26).

Once the Timetec RAM shows up, the Samsung RAM will be repurposed for another HP legacy desktop upgrade project.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[NonSequitur777]

Dear Forum,

The 2x16GB Timetec DDR4 PC4-25600, 3200 MHz, Non-ECC, Unbuffered, DIMM, 288-pin RAM modules arrived, and installed in slot #1 and slot #3.

Runs indeed as dual rank (dual channel) at 1.20V:

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777