i7-12000h Turbo Boost Limited to 4.1 GHz instead of 4.7 GHz

[Twolls]

My OMEN 16's i7-12700h only boosts to 4.1 GHz, rather than the advertised 4.7 GHz. I saw that other people with this issue had it fixed with a BIOS update to version F.15 as seen in this thread. I updated my BIOS to the newest available version, F.27, but the issue still persists as I am still capped at 4.1 GHz. Event Viewer also shows the CPU cores being limited by the system firmware. Any help would be much appreciated! Model: OMEN Gaming Laptop 16-k0023dx (6D6K4UA)

[NonSequitur777]

@Twolls,

Welcome to our HP Community forum!

Thank you for your detailed post. If your OMEN by HP 16-k0023dx (6D6K4UA) with an Intel Core i7-12700H is only boosting to 4.10 GHz (instead of the advertised 4.70 GHz Max Turbo), and you've already updated to the latest BIOS (F.27), then the issue is likely tied to one or more of the following system-level limitations:

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Possible Causes & Fixes:

System Firmware (BIOS/EC) Power Limits:

The Event Viewer logs mentioning the CPU being "limited by system firmware" suggests to me a PL1/PL2 restriction (power limit throttling) enforced by BIOS or Embedded Controller.  HP and other consumer laptop manufacturers are known to do this.

Try This:

1.) You’ve already updated to BIOS F.27, but it’s possible the EC (Embedded Controller) firmware is enforcing lower limits. BIOS updates don’t always update EC firmware.

Next step: Perform an EC reset (aka "hard reset"):

• Shut down the laptop

• Disconnect the AC adapter

• Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds

• Reconnect power and boot up

Then test turbo boost again using Intel XTU, ThrottleStop, or HWiNFO64.

2.) Windows Power Plan / OMEN Gaming Hub Settings:

Sometimes the Windows power plan or the OMEN Performance Control limits the CPU under "Balanced" mode.

Thus, Go to:

• Control Panel > Power Options > High Performance
  or

• In OMEN Gaming Hub > Performance Control, select Performance or Turbo profile -if available.

3.) Intel Turbo Boost may be disabled in BIOS:

I would consider this rare, but if you have an “Advanced” BIOS menu unlocked (via service mode or HP internal configuration), Intel Turbo Boost might be toggleable.

If you can access this, ensure Intel Turbo Boost Technology is Enabled.

4.) You may want to contact HP Support directly and see if there is something you can do that I somehow missed.

Look, there is no easy way to sugarcoat this, but your OMEN 16-k0023dx is not a flagship-class gaming laptop, so it’s highly likely that HP has implemented firmware-level restrictions to strike a balance between performance, thermals, and longevity -especially with the i7-12700H, which is a 45-Watt CPU capable of drawing over 90-Watt in turbo under ideal conditions.

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Why HP Might Limit Turbo Speeds:

1. Thermal Headroom Constraints
   Mid-tier OMEN systems (especially those paired with RTX 3060) use more modest cooling designs -dual fans and copper heatpipes, but not vapor chambers or phase-change materials like in true high-end models. Sustained 4.70 GHz across performance cores could easily push temps beyond 95°C.

2. Power Budget Sharing
   Laptops like yours must balance CPU and GPU power draw. When both are under load (e.g., in games), the system reduces CPU PL1/PL2 to give more headroom to the GPU.

3. Firmware-Enforced Throttling (System Agent)
   The "System firmware has limited performance of processor cores" Event Viewer entry points to ACPI or Embedded Controller (EC) policies embedded in BIOS. These are typically locked down on consumer-class laptops.

4. Bin Segmentation Strategy
   HP deliberately restricts lower-tier models (such as the 16-k0023dx) to differentiate them from more expensive OMEN 17 or OMEN Transcend series, which often have better cooling and fewer boost restrictions.

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What That Means in Practice:

• Unfortunately, you'll likely only see 4.10 GHz boosts, even if 4.70 GHz is technically supported.

• Turbo durations may be shortened (Tau) or never reach full turbo due to thermal limits or firmware caps.

• BIOS updates may adjust these limits slightly, but HP rarely gives full control to end users on mid-tier machines.

If you want full PC performance potential, you'll need a higher-end system with stronger thermals, unlocked firmware, and higher PL2 limits -or, come to think of it, a desktop platform.

Warm Regards,

NonSequitur777