HP Envy 13-aq0045cl Power Throttling under CPU Load

[aerosplat]

I would like to know how to disable "battery saving" CPU downclocking on my HP Envy 13-aq0045cl serial number [edit] with Win10 Home. Upon a fresh boot, this computer increases CPU clock speed when under load as is advertised by HP (my desired mode of operation), but after a short while (10 to 30 minutes), it INSTANTLY (like a switch flip) reverses its throttling scheme such that the CPU clock is significantly reduced when under load (performance behavior never mentioned in HP's advertisement glossy for this computer and definitely NOT my desired behavior). I've seen the clock drop lower than 300MHz when applications (Chrome or Firefox) are started which causes serious interruptions in audio playing in the background. This performance is unacceptable. Each time this happens, I can only restore proper performance by rebooting the computer, but after another 10 to 30 minutes, it flips its throttling scheme again and performance becomes unacceptable. The CPU downclocking mode NEVER reverses itself; once the downclocking mode starts, it's as if Windows gets stuck in this mode and only a reboot will fix it (and only temporarily at that).

I am not running any computationally intense applications on this computer (e.g. no video games or other real-time rendering applications). I am mostly running web browsers when the CPU throttling becomes problematic and almost always have a background audio stream running which gets totally destroyed when the CPU downclocks.

So far, I have done the following to try to fix this behavior:
(1) Within Windows "Power Settings", I have configured the plugged-in "minimum processor state" to 100% and "system cooling policy" to "Active".
(2) I've ensured the latest BIOS is installed (Insyde F.04-04/23/2019).
(3) I've ensured I've got all of the latest device drivers installed.
(4) I've performed diagnostics with "Core Temp" version 1.14 to confirm CPU downclocking is not due to high CPU core temperatures.
(5) I've tested the computer with higher wattage power supplies to ensure the computer itself isn't limited by power supply capacity.
(6) I have added a registry key "Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerThrottling" with DWORD "PowerThrottlingOff" set to 1.
(7) Within the group policy editor (gpedit.msc), I have set "Local Computer Policy/Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/System/Power Management/Power Throttling Settings/Turn Off Power Throttling" to "Enabled".

One thing I have been unable to do is confirm Power Throttling is disabled in the BIOS. Unfortunately, the BIOS settings don't include this option so I can't tell if Power Throttling is enabled or disabled in the BIOS and, if it is enabled, I can't turn it off.

I've chatted extensively with HP Support regarding this issue.  Here's what I was told:

(1) While the BIOS presents no user-selectable option for "Power Throttling", the BIOS is enforcing "Auto" for this setting.  Setting "Power Throttling" to "Auto" within the BIOS leaves total control of power throttling to the Operating System.

(2) HP can't be expected to make statements about computer performance when running "3rd party" (non HP) software like Firefox, Chrome, and Microsoft Office.

(3) To continue my pursuit for a solution through official HP channels, I must open an account with "Tier 2 Support" (something called "Smart Friend", a pay-for-service support option).

I really like this laptop and I'd like to keep it.  I just need to know how to REALLY disable Power Throttling so that it will work properly for longer than 10 to 30 minutes following a reboot.  Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

[aerosplat]

Update: I discovered a newly available Insyde F.05 BIOS update from HP and have installed it.  Testing is ongoing...

[aerosplat]

Updaing the BIOS to Insyde F.05 did not resolve the power throttling issue.  Again, any advice to fix this would be GREATLY appreciated!

[aerosplat]

New information: I think I've identified the causal factor.  When I first boot the machine, HWiNFO reports that the long term processor power limit (PL1) is 13.5W (or that's the number as soon as I can get HWiNFO up and running after a fresh boot).  As time progresses, however, HWiNFO reports that PL1 is being dynamically reduced so that it aligns with the actual average power demand placed upon the processor.  When the machine is essentially idle except for audio streaming, PL1 drops to around 6W.  At that point, any additional demand (e.g. running a browser or MS Word) places the processor in "PL1 exceedance mode" and clock is drastically reduced, usually to less than 500MHz, and the audio starts stuttering horribly.  At that point, PL1 starts to climb slowly (to adapt to the new average demand), but as soon as the increased demand is gone, PL1 starts to drop again.

I don't know if enforcing a dynamic PL1 that tracks the actual average power demand is industry standard these days with super lightweight notebooks, but this behavior really does look like it's responsible for my performance problems.  Based upon that, I guess I can narrow down my question to: is there any Win10 compatible software out there that will allow me to tune PL1 behavior for the Intel i7-8565U?  I've already tried ThrottleStop (won't run due to "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b).", even with proper C++ runtime and DirectX installed) and Intel XTU (reports that the i7-8565U isn't supported which agrees with Intel's website info regarding XTU).

[aerosplat]

The bulk of this discussion can be found here:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-performance/windows-10-64-version-1903-...

[Echo_Lake]

@aerosplat
I have brought your issue to the attention of an appropriate team within HP. They will likely request information from you in order to look up your case details or product serial number. Please look for a private message from an identified HP contact. Additionally, keep in mind not to publicly post personal information (serial numbers and case details).

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