AMD overdrive has no effect with the A8-5557M mobile CPU

stateofmind

Senior member
Aug 24, 2012
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Hi

don't know if it is the right forum, but I'll try.

I have an Acer V5-552G laptop with A8-5557M CPU. Everything works find, but the CPU cocks are limited to 2.1GHZ which is the base clocks for this CPU (2.1GHZ - 3.1GHZ). AMD Overdrive has no effect too - if I click 'apply' the settings are reset to the default ones.

Does anyone has a clue?

Big thanks in advance!
 

Techhog

Platinum Member
Sep 11, 2013
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Check the temps. If those are fine, Acer did it on purpose for better battery life numbers.
 

monstercameron

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2013
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what about gpu load? if you got high gpu load the power management logic might not turbo the cpu cores...prime and furmark could be working against you.
 

stateofmind

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Aug 24, 2012
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I've tested with Prime95 only too

I've tried to change the power mode from high performance to balance and back and the clocks have changed and now go up to 2800MHZ for a split of second here and there

Overdrive still doesn't work - tried using it, it asked if I'm ok with disabling turbo core, I said yes, and now the clocks set on 900MHZ
 

ShintaiDK

Lifer
Apr 22, 2012
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Either BIOS or an application is limiting it I guess. Make sure you run a single core load to see if you can reach 3.1Ghz. For example 1 thread in Prime95 and use CPU-Z to watch the clock.
 

stateofmind

Senior member
Aug 24, 2012
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ok, it seems like the problem has some connection to the laptop being powered up while plugged in. If I start it up while it's on battery and connect it after the Windows is up, everything is OK. It happened repeatedly.

I had such a problem with the screen brightness under Windows 8 and there was need to change the registry - it might be the case here too
 

stateofmind

Senior member
Aug 24, 2012
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another strange behavior - when I start up the laptop on battery, then the CPU clocks are ok, but the integrated GPU is almost fully utilized at around 90% with no reason.
 

sm625

Diamond Member
May 6, 2011
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Sadly there isnt much information on this but I remember AMD turbo not working very well. It should be more aggressive on steamroller.
 

Zstream

Diamond Member
Oct 24, 2005
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another strange behavior - when I start up the laptop on battery, then the CPU clocks are ok, but the integrated GPU is almost fully utilized at around 90% with no reason.

It's in the windows power settings.... There is a conflict between that and AMD overdrive. In regards to your GPU, you can set the utilization within the power settings as well. In fact, I bet it's already set to fully utilize the GPU whenever capable (Aero).
 

stateofmind

Senior member
Aug 24, 2012
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thanks, I'll try

about the Aero - well, but the integrated GPU is utilized even when I'm doing nothing and it's all static.
Anyway, I'll try it and report
 

stateofmind

Senior member
Aug 24, 2012
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It's in the windows power settings.... There is a conflict between that and AMD overdrive. In regards to your GPU, you can set the utilization within the power settings as well. In fact, I bet it's already set to fully utilize the GPU whenever capable (Aero).

you're right - if I set the powerplay settings to prefer maximum battery (or something like that), then the utilization (which is only 2D) drops to around 0%. But there is a side effect which is the reason I came here - if I do that, the cpu clocks go down to 2.1GHZ (base clocks). Tried to play with the registry and had no success solving it
 

Zstream

Diamond Member
Oct 24, 2005
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you're right - if I set the powerplay settings to prefer maximum battery (or something like that), then the utilization (which is only 2D) drops to around 0%. But there is a side effect which is the reason I came here - if I do that, the cpu clocks go down to 2.1GHZ (base clocks). Tried to play with the registry and had no success solving it

Tell me exactly what you're trying to do and I think we can come up with something for you.
 

stateofmind

Senior member
Aug 24, 2012
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Tell me exactly what you're trying to do and I think we can come up with something for you.

big thanks

I'm trying to get the high clocks available with this CPU - 2.8GHZ-3.1GHZ and not having the side effects like the integrated GPU almost fully utilized

is that what you meant?
 

Zstream

Diamond Member
Oct 24, 2005
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big thanks

I'm trying to get the high clocks available with this CPU - 2.8GHZ-3.1GHZ and not having the side effects like the integrated GPU almost fully utilized

is that what you meant?

Yep,

Makes sense. Follow this guide: http://superuser.com/questions/3237...processor-state-in-windows-7-power-management

Just make sure to set the processor state to 100% if you want to utilize the entire cpu. Once changed, check your resource monitor to ensure it's at 100%.