Alienware x14 R1 (12700H) randomly stuck at ~1.7–1.9 GHz after reboot
I’m trying to figure out a really weird issue with my brother’s laptop that I cannot replicate on mine, even though our systems are basically identical.
Both laptops:
Alienware x14 R1
Intel Core i7-12700H
RTX 3060 (6GB)
16GB RAM
Same BIOS version
Same Windows version
Same cooling pad (same fan speed)
Same exact ThrottleStop (9.6) + power plan settings
Alienware Command Center has been cleanly uninstalled
The problem
After restarting, it’s basically a gamble:
Sometimes everything works normally (CPU boosts to ~3–4 GHz while gaming)
Other times, the CPU gets stuck at ~1.7–1.9 GHz and never boosts
This happens immediately after boot, before even launching games.
My laptop never has this problem. The clock speed may idle around 1.9GHz, but when I launch the game, it boosts up immediately. His on the other hand, if it were to launch or reboot on limp mode, it would just stay at 1.7–1.9 GHz forever, not moving even the slightest. Temps are basically ice cold so there's no way it's a thermal issue.
Our settings
Windows Power Plan (both laptops)
High Performance
Min processor state: 75%
Max processor state: 100%
Maximum processor freq: 2000 MHz
Maximum processor freq for processor Power Efficiency Class 1: 4200 MHz
System cooling: Active
Boost mode: Efficient Enabled
ThrottleStop (both laptops)
PL1: 50W
PL2: 55W
SpeedShift: ON (EPP = 0)
Everything else is unchecked.
At this point I’m pretty sure something outside ThrottleStop is clamping power, I just don’t know what. Any ideas would help a ton.