2018 MBP i9: Testing w/ Volta & Fan Control

[Nozuka]

I wrote the volta developer and asked him to release a version with custom TDP values.
With the bigger attention he is now getting he might be willing to work on it. I hope.


The downside of Volta is, that it will also slow down daily applications that only need burst speed for a short amount of time.

So an Apple fix would be much better. They could do it like other manufacturers and only start to limit the TDP after a certain amount of seconds under hard load. (or based on thermals)

 

[limo79]

Maflynn: do you think that Apple release a patch and set TDP limit?

 

[lambinho]

Maflynn: do you think that Apple release a patch and set TDP limit?

They need to do something. Hopefully they dont put a limit, atleast not instantly. We still want the machine to be able to burst, and limit it after time and depending of generated heat.

 

[mr.anthonyramos]

TLDR: Power limit to 45W and you'll see a 15% performance jump.

I ran ten Cinebench CPU Benchmarks in a row, giving the machine adequate time to cool down to idle between each run. No software changes were made and the CPU was idle otherwise (only running the software below & some small menu bar apps)

Software Used:
* Cinebench https://www.maxon.net/en/products/cinebench/
* Macs Fan Control https://www.crystalidea.com/macs-fan-control
* Volta http://volta.garymathews.com/

I propose that Apple fire the current person handling whatever caused this issue and hire you.

 

[maflynn]

Maflynn: do you think that Apple release a patch and set TDP limit?

Yes, I'm sure we'll see an multifaceted update that uses a number of ways to address the problem - just my imo.

 

[Queen6]

Yes, I'm sure we'll see an multifaceted update that uses a number of ways to address the problem - just my imo.

Definitely as it's gathering a lot of steam, mostly negative towards Apple. Then again is was rather an unusual release...

Q-6

 

[EugW]

TLDR: Power limit to 45W and you'll see a 15% performance jump.

I ran ten Cinebench CPU Benchmarks in a row, giving the machine adequate time to cool down to idle between each run. No software changes were made and the CPU was idle otherwise (only running the software below & some small menu bar apps)

Software Used:
* Cinebench https://www.maxon.net/en/products/cinebench/
* Macs Fan Control https://www.crystalidea.com/macs-fan-control
* Volta http://volta.garymathews.com/

Wow, lots of work! Good job.

However, it should be noted that all of those 2.9 GHz i9 scores are lower than what a 2.2 GHz Core i7-8750H can get (under ideal conditions).

 

[simonmet]

I wasn't aware the CPUs could use more than their TDP. If that's the case, can the i9 periodically draw much more than previous 45 W i7s? If so, maybe Apple (and other manufacturers) haven't fully accounted for this in the design.

 

[Nozuka]

The T2 chip is (also) responsible for Power and Thermal Management.

Running its own OS (eOS) it should be possible to implement quite complex power profiles, doing its work no matter if you are running MacOS or Windows... Maybe they released it before it was finished. But it can certainly be updated.

It seems very strange to me that they would not implement any limits whatsoever and just let the CPU do its thing, since Apple is usually all about control.

 

[ESA]

The funny thing is that old macbooks (2017 and 2016) never goes higher than 45W. I´ve tested mine, never ever over 45.

 

[existe]

I have the 15" I7 2.6 and wanted to do the same tests just for S&G's. I will state that I have had no issues with my unit to date, have not really focused on any of this and have just been using the laptop. Gaming, 3D work and Affinity Designer work with nothing impacting me where I felt something was off. That being said here are my results:

Same test methodology, 10 consecutive Cinebench tests and averaging them out. Let system get to idle temps before testing with new parameters. Again this is for 15" 2018 I7 2.6 MBP

Factory Default was 847.1 average cb
Volta just set to 45W max average was 985.8 cb
Volta set to 45W and Macs Fans set to CPU PECI at 50 C average was 987.9 cb

 

[limo79]

Possibly those models were designed by ESA engineers. Current models designed in Cuppertino under tight super vision of famous Cook.

 

[existe]

double post

 

[EugW]

I have the 15" I7 2.6 and wanted to do the same tests just for S&G's. I will state that I have had no issues with my unit to date, have not really focused on any of this and have just been using the laptop. Gaming, 3D work and Affinity Designer work with nothing impacting me where I felt something was off. That being said here are my results:

Same test methodology, 10 consecutive Cinebench tests and averaging them out. Let system get to idle temps before testing with new parameters. Again this is for 15" 2018 I7 2.6 MBP

Factory Default was 847.1 average cb
Volta just set to 45W max average was 985.8 cb
Volta set to 45W and Macs Fans set to CPU PECI at 50 C average was 987.9 cb

Those Volta-assisted scores are a touch higher than all of Aea's i9 scores. All of them.

Can you post your 10 consecutive scores please?

Now all we need is a 2.2 to test my hypothesis.

BTW, I suspected Volta is going to get a LOT of downloads in the near future.

http://volta.garymathews.com

 

[sennomulo]

Gaming, 3D work and Affinity Designer work with nothing impacting me where I felt something was off.

What games have you tested?

 

[iMacDragon]

The Volta scores will probably be somewhat dependant in ambient temperature, I was getting ~1010 yesterday on cooler day
[doublepost=1532271079][/doublepost]

The Volta scores will probably be somewhat dependant in ambient temperature, I was getting ~1010 yesterday on cooler day

And I suspect for gaming one probably wants to limit things even further to give the gpu some space to breathe too. It is definitely a vey thermally constrained whole system.

 

[Eason85]

The funny thing is that old macbooks (2017 and 2016) never goes higher than 45W. I´ve tested mine, never ever over 45.

They have 50% fewer cores than coffee lake. 8th gen is still 14nm, just like 7th gen. You can't just add cores without adding power consumption and heat.

 

[existe]

To be fair I am using a eGPU and have just been playing WoW

Here are my individual CB scores

 

[CodeJoy]

I wasn't aware the CPUs could use more than their TDP. If that's the case, can the i9 periodically draw much more than previous 45 W i7s? If so, maybe Apple (and other manufacturers) haven't fully accounted for this in the design.

I think we've seen them draw up to 80-90W in other laptops, and frankly I wouldn't be surprised if it could go beyond that as well.

 

[uecker87]

Those Volta-assisted scores are a touch higher than all of Aea's i9 scores. All of them.

Can you post your 10 consecutive scores please?

Now all we need is a 2.2 to test my hypothesis.

BTW, I suspected Volta is going to get a LOT of downloads in the near future.

http://volta.garymathews.com

I have a 2.2. I don't have all of the results saved, but I have been averaging about 970ish with Volta set to limit power to 45W.

If I get time later today to run them again and put it in a nice chart then I'll let you know.

 

[Eason85]

I wasn't aware the CPUs could use more than their TDP. If that's the case, can the i9 periodically draw much more than previous 45 W i7s? If so, maybe Apple (and other manufacturers) haven't fully accounted for this in the design.

TDP is often confused with power draw. This video might help:

 

[parsonsmike]

I wrote the volta developer and asked him to release a version with custom TDP values.
With the bigger attention he is now getting he might be willing to work on it. I hope.


The downside of Volta is, that it will also slow down daily applications that only need burst speed for a short amount of time.

So an Apple fix would be much better. They could do it like other manufacturers and only start to limit the TDP after a certain amount of seconds under hard load. (or based on thermals)

Have you gotten any responses? I purchased Volta last year, but found that it didn't actually change the voltage when I enabled it. I emailed the developer, and his response was "use Intel Power gadget, and you'll see it does change the voltage". So I did, and it wasn't. Waste of my money.

 

[maflynn]

So I did, and it wasn't. Waste of my money.

Perhaps, but I'm finding it a good app to limit the wattage, and with that I'm keeping my MBP cool

 

[parsonsmike]

Perhaps, but I'm finding it a good app to limit the wattage, and with that I'm keeping my MBP cool

I guess this means that it actually does seomthing on your computer?

As I said, using intel power gadget, I confirmed that Volta didn’t actually make any voltage changes at all. When I showed the power gadget logs to the developer, he stopped responding to my emails

 

[Nozuka]

Have you gotten any responses? I purchased Volta last year, but found that it didn't actually change the voltage when I enabled it. I emailed the developer, and his response was "use Intel Power gadget, and you'll see it does change the voltage". So I did, and it wasn't. Waste of my money.

Not yet. But i did not expect a fast response anyway