Why Does Cinebench Score Reduce in Progress?

Steve C · Jun 21, 2023

I've built a new PC using an i7-13700K CPU and Asus Z790 motherboard. The BIOS is set to defaults except that I set a maximum CPU temperature of 85C, a Short Duration Package Power Level 200W and Long Duration Package Power Level 125W.

On running Cinebench R23 I get a decent benchmark score c. 29000 and see the thermal limit 85C applied. After a minute or so the score reduces about 10% and the CPU temperature drops under 85C. What's going on here to limit performance?

Marcus Vinicus · Jun 21, 2023

Sounds like the throttling of the CPU is working as it should based on your bios settings.

Steve C · Jun 21, 2023

Marcus Vinicus said:
Sounds like the throttling of the CPU is working as it should based on your bios settings.

Perhaps but I thought throttling is instant not after a minute or so of operating at a higher throughput

Marcus Vinicus · Jun 21, 2023

Agree the slight lag is a bit strange.

bobkn · Jun 21, 2023

Steve C said:
Perhaps but I thought throttling is instant not after a minute or so of operating at a higher throughput

The CPU's temperature continues to rise as its heatsink/fan warms.

At least, that's the way it works for me. (See my System 1 for hardware details.)

Cinebench R23 is the most brutal CPU stressor I've used, so far.

DigitalGoat · Jun 21, 2023

How is the system cooled? An AIO/ loop would need several runs over a set period to bring the cooling fluid to saturation, at which point the overall temperature would end up higher and the CPU would reduce clocks/ boost to remain withing thermal limits.
An air cooler would reach saturation a lot quicker but also a longer period of repeat tests would give a more consistent overall result.

neves · Jun 21, 2023

"I set a maximum CPU temperature of 85C"

Definitely throttling, tho - it depends on the sensors (or even BIOS - not being properly optimized) - how fast it triggers the throttling. Increase the Offset to 5 (aka 95 degrees) - and see have that impacts the score.

For a PC to reach such high temps - sounds like you have a cooling issue,

Marcus Vinicus · Jun 21, 2023

@Steve C
Have you tried running Hwinfo64 concurrently with Cinebench r23 to see what your system is doing?

Steve C · Jun 22, 2023

DigitalGoat said:
How is the system cooled? An AIO/ loop would need several runs over a set period to bring the cooling fluid to saturation, at which point the overall temperature would end up higher and the CPU would reduce clocks/ boost to remain withing thermal limits.
An air cooler would reach saturation a lot quicker but also a longer period of repeat tests would give a more consistent overall result.

I have a Noctua NH-D14 air cooler (very large)

Steve C · Jun 22, 2023

neves said:
"I set a maximum CPU temperature of 85C"

Definitely throttling, tho - it depends on the sensors (or even BIOS - not being properly optimized) - how fast it triggers the throttling. Increase the Offset to 5 (aka 95 degrees) - and see have that impacts the score.

For a PC to reach such high temps - sounds like you have a cooling issue,

I have a Noctua NH-D14 air cooler. I set the thermal limit of 85C since I know the i7-13700K is hard to cool. I only ever hit my limit of 85C in Cinebench. Idle CPU temperature is around 35C and no more than 55C in games like MS Flight Simulator 2020 and Red Ded Redemption2 - but my RTX 20260 Super GPU is running flat out.

Steve C · Jun 22, 2023

Marcus Vinicus said:
@Steve C
Have you tried running Hwinfo64 concurrently with Cinebench r23 to see what your system is doing?

I'm using Hwinfo and can see after while the clock rate reduces to reduce the temperature below 85C

neves · Jun 22, 2023

Steve C said:
I have a Noctua NH-D14 air cooler. I set the thermal limit of 85C since I know the i7-13700K is hard to cool. I only ever hit my limit of 85C in Cinebench. Idle CPU temperature is around 35C and no more than 55C in games like MS Flight Simulator 2020 and Red Ded Redemption2 - but my RTX 20260 Super GPU is running flat out.

I see. Try ThrottleStop - run Cinebench for awhile - then click the "Limits" button in TTS and it will show you if your CPU is throttling (and it what way).

You could also Undervolt it (that tends to lower temps - thus the name of the app "Throttle Stop) - but Undervolting works only with Virtualization Disabled (unless you do it from BIOS - but TTS is 100% safe - since UV only is done only when the app is running in Windows - on the other hand - doing that from BIOS - despite of undervolting being 100% safe - if set below the energy required for a given CPU to start - you might have to reset the BIOS to be able to boot and try again). Tho, 13th Gen CPUs tend to have Undervolt Protection Enabled in BIOS - so it takes some extra steps to manage Undervolting. As mentioned here...

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