HardwareMotherboardsAsus adds ‘Intel Baseline Profile’ to new BIOS files to combat stability issues but the TDP is still higher than Intel’s actual baselinesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareMotherboardsAsus adds ‘Intel Baseline Profile’ to new BIOS files to combat stability issues but the TDP is still higher than Intel’s actual baselinesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Asus)
Delving into the BIOS of theAsus TUF Gaming Z790-BTFmotherboard shows that MCE sets the PL1 and PL2 power limits to 4095 W, with a core current limit of 512 A for aCore i5 13600K. Those values are supposed to be 125 W, 181 W, and 194 A respectively, so it’s not hard to see why this could result in problems. Up until now, the only way around this was to enter the BIOS, disabling MCE, and manually forcing the motherboard back into the land of common sense.
Asus has now added an ‘Intel Baseline Profile’ (IBP) that will sort of do this for you—after updating the BIOS to the latest release, head back into the BIOS and switch to Advanced Mode. There, go to the AI Tweaker section and you should see the option to enable the profile.
However, it seems that Asus just can’t resist a bit of extra juice, because the latest BIOS for that Z790-BTF motherboard sets the PL1 and PL2 to 181 W when you enable IBP. The PL1, also known as the TDP, should be 125 W for an i5 13600K.
Image1of5(Image credit: Asus)Asus MCE defaults to being enabled(Image credit: Asus)Which results in very high power and current limits(Image credit: Asus)Intel Baseline Profile is supposed to set them all to stock values(Image credit: Asus)Activating the profile changes various settings(Image credit: Asus)PL2 value is now at the Intel value, but the PL1/TDP is still too high
Image1of5(Image credit: Asus)Asus MCE defaults to being enabled(Image credit: Asus)Which results in very high power and current limits(Image credit: Asus)Intel Baseline Profile is supposed to set them all to stock values(Image credit: Asus)Activating the profile changes various settings(Image credit: Asus)PL2 value is now at the Intel value, but the PL1/TDP is still too high
Image1of5
(Image credit: Asus)Asus MCE defaults to being enabled(Image credit: Asus)Which results in very high power and current limits(Image credit: Asus)Intel Baseline Profile is supposed to set them all to stock values(Image credit: Asus)Activating the profile changes various settings(Image credit: Asus)PL2 value is now at the Intel value, but the PL1/TDP is still too high
(Image credit: Asus)Asus MCE defaults to being enabled(Image credit: Asus)Which results in very high power and current limits(Image credit: Asus)Intel Baseline Profile is supposed to set them all to stock values(Image credit: Asus)Activating the profile changes various settings(Image credit: Asus)PL2 value is now at the Intel value, but the PL1/TDP is still too high
(Image credit: Asus)Asus MCE defaults to being enabled
(Image credit: Asus)Asus MCE defaults to being enabled
(Image credit: Asus)
(Image credit: Asus)
(Image credit: Asus)
Asus MCE defaults to being enabled
Asus MCE defaults to being enabled
(Image credit: Asus)Which results in very high power and current limits
(Image credit: Asus)Which results in very high power and current limits
(Image credit: Asus)
(Image credit: Asus)
(Image credit: Asus)
Which results in very high power and current limits
Which results in very high power and current limits
(Image credit: Asus)Intel Baseline Profile is supposed to set them all to stock values
(Image credit: Asus)Intel Baseline Profile is supposed to set them all to stock values
(Image credit: Asus)
(Image credit: Asus)
(Image credit: Asus)
Intel Baseline Profile is supposed to set them all to stock values
Intel Baseline Profile is supposed to set them all to stock values
(Image credit: Asus)Activating the profile changes various settings
(Image credit: Asus)Activating the profile changes various settings
(Image credit: Asus)
(Image credit: Asus)
(Image credit: Asus)
Activating the profile changes various settings
Activating the profile changes various settings
(Image credit: Asus)PL2 value is now at the Intel value, but the PL1/TDP is still too high
(Image credit: Asus)PL2 value is now at the Intel value, but the PL1/TDP is still too high
(Image credit: Asus)
(Image credit: Asus)
(Image credit: Asus)
PL2 value is now at the Intel value, but the PL1/TDP is still too high
PL2 value is now at the Intel value, but the PL1/TDP is still too high
Long-term users of Asus motherboards might be wondering how is the Intel Baseline Profile any different to the ‘Enforce All Limits’ choice in the Multicore Enhancement options. Because if you enable that, you get the same PL1/PL2 values as for IBP.
In the case of the new profile, it all enforces current protection limits (CEP) for both the cores and system agent in the CPU, whereas ‘Enforce All Limits’ leaves them on Auto, the default for which is ‘disabled.’ What that means is that all of Asus' settings lets the CPU draw more current/power that it’s supposed to, whereas IBP properly forces those limits. Apart from that for PL1/TDP, of course.
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In the case of my gaming PC with the TUF Gaming Z790-BTF motherboard, the power consumption can reach 230 W but only in extreme tests. Running Cinebench R23, with the default BIOS settings, only results in a peak of 186 W, with a maximum CPU temperature of 72°C.
Switching to the new BIOS and enabling, the same test saw a peak power consumption of 202 W and a max temp of 83°C. Wasn’t IBP supposed toreducethese figures to make things more stable? It is possible that it was a reporting error, but the indicated temperature is unlikely to be wrong, so it looks like it did use more power.
There are various changes underneath the hood of the BIOS with the profile, as it’s not just power limits that are altered, so one of these may be causing this. However, using IBP did result in a lower Cinebench score, although it was only in the order of 6%—not that much to be worried about and unlikely to be noticeable in games.
If you have been experiencing the problem, you’ll need to get your hands dirty, I’m afraid—either update the BIOS and then activate the Intel Baseline Profile, or don’t bother with the update, just disable MCE and set the power values manually.
Your next machine(Image credit: Future)Best gaming PC: The top pre-built machines.Best gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.
Your next machine
(Image credit: Future)Best gaming PC: The top pre-built machines.Best gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.
(Image credit: Future)
Best gaming PC: The top pre-built machines.Best gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.
For the latter, you’ll need to go into the Internal CPU Power Management section. Once there, look for the Long and Short Duration Package Power Limits—Short is for PL1/TDP and Long is for PL2. If you’re not sure what values to set these to, look up your CPU in Intel’sArk database.
I strongly suggest you do this over using the Intel Baseline Profile anyway because if you don’t enable it and then want to go back to Asus' default settings, then you’re in for some real fun and games. Just activating MCE again isn’t enough, you’ll need to set all of the current limits back to Auto as well.
If Asus managed to provide a single-click BIOS option for IBP, why couldn’t it have done the same for its ‘max limits’ default profile? As things currently stand, I simply can’t recommend using the Intel Baseline Profile. If you want a 100% stable system, then just disable MCE altogether. Your gaming PC will drop in performance but it’ll be cooler, quieter, and more stable.
It’s great that Asus has responded to the gaming stability issue but I think it could have done a much better job here.
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