Yes, worth repeating that it’s an excellent guide!
I used that guide when setting up this PC. You can see in my last image above the label “Ultimate Performance” is exactly the plan that was created per page 13 of the guide.
At some point Windows un-did my core parking selection and reset the flag so the option wouldn’t show in the Power Options panel anymore. Annoying, but good to be aware of.
For what you describe I would start by doing section 2.1 and section 4, 4.1, and 4.4 in the guide.
What you’re describing sounds like a CPU throttling issue to me, and those are the parts of the guide that directly address that. The rest of the guide is good to do as well, but for what you’re describing I think these are likely the biggest items.
Every laptop is different for heat dissipation and how hard you can get out of your processor on a sustained basis. I’d get everything else done before fiddling with clock speed.
So, maybe do the powershell “Ultimate Performance” option?
Reading about this, this is more complicated than on first blush. The Lenovo Thinkpad P16 (Gen 2) User Guide only references three options: Best Power Efficiency, Balanced, and Best Performance. The Guide states: “Best Performance: the ultra performance is prioritized, allowing maximum temperature and higher fan speed.”
I already switched to Best Performance (and perhaps there is some improvement from “balanced”?) and there is some question whether Lenovo allows better than that. (Also, of course, there is the issue of overheating.)
So, maybe I will stick with Best Performance and look at the other tweaks…
Definitely worth mentioning in the next update for Windows 12.
To me creating a high performance or ultimate plan turned out to be very important. Because you said you did go through the optimization guide (if I understand that correctly), I didn’t mention it, otherwise I would have brought it up.
So my advice: Should you create an ultimate plan: Sure, by all means!
Creating the ultimate plan (from a cmd running as administrator!):
powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61
About the missing power plans in general: Windows switched the way of doing power management: newer systems are using the modern way, (that is what you’re seeing) and there’s no way to create plans yourself in the gui. But when you create a plan using powercfg, it will show up and be active. Once you switch back, it becomes hidden again. 
I use a little tool (throttlestop). This tool makes it easier to reactivate power plans you created yourself. It can do a lot more, but some options require (expert) knowledge about undervolting etc. If you don’t know what your doing, leave those options alone. These are not on the main window anyway.
Hope this helps.
Thanks, Frank. I only use my laptops with Gig Performer (except the occasion when I get a new plugin, so I use email, the developer’s installer or access their site). So, I have no plans to switch back and forth.
I definitely appreciate the input. I will follow the guide/your description and copy and paste as suggested.
[But, I suppose it is a good idea to check periodically to see if Windows did not change it back.]
Jeff
Shoot, I am hoping someone can help me. I ran through the powershell method to get the Ultimate Performance option.
It seems like there are two locations where power plans are offered. None of them give an Ultimate Performance Option.
One of then says Best Performance.
But the other says “Balanced” and does not give me an option to change.
See screen shots.
See, one of them says “best performance” the other says “balanced” and, unfortunately, I do not see the “Ultimate” option (even though I inserted the text into powershell and it responded the way I would expect).
But the crackling seems to have stopped! Crazy! I have no idea…
Yay! I’ll take it! (hopefully it will stick!)
Thanks, everyone!
Hopefully it continues to work for you. If not, did you reboot after adding the Ultimate power plan? Did you run the powershell as administrator?
Yes to both. Fingers crossed!
I couldn’t even get it to crackle now!
Yes there are multiple locations. The settings app is not going to show the legacy plans (to my knowledge). The control panel should show it. Tonight I can check for you (it’s 07:30 am at this moment overhere).
I think the “balanced” only refers to the (less important in my case) sleep and display shut off issue.
The strange thing is, I did add the Ultimate option as Powershell Administrator.
I did not see any change in power option.
But somehow it seems like it totally fixed the issue (causing the crackling).
I’ll try it this morning hopefully still fixed.
Crazy update:
I got up this morning and started my my rig/GP. The crackling was back.
I shut down GP, I went into Powershell and added back the Ultimate Performance option in Powershell, and I restarted the computer.
The crackling is gone! [And remained fine during about 1/2 hour I was used GP].
Thoughts?
Did you turn off Fast Startup?
(See Shutdown Setting in Power Options)
I’ll did. I’ll work through the full guide Sunday.
I did some experiments shutting down and the crackling seemed to return (when I would have not expected it).
Work in progress. I’ll keep you updated.
[I’ll explore other options, like if I have the issue downstairs (different electric outlets, etc.). And I’ll compare how my two near duplicate laptops behave. Frustrating.
I checked it. There’s an additional step:
/// Before
C:\Users\fdenb>powercfg /L
Existing Power Schemes (* Active)
-----------------------------------
Power Scheme GUID: 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e (Balanced) *
/// Create the plan
C:\Users\fdenb>powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61
Power Scheme GUID: 4ea4d891-d081-4355-8512-db02514dc7f9 (Ultimate Performance)
/// Still not visible
C:\Users\fdenb>powercfg /L
Existing Power Schemes (* Active)
-----------------------------------
Power Scheme GUID: 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e (Balanced) *
/// Activate it. Use the GUID that was listed in the output of powercfg -duplicatescheme
C:\Users\fdenb>powercfg /S 4ea4d891-d081-4355-8512-db02514dc7f9
/// Et voila...
C:\Users\fdenb>powercfg /L
Existing Power Schemes (* Active)
-----------------------------------
Power Scheme GUID: 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e (Balanced)
Power Scheme GUID: 4ea4d891-d081-4355-8512-db02514dc7f9 (Ultimate Performance) *
And it’s here also visible:
Thank you, Frank!
I think I need a bit of hand holding on this (sorry).
Is there somewhere where it really walks through it so an 8 year old can do it?
Or a video walking through every step?
Do I need to do anything with the “before” step?
What do you think of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x84Ls_ZtQHI
Jeff
Maybe this:
Thanks, Frank!
A bit of good is today I started up the computer after work today and did exactly what I did the first time I was able to eliminate the crackling. I had no crackling. (I made the change in Powershell and then started GP–without restarting the laptop).
So, if I can count on that working every time, I’d be okay (more than okay) with that.
[It does not take to too long to open up powershell and copy and paste that every time before opening up GP.]
Jeff
PS: I just went on the Lenovo forum board and was informed (by a Lenovo Specialist) that should be able to get the Ultimate Power Plan option and they instructed me what to do (involving a change in the BIOS first). Fingers crossed…
