What is CPU Thermal Throttling? Causes and How to Prevent

Your computer’s CPU is a key component that affects its performance. When the CPU gets too hot, it can cause thermal throttling.

CPU thermal throttling is a phenomenon that occurs when the CPU reaches a certain temperature. When this happens, the CPU will slow down in order to prevent itself from overheating. This can cause some serious problems for your computer, and can even lead to permanent damage. 

In this blog post, we will discuss what CPU thermal throttling is, its causes, and how you can prevent it from happening.

What is CPU Throttling?

CPU throttling is a process that is used to slow down the CPU when it gets too hot. This helps to prevent the CPU from overheating and damaging itself.

When the CPU throttles, it will reduce its clock speed in order to stay within a safe temperature range. This can lead to a decrease in performance, as the CPU will not be able to run at its full potential. It is important to note that CPU throttling is a normal process that occurs when the CPU gets too hot.

CPU Throttling and Thermal Throttling – What’s the Difference?

Thermal throttling and CPU throttling are often confused with one another since they both signify a CPU that is running slower than expected and systems that are too hot. This is not completely incorrect, but it is also not exactly correct. They are in fact very closely related on this issue, but there is a key distinction to be made between the two.

CPU throttling actually refers to DFS technology. Under heavy load, the dynamic processor scaling technology known as Dynamic Frequency Scaling (DFS) limits the power draw of the CPU. This feature is used by processors to balance clock speeds, power consumption, and safe operating temperatures in order to keep the chip as efficient as possible.

Thermal throttling, on the other hand, is a CPU that is throttling as a result of bad temperature management. In other words, the CPU is functioning properly by lowering its voltage and frequency to avoid burning up, but there’s clearly an issue with overheating.

How to Check if your CPU is Throttling?

If your system suddenly started to hang or freeze randomly, it might be because of CPU Thermal Throttling. There are a few ways to check if your CPU is throttling. The first, and most obvious way, is to check the temperatures of your CPU. If the CPU is getting too hot, then it is likely that it is throttling.

Another way to check for throttling is to monitor your CPU’s clock speed. If you notice that the clock speed is fluctuating or that it is lower than usual, then this could be a sign of throttling.

Windows 10 and 11 come with a basic hardware monitoring application, Resource Monitor, that may be used to determine whether your CPU is throttling quickly. Here are the steps to use it:

1. Launch some regular applications on your computer.
2. On your Windows system, press Windows + R to open the Run command box.
3. In the text field type perfmon.exe /res and hit the enter key to launch Resource Monitor.
4. On the Resource Monitor window, switch to the CPU tab, and look for the blue square at the top that indicates Maximum Frequency.
5. The blue line on the graph to the right depicts this percentage value, which indicates your CPU’s current speed compared with its base clock speed. If the percentage appears to hit a limit at some point, your CPU is throttling.

You can also use a program like CPU-Z to check for Throttling. CPU-Z is a program that provides detailed information about your computer’s hardware. If you see that the ” throttling ” column is filled with ” Yes “, then this is a sign that your CPU is throttling.

What are the Causes of CPU Throttling?

There are a few different causes of CPU throttling.

• The most common cause is when the CPU gets too hot. When the CPU gets too hot, it will throttle itself in order to stay within a safe temperature range. This can be caused by a number of things, such as poor ventilation, high ambient temperatures, and more.
• Another common cause is CPU overclocking. Overclocking is when you increase the clock speed of the CPU beyond what it is rated for. This can lead to higher temperatures, and can therefore cause CPU thermal throttling.
• CPU throttling can also be caused by dust buildup. Dust can clog up the heatsink, which prevents heat from dissipating properly.
• An incorrect system power plan can also lead to CPU throttling.

How to Fix CPU Thermal Throttling?

Here are a few ways to fix CPU thermal throttling.

Adjust System Power Settings

On your system, switch to the Power Options to adjust the Power settings. Here are the steps for that:

1. On the Windows search bar type Control Panel and click on its icon to launch.
2. Select Hardware and Sound from the given settings.
3. Next, navigate to the Power Options.
4. Check to see which Power Plan is currently active. To save power, lower temperatures, and lower overall system noise, the CPU will be slowed down under different circumstances by the Power Saver and Balanced modes. While this mainly affects the CPU while it is idle or performing minor operations, it can also have an impact on other applications such as gaming or any other high-end application. Therefore, if any of these plans are selected, change it and select the High Performance plan.

Disable Overclocking

If you are overclocking your CPU, then this can lead to thermal throttling. Overclocking pushes your CPU to its limits and can therefore lead to higher temperatures. If you are experiencing thermal throttling, then you should disable any overclocking that you have enabled. You can usually do this in the BIOS.

Replace the Thermal Paste

Another way to help reduce the temperatures of your CPU is to replace the thermal paste. Thermal paste is a substance that helps transfer heat from the CPU to the heatsink. Over time, it can dry out or become damaged, which can lead to higher temperatures. Replacing the thermal paste can help to reduce the temperatures of your CPU.

Update BIOS

If you are still experiencing thermal throttling after trying the above solutions, then you may need to update your BIOS. BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System. It is software that controls the hardware of your computer. An outdated BIOS can lead to a number of issues, including thermal throttling. Updating your BIOS can help to fix this issue.

Increase Airflow

One way to help reduce the temperatures of your CPU is to increase airflow. This can be done by adding additional fans, or by cleaning out the dust from your computer. Check if CPU and GPU fans are properly working.

Reduce Ambient Temperatures

Another way to help reduce the temperatures of your CPU is to reduce the ambient temperature. This can be done by turning on a fan, or by opening a window. Reducing the ambient temperature can help to reduce the temperatures of your CPU and can therefore help to fix thermal throttling.

Disable Turbo Boost

Turbo Boost is a feature that allows your CPU to run at higher speeds when needed. However, this can also lead to higher temperatures and can therefore cause thermal throttling. If you are experiencing this issue, then you should disable Turbo Boost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

CPU throttling can be caused by a number of different reasons. In this article, you learned different ways to fix it. If you’re still experiencing CPU thermal throttling after trying these solutions then it may be time to upgrade your system hardware such as CPU and GPU as they might be pretty old.