How to check CPU throttling on Windows 10

The CPU is one component that tends to heat up and can be harmed by high temperatures. If the CPU heats up too much, or the chassis temperature rises to the point where it is dangerous to the hardware, Windows 10 will either shut down or limit the CPU’s power to reduce the temperature.

CPU throttling to reduce temperature

The more intensively a CPU works, that is, the more operations it runs at once, the more power it consumes and the hotter it becomes. A CPU can get hot to a degree, but once it reaches that point, it must cool down in some way to avoid irreversible hardware damage.

If the CPU is overheating, Windows 10 will generally reduce the amount of power it receives. This means that tasks may take longer to finish, your system may freeze, and everything will be slower as a result.

Check CPU throttling on Windows 10

Keep an eye on the CPU use if you feel the CPU is being throttled. You may accomplish this with the Resource Monitor feature in Windows 10, or you can utilize a third-party CPU monitoring application.

CPU Throttling – Resource Monitor

1. Tap the Win+R keyboard shortcut to open the run box.
2. In the run box, enter: perfmon.exe /res and tap the Enter key.
3. Use your system like you normally do.
4. The Maximum Frequency value shows the current power consumption by the CPU.
5. If the value does not go beyond a certain point, it means the CPU is being throttled.

CPU Throttling HWiNFO

CPU throttling happens when the CPU overheats. If your system is cold, the CPU will run at full speed without being throttled, hence the temperature is the thing to look at.

If a CPU becomes too hot to handle, it will be throttled.

1. Download a free app called HWiNFO, and run it.
2. Select ‘Sensors Only’ and click Run.
3. Scroll down to DTS section for your processor.
4. Take note of the temperatures; if the CPU is too hot, the app will highlight the temperature in red.
5. If the CPU is running too hot, it will be throttled. 

Prevent CPU throttling

By keeping your system cold, you can avoid CPU throttling. There is no way to disable it, and even if there was, we would not encourage it.

• Make sure your system is well ventilated and that air can move in and out.
• To keep things cool, use thermal paste or a fan.
• Make sure the chassis is clean, with no dust accumulation.
• Check to see if the fans are functioning properly.
• On battery power, your CPU may be throttled, so attempt to stay connected to a power source.
• Overclocking the CPU is not a good idea.

Hardware issues can also cause your CPU to overheat. Have a hardware component tested if you feel it’s the source of the problem. Some people claim that disabling Intel SpeedStep in their BIOS cured an overheating CPU.