Undervolt Your CPU With Throttlestop in Windows – Step-by-Step Tutorial

Undervolting your CPU can significantly reduce temperatures and improve overall system stability, making it a valuable technique for laptop and PC users. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to undervolt your CPU using Throttlestop in Windows.

Downloading and Installing Throttlestop

To begin, you need to download the latest version of Throttlestop from the TechPowerUp website. Once downloaded, extract the contents of the zip file to a folder of your choice. Launch Throttlestop, and you will see a dialog box warning you to use the software at your own risk. Click "OK" to proceed.

Setting Up Throttlestop

When you first launch Throttlestop, you will see the main interface. Here, you can switch between different profiles using the radio buttons at the top left. For example, you can set up a "Gaming" profile or a "Battery" profile to optimize your CPU settings accordingly.

• Options and Settings: Click on "Options" and check the boxes for "Start minimized" and "Minimize on close." If you have an NVIDIA or AMD GPU, select the appropriate option and click "OK".

Preparing for Undervolting

Before you start undervolting, it's a good idea to test your CPU's maximum temperature to have a baseline for comparison.

• TS Bench Test: Click on "TS Bench," select a suitable test size (e.g., 960MB), and click "Start" to run the test. Monitor your CPU temperature during the test to note the maximum temperature reached.

Undervolting Your CPU

Unlocking Adjustable Voltage

1. Access FIVR Controls: Click on the "FIVR" button near the bottom right in Throttlestop.
2. Unlock Adjustable Voltage: In the new window, tick the "Unlock Adjustable Voltage" box. If this box is greyed out, your PC may not support undervolting using Throttlestop.

Adjusting Offset Voltage

1. Decrease Offset Voltage: Start decreasing the "Offset Voltage" slider in small intervals (typically 20-25 millivolts). For Intel U-series processors, start with a negative 50 millivolts offset, and for H-series processors, start with a negative 100 millivolts offset.
2. Adjust CPU Cache Voltage: Click on "CPU Cache" in the "FIVR Control" area and set the "Offset Voltage" to the same value as the CPU core voltage. This ensures that both the CPU core and cache have the same voltage offset.

Testing Stability

1. Apply and Test: After adjusting the voltages, click "Apply" and run the TS Bench test again to check for system stability. If the system crashes or shows errors, you have undervolted too far. Reboot your PC, open Throttlestop, and adjust the voltages back to a stable point.
2. Save Stable Voltages: Once you find a stable voltage setting, select "Save voltages after Throttlestop exits" to ensure that the stable voltages are saved even if Throttlestop is closed.

Additional Tips and Considerations

• Finding the Sweet Spot: Experiment with different voltage offsets to find the sweet spot where your system remains stable and temperatures are reduced. You may need to run multiple tests to find this point.
• Running Games for Stability: In addition to running the TS Bench test, you can also run games to check the stability of your undervolted settings. This ensures that the system remains stable under real-world conditions.
• Automating Throttlestop: To avoid manually opening Throttlestop each time you start your PC, you can set it to launch at Windows startup. This can be done using the Task Scheduler.

Common Issues and Solutions

• Locked FIVR Controls: If the "Unlock Adjustable Voltage" box is greyed out, you may need to unlock your CPU in the BIOS settings. Check your laptop's specific instructions for unlocking overclocking features.
• System Crashes: If your system crashes during testing, reboot and adjust the voltages back to a stable point. It's crucial to save stable voltages to avoid losing your settings.

By following these steps, you can effectively undervolt your CPU using Throttlestop, reducing temperatures and improving overall system performance and stability.