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If you want to fix CPU throttling, start by finding out why the chip is slowing down — most of the time it is heat, a power limit or a wrong BIOS setting, and all three are fixable without buying new parts. Throttling is the CPU protecting itself, so the fix is usually about giving it cooler air or more power room.
What is CPU throttling?
Throttling is when your CPU deliberately runs slower than its rated speed to protect itself from heat or to stay within a power limit. You will notice it as stuttering in games, slow video rendering or a PC that feels fast when cold and slow after a few minutes. Our how to monitor CPU temperature guide shows you how to confirm it, and our CPU benchmarks explained guide shows how to measure the performance loss.
Cause 1: the CPU is too hot
Heat is the most common cause. When the CPU hits around 95 to 100 degrees, it throttles to cool down. Check the temperature first, then check the cooler: is the fan spinning? Is there dust in the heatsink? Is the thermal paste dried out? Our why is my CPU overheating guide covers the fixes, and if the fan is the problem, see our CPU fan not spinning guide. Replacing old thermal paste with our how to apply thermal paste correctly method often drops temperatures by 5 to 10 degrees.
Cause 2: the power limit is too low
Many laptops and prebuilt PCs set a low power limit for the CPU, which makes it throttle even when it is cool. In the BIOS, look for the power limits — often called PL1 and PL2 — and raise them a little, or set the CPU to its rated TDP. On Intel chips, the limit is often set by the motherboard rather than the chip, and a BIOS update can help. Our AM5 BIOS update guide explains BIOS updates, and our Intel 14th Gen stability update guide covers Intel’s power fixes. Do not raise the limits too far without better cooling, or you will just trade power throttling for heat throttling.
Cause 3: the cooler is not enough
A stock cooler can be fine for office work but too weak for a hot chip under load. If the temperatures are high even after cleaning, the cooler is the bottleneck. Our how to choose the right CPU cooler guide and our best CPU cooler for gaming guide can help you pick a better one, and our how to improve PC airflow guide shows how case airflow helps too. A better cooler is the most reliable long-term fix for thermal throttling.
Cause 4: the BIOS or drivers are wrong
Out-of-date BIOS or chipset drivers can cause throttling for no clear reason. Update the chipset driver with our how to update CPU drivers in Windows guide, and check the BIOS version against the board maker’s website. If you overclocked the chip, a bad overclock can also cause throttling — see our how to fix an unstable overclock guide and our overclocking vs undervolting guide. Undervolting is often the best trick for laptops: it lowers heat without losing speed.
How to test if the fix worked
Run a benchmark before and after the fix with our how to benchmark your CPU guide and our best CPU benchmark software guide. If the score goes up and the temperature stays below 90 degrees, the throttling is fixed. If it still throttles, the chip may simply be too weak for the workload — see our best desktop CPU in 2026 guide.
The bottom line
To fix CPU throttling, cool the chip down, check the power limits and update the drivers and BIOS. In most cases the fix is cleaning, fresh paste or a better cooler — not a new CPU. For more help, browse our troubleshooting tips and our cooling and thermals guides.
