Official download page: ThrottleStop
What is ThrottleStop
ThrottleStop was originally designed to deal with the temperature wall in laptops and to adjust CPU clock speeds.
But it’s not just a tool for removing the temperature wall — it can also be used to juice up the CPU (overclocking; a godsend for old machines) or to bleed it (underclocking).
Why underclock the CPU? After underclocking, you can double the battery life. For example, during online classes, my laptop lasted about two hours without TS; after locking it to 1GHz, the battery life reached 4–5 hours. Low, sure, but more than enough for online classes.
ThrottleStop Configuration
The first red box at the top left selects the configuration profile. The software ships with 4 profiles by default:
- Performance
- Game
- Internet
- Battery
Usage is exactly as the names suggest (no kidding)
Red box at the bottom left, let’s first cover the functions of the first column
Clock Modulation and Chipset Clock Modulation — these two options are useful for somewhat older CPUs, but we don’t need them.. Don’t check them!
Set Multiplier — sets the multiplier; setting it to default+1 is fine Optional
Speed Shift EPP — very useful! See the number on the left? It’s editable! (Surprise!) Take a value from 0-255: the closer to 0, the higher the performance; the closer to 255, the more power-efficient (and lower performance)
Power Saver — requires checking Disable Turbo. This option ensures the lowest idle frequency to reduce power draw. It’s not very useful on newer processors, since modern processors have new techniques to reduce idle power. Not recommended for processors newer than Core 2. Up to you, but generally not checked
Disable Turbo — disables turbo boost. Nothing much to say. Best not to check this on modern processors (your base frequency is only 2GHz+)
BD PROCHOT — extremely, extremely important and useful When the temperature reaches a certain value, it reduces power. This is the so-called temperature wall. (Enabled by default) Turn it off if you have to, but it’s not recommended !!! If you turn it off without other measures, the CPU won’t be able to throttle down on its own and will force a shutdown at 100°C !!!
Taskbar — minimize to the taskbar Turn it off!!! So annoying
Log File — enable logging Generally not checked (pros check it)
Stop/Start Data — stops or starts the data recording of the table on the right.
SpeedStep — also an old relic, no need to check it; it has been replaced by Speed Shift EPP (unless you’re a relic too) Check it if you don’t have Speed Shift EPP
C1E — a mystical option, checked by default Since it’s checked by default, just leave it alone
On Top — keeps ThrottleStop always on top (not obscured by other windows). Only check it when debugging
More Data — increases the update rate of the data table on the right, from once per second to eight times per second. Usually not needed
Save — saves the current settings to the ini file. Remember to press it after making changes
The red box at the top right shows your CPU data
- VID is the current voltage
- Multiplier x base frequency
- Your current CPU frequency (the result of line 2)
Figure out that table on your own
The un-boxed area at the bottom right Pkg/Min/Max Power — current/minimum/maximum recorded power.
Limits — shows the reasons for Core/GPU/Ring throttling
FIVR and TPL will be used in a moment
BCLK — re-reads and calibrates the base clock reading
C7s C-STATE
DTS/Temp — switches the temperature display mode DTS is the temperature distance to CPUTJMAX; TEMP is the current temperature (CPUTJMAX-DTS)
CLR — clears the data
Options
Open the Options button below
Profile Names — names the profiles
Notification Area — sets what is shown in the tray It’s recommended to check CPU Temp here
Alarm — sets temperature alarms; DTS and TEMP were covered above
AC profile — configuration when plugged in
Battery profile — configuration when on battery.
Low Battery% — remaining battery percentage
Low Battery profile — which profile to use once the percentage above is reached
Do Not reset FID/VID on exit — don’t let TS restore settings on exit Recommended
Battery Monitoring — shows remaining battery on the main interface
AC-On, Battery-Off — self-explanatory
Start Minimized — starts minimized Recommended
Minimize on Close Recommended
Add Limits Reason to Log File — records the limits reason in the log
Table Grid Lines — shows grid lines in the main data table
MHz Min — displays data with MHz as the smallest unit.
Nvidia GPU/AMD GPU — check whichever you use
Start dual IDA — old technology, don’t check
DC exit time — automatically closes TS a few seconds after switching to battery
Timer Resolution — timer interval.
AC Timer Res — AC timer interval.
Power Save C0% — adjusts the sensitivity of the Power Saver option
Force TDP/TDC unknown If anyone knows, please tell me in the comments. Thanks.
Run Program After Profile Change — specifies third-party programs to run before or after switching to a profile
Log Folder — log file path
Hotkeys — sets various hotkeys, e.g. switching profiles
Defaults — restores default settings
FIVR (The most important part)
Let’s go straight to the middle row; skip the left side.
FIVR CONTROL at the top is easy to understand — it selects which component, and you adjust it via the XXX Voltage below.
XXX Voltage is the key. To keep you from messing things up blindly, there’s even an “Unlock Adjustable Voltage” that must be clicked before you can modify the settings below.
Be careful not to touch that STATIC!
Don’t touch that Voltage.
Look at Offset Voltage — Range controls your adjustment range; left lowers the voltage, right raises it.
IccMax unknown If anyone knows, please tell me in the comments. Thanks.
The right column — the table at the top should be self-explanatory.
Disable and Lock Tur bo Power Limits on the Memory row requires another piece of software to work; not needed for undervolting.
Cache Radio — sets the cache multiplier range.
PowerCut — similar to modifying IMON Slope/offset in the BIOS, exceeding the power limits of certain processors through fake power readings.
VR Faults/VR Efficiency Mode — look it up yourself (too lazy to write) (anyway not needed for undervolting)
Save Voltages Changes to ThrottleStop.INI — Option 1: don’t save voltage settings. Option 2: save on close. Option 3: save immediately.
TPL
Tur bo Boost Long Power Max — maximum long-term power
Tur bo Boost Short Power Max — maximum short-term power
Lock — locks these two values in the registers to prevent software or the system from modifying them. If you need to unlock them later, follow the uninstall-and-reset procedure above. Clamp — when checked, this setting is always enforced; when unchecked, it only takes effect during turbo boost. For example, a CPU with a 3.4G base frequency that still exceeds the given power limit at 3.4G (e.g. during heavy AVX computation): with Clamp checked, the CPU is forced to keep throttling down until it meets the power limit; without it, it won’t.
PP0 — this is the PL4 setting
C7s
C10 — sets the C-states for the four 1-4 configurations respectively. C0 is the highest-performance state; basically, the larger the number, the more power saved, and correspondingly the longer it takes to return to C0. Adjusting these options can save power and lower idle temperature, or conversely raise idle temperature and consume more power in exchange for higher performance.