how to turn off turbo boost gaming laptop?

Turning off Turbo Boost on a gaming laptop can be beneficial if you want to reduce temperatures or extend battery life, especially when you're trying to minimize heat generation during long gaming sessions. However, keep in mind that disabling Turbo Boost will reduce peak performance, as it prevents the CPU from automatically increasing its clock speed beyond its base frequency under heavy load.

What is Turbo Boost?

Intel Turbo Boost (for Intel CPUs) or Precision Boost (for AMD CPUs) allows a processor to automatically increase its clock speed above its base frequency when extra performance is needed, such as during gaming or heavy tasks. While this helps improve performance, it also generates more heat, which can lead to thermal throttling if the cooling system can't keep up.

How to Turn Off Turbo Boost (Intel CPUs)

1. Through the BIOS/UEFI (Basic Input/Output System):

   • Step 1: Restart your laptop and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings. The exact key varies by manufacturer, but typically you press one of these during boot-up: F2, Delete, Esc, or F12.
   • Step 2: Look for the CPU Settings or Advanced Settings tab in the BIOS/UEFI.
   • Step 3: Find the Intel Turbo Boost Technology option.
   • Step 4: Disable Intel Turbo Boost by setting it to Disabled.
   • Step 5: Save changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI.

2. Using Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel XTU):

   • Step 1: Download and install Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU) from Intel’s official website.
   • Step 2: Open Intel XTU and locate the Turbo Boost section.
   • Step 3: Find the option to disable Turbo Boost or set the CPU multiplier to the base clock speed. You may also be able to adjust the power settings here.
   • Step 4: Apply the changes and restart your laptop.

3. Using Windows Power Settings:

   • Step 1: Open the Control Panel and navigate to Power Options.
   • Step 2: Select your power plan (typically "Balanced" or "High Performance").
   • Step 3: Click on Change plan settings next to your selected plan.
   • Step 4: Click Change advanced power settings.
   • Step 5: Scroll down to Processor Power Management and click the + icon to expand it.
   • Step 6: Under Maximum Processor State, set it to 99% (instead of 100%). This prevents the CPU from reaching its maximum turbo frequency.
   • Step 7: Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

4. Using ThrottleStop (Advanced Option):

   • ThrottleStop is a third-party tool that allows you to manage CPU performance, including turning off Turbo Boost.
   • Step 1: Download ThrottleStop from the official website.
   • Step 2: Open the program and look for the Turbo Boost option.
   • Step 3: Check the box that says Disable Turbo Boost.
   • Step 4: Click Save to apply the settings.

How to Turn Off Turbo Boost (AMD CPUs)

1. Through the BIOS/UEFI (for AMD Ryzen CPUs):

   • Step 1: Restart your laptop and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings by pressing the appropriate key (usually F2, Delete, or Esc).
   • Step 2: Go to the Advanced or Overclocking tab.
   • Step 3: Look for an option related to Precision Boost or Boost Mode. The exact terminology may vary depending on the manufacturer.
   • Step 4: Disable the option that enables Precision Boost.
   • Step 5: Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI.

2. Using AMD Ryzen Master (for AMD Ryzen CPUs):

   • Step 1: Download and install AMD Ryzen Master from the official AMD website.
   • Step 2: Open Ryzen Master and look for the option to adjust CPU frequencies and voltages.
   • Step 3: Set the CPU multiplier to a lower value that matches the base clock, effectively disabling Precision Boost.
   • Step 4: Apply the settings.

3. Windows Power Settings (for AMD CPUs):

   • Step 1: Open the Control Panel and go to Power Options.
   • Step 2: Select the power plan you are using and click Change plan settings.
   • Step 3: Click Change advanced power settings.
   • Step 4: Under Processor Power Management, reduce the Maximum Processor State to 99% (similar to Intel CPUs).
   • Step 5: Apply and save the changes.

Does Turning Off Turbo Boost Impact Performance?

• Yes, it will. Turning off Turbo Boost will prevent the CPU from reaching its maximum clock speed, which means the processor won’t be able to perform as well during high-load tasks like gaming.
• In gaming: Depending on the game, the CPU may not need the boost to perform well, but in CPU-intensive games, you could see a drop in frame rates or overall performance.
• In everyday tasks: For general productivity or lighter tasks, the performance difference may be negligible, but gaming or more demanding applications will definitely suffer.

When Is It Worth Turning Off Turbo Boost?

• If You're Experiencing Overheating: If your laptop’s cooling system can’t keep up with the heat generated by Turbo Boost, turning it off may help lower temperatures and prevent thermal throttling.

• For Battery Life: Disabling Turbo Boost can reduce the CPU's power consumption, which could extend battery life, especially if you're gaming on battery or running the laptop unplugged.

• For Quieter Operation: When Turbo Boost is active, it causes more heat, leading to louder fan noise. Disabling it can help reduce fan noise and make the system quieter.

Conclusion:

Turning off Turbo Boost can help with temperature management, noise levels, and battery life, but it will come at the cost of some performance. If you want to game at the highest settings, you’re better off leaving Turbo Boost enabled. However, if you’re gaming in a more controlled environment and want to reduce heat and improve system stability, disabling Turbo Boost can be a good strategy.