Enable Processor Boost Mode Control in Advanced Power Settings

processor-boost-mode.md

Enable Processor Boost Mode Control in Windows

Disable Turbo Boost to Reduce Power Consumption and Heat

Why Do We Need It?

If your laptop’s CPU is running very hot and you’ve tried to undervolt it, you’ve probably discovered there’s no easy way to do so—especially on laptops whose BIOS doesn’t expose those controls. I ran into the same issue with my Ryzen 7 5800H, despite numerous attempts, I couldn’t undervolt because the firmware simply wouldn’t allow it. While it may seem drastic, disabling Turbo Boost is one workaround—and you might be surprised how little real-world performance you lose by turning it off.

Why Tweak CPU Boost?

• Heat & Noise: Aggressive boosting spins fans faster and raises CPU temperatures, often causing thermal throttling and fan noise spikes.
• Battery Life: Reducing boost levels directly cuts power draw, extending unplugged runtime.
• Workload Fit: GPU-bound games or lightweight tasks rarely need max CPU frequency, so limiting boost can be unnoticeable in practice.
• Fine-Grained Control: Beyond the basic Enabled/Disabled options, Windows offers efficiency-focused and calculated-boost modes—some only visible after the registry tweak.

Quick Registry Hack to Reveal Boost Modes

1. Open Registry Editor: Press Win+R, type regedit, and click OK. (Be careful in the registry!)
2. Navigate to the Path: In the top bar of the Registry Editor, paste:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\54533251-82be-4824-96c1-47b60b740d00\be337238-0d82-4146-a960-4f3749d470c7

3. Modify Attributes: Find Attributes on the right side, double-click it, and change its value from 1 to 2.

Now, you can control the mode:

1. Search for Edit Power Plan in Windows search and open it.
2. Click Change advanced power settings.
3. Expand Processor power management, then expand Processor Performance Boost Mode.
4. You can now choose different STATE/MODE for On Battery and Plugged in.

Processor Performance Boost Modes

Classic Modes

Mode	Simplified Effect	Use Case
Disabled	No boost—CPU stays at base frequency.	Laptops seeking max battery life & low heat.
Enabled	Standard boost—OS-managed boost when needed.	Everyday use with balanced performance.
Aggressive	Boosts readily to max frequencies, regardless of power draw.	Demanding workloads on well-cooled rigs.
Efficient Enabled	Boosts but favors energy efficiency over raw speed.	Laptops needing mild boost without heat.
Efficient Aggressive	Prioritizes efficiency but still seeks higher boost levels.	Mixed-use systems wanting more boost safely.

At Guaranteed Variants

Guaranteed performance level = the CPU’s nominal base frequency.

Mode	Simplified Effect	Use Case
Aggressive At Guaranteed	Requests a calculated extra boost above the base frequency for a precise jump.	When you want controlled high boost.
Efficient Aggressive At Guaranteed	Same precise boost above base, but with efficiency constraints to limit power usage.	Modern systems needing strong boost with better power.

Which Mode Is Best for You?

• Ultra-quiet/cool laptops: Start with Disabled, then step up to Efficient Enabled if performance lags.
• Balanced desktop/laptop: Enabled or Efficient Aggressive At Guaranteed offers strong performance with decent power control.
• Max-performance rigs: Use Aggressive or Aggressive At Guaranteed —just keep an eye on thermals.

A Friendly Advice

While tweaking these settings can be very beneficial, always make changes one at a time and observe your system's stability, temperatures, and performance.

I really appreciate it. You've been a huge help!

Kinda new to this stuff..
I have R7 7840HS while playing PUBG with Aggressive setting my cpu hits 100 all the time while not even boosting to 5.1Ghz (around 4.5Ghz) also I just changed the thermal paste with thermal grizzly duronaut.
I tried every setting there efficient or guaranteed doesn’t matter for me. (Maybe the reason for that I changed the value in the registry to 2 instead of 0 (other sources said change it to 0) idk.)
Now it’s disabled and my cpu temps at 67C MAX while running at 3.8Ghz. I can’t believe it, the fps dropped 10-20 I think.

To anyone who reads this I suggest you to look up your cpu specs. If base clock speed is lower than 2.0Ghz I think you shouldn’t disable it(you will get stutters and low performance) mine is at 3.8Ghz and works like charm. This wont be always true based on which cpu you have mobile or desktop chip or U-HX.
Thanks for the article.

while playing PUBG

@alkandavut You'll need to adjust other settings to ensure this one takes effect.
What many people may not realize is that the difference in actual performance isn't significant unless specific conditions are met — only then will you likely notice any variation.
Additionally, your CPU consistently running at full capacity or overloaded isn't a Windows setting issue, but rather a problem with the game you're playing.

while playing PUBG

@alkandavut You'll need to adjust other settings to ensure this one takes effect. What many people may not realize is that the difference in actual performance isn't significant unless specific conditions are met — only then will you likely notice any variation. Additionally, your CPU consistently running at full capacity or overloaded isn't a Windows setting issue, but rather a problem with the game you're playing.

I was talking about temperature of the cpu.
It was 100C all day while playing PUBG at its competitive settings. Very low with 2 ultra settings.
I played a lot more and tested cinebench single core and multi core I only lost 100-200 points with it disabled. I rather have much cooler cpu than a boiling one. I suggest everyone who uses laptop to try this things.

I rather have much cooler cpu than a boiling one.

Yes, this is the simplest and most direct method to limit CPU heat generation.
However, I do not recommend that most laptop users disable this feature. Most laptop models have CPUs with very low base frequencies to conserve power and limit heat. Daily use rarely causes the CPU to remain at full load for extended periods.
Instead, slow performance can lead to a backlog of computational tasks, forcing the CPU to operate at its base frequency under sustained load — which actually makes heat buildup more likely. Short bursts of high heat may buy longer periods of low load, and these extended low-load periods are more beneficial for overall thermal management.

This is the original design intent of boost mode.