Under load my laptop throttles itself
Thermal throttling: the CPU lowers its own clock to prevent heat damage. You feel it as 'suddenly slow during heavy work'.
Try this first
- 1Test with a free tool like HWMonitor or the Windows Game Bar (Win+G). Does CPU temp rise above 95 C? Then it is throttling.
- 2Do not work on a duvet or cushion. Lift the laptop on a stand so air can flow underneath.
- 3Dust in the vents. Compressed air through the grilles, older than two years is nearly guaranteed worth it.
- 4Power plan on 'Best performance'? Try 'Balanced' during video calls; less heat, often equally workable.
When to bring us in
Throttling on a new laptop is not normal. Claim it under warranty with the vendor; we handle that for you on a Managed contract.
See also
- My laptop is suddenly slowThree main suspects: a runaway background process, near-full disk, or a Windows update in progress.
- One specific application is slow for everyoneIf an app is slow for one person: local. For everyone at once: server side or vendor side.
- Opening files from the file server takes minutesOften the server itself is fine and the issue is network routing or stalling DNS resolution.
None of the above fits?
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