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.

• Guaranteed

So does anyone know what "guaranteed" means? What's the difference between these options?

I've rewrite the article and added explanations for guaranteed variants, hope it helps.

Thank you for making this. My 5950x was constantly boosting across all cores even in Balanced, so this helped.

There are now two more options:

• Aggressive At Guaranteed
• Efficient Aggressive At Guaranteed

Thanks for pointing it out. I've added information about them as well. It's been so long last time I open this; I forgot completely about it.

• Guaranteed

So does anyone know what "guaranteed" means? What's the difference between these options?

I've rewrite the article and added explanations for guaranteed variants, hope it helps.

Thank you very much! It really helps!

You are the greatest person of all time. Although I have a 2024 laptop this thing turns into a jet, but no longer.