Laptop CPU runs at 4GHz even when idle, while plugged in

Question

When I use my Windows 10 laptop while plugged in, my CPU continuously runs at 4GHz, even when idle, causing the laptop to get hot and the fans to ramp up, but on battery power, the CPU's clock speed is regulated fine and it doesn't run at 4GHz continuous and overheat.

How can I get my CPU to run properly while charging?

I have tried editing power usage options (while plugged in) by left-clicking the battery icon, and I have set power plan to balanced.

Have you set your Power Management to High Performanced? – LPChip Oct 02 '20 at 13:41 — LPChip, Oct 02 '20 at 13:41
Power management is set to balanced. – Virtuality Oct 02 '20 at 13:42 — Virtuality, Oct 02 '20 at 13:42
@Mokubai Still not sure what the problem is – Virtuality Oct 02 '20 at 14:04 — Virtuality, Oct 02 '20 at 14:04

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 02 '20 at 14:56

1

Go into the BIOS and check the CPU's C-States. You want them to be enabled in order to let the CPU "relax" under light workloads.

Since Windows doesn't have much control over your hardware (most of the time) these kinds of problems should be addressed directly at the BIOS level.

answered Oct 02 '20 at 14:56

Rafael de Bem

138

I do not have this option in the BIOS – Virtuality Oct 02 '20 at 16:25
what's your laptop's make and model? – Rafael de Bem Oct 02 '20 at 18:05
HP ENVY 15-ep0500na – Virtuality Oct 02 '20 at 18:14
Have you tried resetting the BIOS to its factory defaults? – Rafael de Bem Oct 02 '20 at 18:31

Laptop CPU runs at 4GHz even when idle, while plugged in

1 Answers1