Steam Throttling CPU :: Hardware and Operating Systems

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Eeyore Mar 14, 2020 @ 8:17am

Steam Throttling CPU

I have an i7-7700k and I have it set to run at 4.2 GHZ, and it'll do this perfectly fine. As soon as I load up steam it dips to 3.0 GHZ, and when I launch a game it drops to 2.0 GHZ. When both are closed it will resume the set speed. How do I fix this?

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Showing 1-15 of 17 comments

nullable Mar 14, 2020 @ 8:24am

This is not something Steam is doing, it doesn't have that kind of control over the system. I am thinking you just don't understand how speed-stepping works, and feel like you can micromanage it better than the computer can.

Because my question is this. Outside of you not liking the idea of the CPU clock being variable, are you actually having any performance issues? If you're playing a demanding game are you being limited to 2.0ghz? Or does the CPU scale up in game?

Last edited by nullable; Mar 14, 2020 @ 8:25am

Washell Mar 14, 2020 @ 9:36am

What's the temperature doing during all these shenanigans?

Eeyore Mar 14, 2020 @ 9:36am

I'm complaining about it because there is a problem. I'm trying to play rainbow six siege and the fps cant keep up with what it could even a week or two ago. The game runs at about 90 fps when I'm not in a discord call and then goes to 70 when I am. Before I could easily hit 140 or 150 while in a discord call.

Eeyore Mar 14, 2020 @ 9:37am

Originally posted by Washell:
What's the temperature doing during all these shenanigans?

The temperature isnt anything high. It will do this no matter when I launch steam, which is usually when I boot it up from when I go on my pc.

Omega Mar 14, 2020 @ 9:39am

The CPU will clock up and down depending on the workload to reduce power usage and heat output.

2GHz while gaming is quite low, make sure the CPU is not overheating. Check the CPU temperature with a tool such as HWmonitor.

Bad 💀 Motha Mar 14, 2020 @ 9:42am

No its how your PC is configured.

You'd need to disable Intel SpeedStep and the various C-states (like C1E) in the bios and set Windows Power Options to High Performance to not have the clocks drop as it's normally going to do otherwise. If they still drop, your cpu is throttling and it's not caused by apps alone but your overall cooling, fan curves, etc.

Run Prime95 small FFTs loop test for 30 mins and see what is the max temp *C your cpu reaches. Use HWMONITOR for that.

Last edited by Bad 💀 Motha; Mar 14, 2020 @ 9:43am

Eeyore Mar 14, 2020 @ 10:07am

Originally posted by Omega:
The CPU will clock up and down depending on the workload to reduce power usage and heat output.

2GHz while gaming is quite low, make sure the CPU is not overheating. Check the CPU temperature with a tool such as HWmonitor.

I took the cpu cooler off to check if it was filled with dust or anything or the cpu/cooler felt hot cause the air around it didnt. According to the program its 90 degrees but it is not physically hot at all.

Omega Mar 14, 2020 @ 10:14am

Originally posted by Eeyore:
Originally posted by Omega:
The CPU will clock up and down depending on the workload to reduce power usage and heat output.

2GHz while gaming is quite low, make sure the CPU is not overheating. Check the CPU temperature with a tool such as HWmonitor.
I took the cpu cooler off to check if it was filled with dust or anything or the cpu/cooler felt hot cause the air around it didnt. According to the program its 90 degrees but it is not physically hot at all.

90 celcius while doing what? Sitting on the desktop or gaming?

The i7 will start throttling around 90c.

Last edited by Omega; Mar 14, 2020 @ 10:14am

nullable Mar 14, 2020 @ 10:16am

Originally posted by Eeyore:
Originally posted by Omega:
The CPU will clock up and down depending on the workload to reduce power usage and heat output.

2GHz while gaming is quite low, make sure the CPU is not overheating. Check the CPU temperature with a tool such as HWmonitor.
I took the cpu cooler off to check if it was filled with dust or anything or the cpu/cooler felt hot cause the air around it didnt. According to the program its 90 degrees but it is not physically hot at all.

Well the heatsink does dissipate heat fairly rapidly, so your disassembled touch test isn't going to be very accurate, you're making too many assumptions. And 90c would cause throttling under load. And the actual CPU part is pretty small. Only a tiny part is 90c, so you're not exactly going to feel that in the air or ever cubic mm of the heatsink.

But it sounds like resenting the CPU cooler with some new thermal paste may provide the solution.

Also this contradicts your earlier answer about your temps not being anything high. One reason you should respond to questions with specifics and not vagueness or guesses.

Last edited by nullable; Mar 14, 2020 @ 10:18am

Eeyore Mar 14, 2020 @ 10:16am

Originally posted by Omega:
Originally posted by Eeyore:
I took the cpu cooler off to check if it was filled with dust or anything or the cpu/cooler felt hot cause the air around it didnt. According to the program its 90 degrees but it is not physically hot at all.
90 celcius while doing what? Sitting on the desktop or gaming?

The i7 will start throttling around 90c.

When I close siege thatd what it was on, but like I said, it didnt physically feel hot.
I need to walk away for a minute cause I'm just stressing out a lot.

#10

nullable Mar 14, 2020 @ 10:17am

Originally posted by Eeyore:
Originally posted by Omega:
90 celcius while doing what? Sitting on the desktop or gaming?

The i7 will start throttling around 90c.
When I close siege thatd what it was on, but like I said, it didnt physically feel hot.
I need to walk away for a minute cause I'm just stressing out a lot.

So what you're saying is think your finger tips are better sensors than the sensors in the CPU?

#11

Omega Mar 14, 2020 @ 10:17am

Originally posted by Eeyore:
Originally posted by Omega:
90 celcius while doing what? Sitting on the desktop or gaming?

The i7 will start throttling around 90c.
When I close siege thatd what it was on, but like I said, it didnt physically feel hot.
I need to walk away for a minute cause I'm just stressing out a lot.

It doesn't matter how it feels, it matters what the software is saying.

90c = too hot.

Remove the cooler, clean everything, reaply thermal paste. What cooler do you have anyway?

#12

Bad 💀 Motha Mar 14, 2020 @ 10:27am

Originally posted by Eeyore:
Originally posted by Omega:
90 celcius while doing what? Sitting on the desktop or gaming?

The i7 will start throttling around 90c.
When I close siege thatd what it was on, but like I said, it didnt physically feel hot.
I need to walk away for a minute cause I'm just stressing out a lot.

It doesn't have to feel hot. If it says 90*C that's too hot. That's at the cpu cores. Just cause the cooler or socket doesn't feel hot doesn't mean it is not. The sensors are what matters, not what you can feel with your hands

#13