CPU runs faster with AC power connected
CPU runs faster with AC power connected
My HP Pavilion notebook features an i5 8th gen processor with an 8300H chipset and a base clock speed of 2.30 GHz. Recently, while checking Task Manager, I observed unusual spikes in the CPU speed reaching up to 4 GHz, even when the laptop wasn’t connected to charging or AC power. The utilization stayed low around 2%. After restoring the power management settings, the speeds returned to normal levels.
It's perfectly typical for a laptop to perform better with more power connected. This is just normal behavior.