Game performance suffers due to significant CPU clock speed reductions.
Game performance suffers due to significant CPU clock speed reductions.
The Surface Pro is known for inadequate cooling. Microsoft built them to limit performance so they don’t overheat. If you push your CPU to its maximum rating, it can reach up to 90°C and begin throttling. Your power adapter might not supply full power, causing the computer to shut down. The positive side is that your system is operating at peak speed. You may need to reduce turbo limits slightly to prevent issues. Adjusting both PL1 and PL2 to around 25W could mean giving up some speed but help avoid overheating or shutdowns.
I used this with some prime95 tests but noticed some weird behavior. The task manager shows a clock speed of 1.5GHz, while ThrottleStop reports a different number. My temperatures are also spiking at around 3GHz when I previously ran close to 3.3GHz without issues. Thanks a lot for all the help so far—your support has been great!
Executing Prime95 with AVX-512 activated on a Surface Pro is extremely challenging. The cooling mechanisms and power supply of your device were never built to handle such demands. Focus on gaming instead. If you must use Prime95, consider using 2 or 4 threads rather than the full 8. Disable all AVX features. Intel engineered the Core i5-1035G4 to begin throttling when temperatures reach 100°C. ThrottleStop displays a red warning at 90°C. This indicates Microsoft has set a lower threshold—10°C below the official spec—to prevent overheating and maintain stability. This adjustment helps keep the overall unit temperature manageable. The PROCHOT Offset in ThrottleStop settings is likely around 10 degrees. If you don’t see the yellow lock near this value, modify it manually. Reducing the offset raises temperatures during throttling. Unless you have an external fan, this approach is risky. The CPU can withstand up to 100°C, but any weak component on the board may fail instantly. Even with a 10°C offset, the cooling system struggles, pushing temps toward 100°C. ThrottleStop monitors via Intel’s recommended method using high-performance timers, accurately tracking minor multiplier shifts. Most other tools like Task Manager or HWiNFO stop working under these conditions. The slight thread-by-thread variance reflects sequential sampling; exact parallel sampling isn’t feasible. Your display indicates a temperature of 99°C, signaling thermal throttling to protect the chip. ThrottleStop consistently shows all threads agreeing on a reduced multiplier—seven threads at 30.68 or 30.69, which is precise during shutdowns. Rely on ThrottleStop’s readings; Task Manager’s GHz values are unreliable. CPU usage graphs differ from actual utilization and often mislead. Raising power limits boosts heat output, accelerating wear. Setting limits near 25W is more sensible. Running at full capacity will continue to generate excessive heat, leading to overheating and potential damage. Prolonged high temps can also deteriorate thermal paste, further raising temperatures.