Processor performance fixed at 0.78 GHz; sudden peak in-game FPS reached 25, versus prior 80 locked rate.
Processor performance fixed at 0.78 GHz; sudden peak in-game FPS reached 25, versus prior 80 locked rate.
Hello. Brief overview of the issue: During gameplay, my FPS fluctuates between stable 80 and unstable 25-30 (maximum). My CPU reaches a cap at 0.78GHz, and in ThrottleStop settings I see two red warnings "BD PROCHOT". After more than an hour off and not using the machine, CPU performance improves to around 2.48GHz, even with only a browser open. In ThrottleStop it now shows just one red label without warning, suggesting normal FPS should return.
Long description: My Lenovo L340 Gaming laptop has recently begun showing sudden drops in FPS, rarely exceeding 25-30 while previously maintaining steady 80 FPS. Initially I thought a break would help; it did. But the problem persisted for the past few months. Recently, after a short gaming session (20 minutes), FPS dropped again. I found a YouTube video discussing possible causes and solutions. One comment suggested checking ThrottleStop settings—specifically disabling "BD PROCHOT"—as a potential fix. After reviewing the steps, I learned that the motherboard may be limiting CPU speed to protect it from overheating. Removing the warning label could allow higher performance. However, I’m cautious and want to ensure safety before making changes. I’m curious about the exact reason behind this behavior and how to safely adjust ThrottleStop settings. Also, I’m wondering if disconnecting the power for a while might resolve the issue.
@unclewebb might assist you. From my understanding, disabling BD PROCHOT on ThrottleStop is fine. I’ve kept it off on my T440p for years to avoid issues like getting stuck at 800MHz.
There was something inside your laptop that might have been affected during this incident. No forum member can assure you your device is completely safe if you turn off BD PROCHOT. My perspective is that your laptop is likely already compromised. A machine running at just 798 MHz could function if you’re mainly browsing YouTube cat videos. Anything more demanding would render it nearly useless. The situation described doesn’t seem to relate to CPU temperature; instead, BD PROCHOT can force the CPU to slow down regardless of heat. In short, BD PROCHOT throttling isn’t connected to how hot your processor gets. If your CPU ever overheats, it will still protect itself by throttling, even if you enable ThrottleStop. Most cases probably stem from a faulty sensor. These sensors are inexpensive and prone to failure right out of the box. Forcing your CPU down to 798 MHz under these circumstances isn’t needed. Intel likely designed this excessive slowdown as a safety measure so that if anything heats up, the system will reduce performance automatically. The exact triggers for BD PROCHOT throttling aren’t well documented online. After years of searching, I haven’t found any recent reports of serious issues after disabling it. If you’re worried about a potential disaster, avoid using ThrottleStop and let your laptop run normally. Consider checking reviews or forums for others’ experiences if you want more insight. It’s ultimately your device—make your own decision.
Thanks for your responses. I reviewed my chats and now it seems likely I encountered this issue a week prior before any water spilled on my laptop—it’s probably not related. I kept using the device until it started acting up again. I turned off BD PROCHOT due to temperature concerns, checked the temps frequently, and adjusted the voltage settings. The results didn’t match my expectations; instead of improving, things got worse. At some point, the max temperature reached around 89°C. Would that be a concern? It could easily exceed that. For now, waiting a week might help. A friend could inspect the thermal paste and clean the unit since this laptop hasn’t been serviced recently and my workspace is dusty.
Additional details: The first time it happened, I simply let it sit for 40 minutes after turning it off and it resolved. But now it’s happening more often, possibly because I’m running heavier games. Recently, my frame rate dropped to 20-30 FPS again. I closed the game and opened Task Manager to see the CPU at 100%, with a Windows service consuming all resources. That service was linked to performance issues for some users—it even suggested disabling it. I did disable it, and surprisingly, the game ran better. However, the problem reappeared. Now Task Manager shows RAM being heavily used by Rust. I emptied %temp% and tried closing low-consumption apps, but it fixed itself again. I’m unsure if the high RAM usage is the cause. Remember, the elevated temperature occurred while BD PROCHOT was off, and possibly during voltage adjustments. Tomorrow I’ll try the usual settings to see how high the temps get.
I rebooted my computer following the lockout at 0.78GHz. The lock was removed. I reopened Rust, but soon my mouse performance dropped significantly and became sluggish. Rust stopped functioning properly, and the maximum temperature reached was 95 degrees.