the cpu performance drops significantly below the base frequency during gameplay
the cpu performance drops significantly below the base frequency during gameplay
Laptop details: Intel i7-10510U, 1.80 GHz, MX250, 16 GB RAM. On Dell Inspiron 14. When playing games like Valorant, frames drop below 10 and lag occurs. CPU shows 0.39 GHz (399 MHz). GPU seems okay but performance drops. Need troubleshooting steps.
Yes, that’s likely thermal throttling. It’s good to clear out the dust.
Normal Intel thermal throttling doesn’t keep the CPU running at 400 MHz forever. It only reduces speed as required. Check HWiNFO for throttling information—power limit restrictions are common. Some Dell laptops cap turbo power at 5W or less, which makes the CPU run at its lowest speed, 400 MHz. There’s no fix available. A customer recently asked Dell about this issue. The representative said it’s intentional and not a problem, so they won’t release a BIOS patch to address it. If you need alternatives, consider buying elsewhere next time.