Capping overall CPU usage

[Barnack]

Hi,

Since it  can get really hot during summer where my computer is placed (no issues in winter), sometimes i'd prefer to cap hardware usage even if i lose some performance. (For instance, during winter i can play Warthunder with all settings maxed, during summer i've to keep it at ultra low quality)

 

During normal usage or gaming i don't have shutdown-level temperatures, it sits around 60-70 degrees; the problem is the case is under the desk, closed on 3 sides, and all the heat has to go through… me! and i hate heat 

I use a program named BES that allows to cap the cpu usage of a specific program when it comes to really heavy processes like a game made in java (starmade) or processing videos. Processing videos normally would 100% my cpu and the computer would shut down for thermal safety (during summer). With BES i cap it at around 50-60% normally.

 

Now my question is: is there a way to cap processor overall usage % (and secondly gpu but mainly processor) for the entire windows including all running programs? I tried going to power saving advanced options > processor power management > maximum processor state, and setting it to 30%. 

But if i start doing anything that requires cpu it doesn't seem to care about it and the total % cpu usage will go above 30% if it wants to. Processor speed doesn't decrease either. Right now (with power saver mode) i's floating between 3.7 and 4.1 GHz which i'd say is a bit unnecessary to run a web browser with nothing happening except me typing in this page...

[Stormseeker9]

Can’t you place it elsewhere where it has more airflow? Maybe point a fan at it

[WereCatf]

7 minutes ago, Barnack said:

I tried going to power saving advanced options > processor power management > maximum processor state, and setting it to 30%. 

But if i start doing anything that requires cpu it doesn't seem to care about it and the total % cpu usage will go above 30% if it wants to.

It doesn't cap CPU-usage, it caps CPU-speed. Also, that's exactly the way you should reduce the thermals; you lower the speed at which the CPU runs to make it run cooler, not how much of the CPU-time a process uses -- you've been approaching the problem entirely from the wrong end. To put it in other words: it does not matter if a process uses 100% of the CPU-resources, if the CPU run slower; you'll still get a cooler CPU.

 

So yes, go into the power-management settings and cap the maximum speed.

[Firewrath9]

What CPU? You could undervolt

[Barnack]

53 minutes ago, WereCatf said:

It doesn't cap CPU-usage, it caps CPU-speed. Also, that's exactly the way you should reduce the thermals; you lower the speed at which the CPU runs to make it run cooler, not how much of the CPU-time a process uses -- you've been approaching the problem entirely from the wrong end. To put it in other words: it does not matter if a process uses 100% of the CPU-resources, if the CPU run slower; you'll still get a cooler CPU.

 

So yes, go into the power-management settings and cap the maximum speed.

Capping cpu usage with BES solves the problem when it's about a single specific program requiring lots of resources.

I did set the maximum processor state to 30% instead of 100% the processor speed values reported by the task manager didn't change.

28 minutes ago, Firewrath9 said:

What CPU? You could undervolt

AMD FX-9590

I'd prefer to have an in-windows solution (without needing to pass through the bios) since sometimes i don't mind if it reaches 60ish degrees (mainly when i'm not sitting at the desk)

_________________________
Just to clarify, aside exceptional cases (video editing) temperature is fine for the computer, 45ish degrees with browser opened, 70ish degrees while gaming with 28-30 degrees both inside my house and outside. The problem is that i cant stand sitting in front of that heat bubble.

 

1 hour ago, Stormseeker9 said:

Can’t you place it elsewhere where it has more airflow? Maybe point a fan at it

My desk shape sucks.

[WereCatf]

4 minutes ago, Barnack said:

the processor speed values reported by the task manager didn't change.

That's a different problem. Try some other program, like e.g. cpu-z to see if it reports the correct change or not.

[Barnack]

1 minute ago, WereCatf said:

That's a different problem. Try some other program, like e.g. cpu-z to see if it reports the correct change or not.

Checked with OpenHardwareMonitor, cores reach 4716MHz, my CPU is rated for 4.7GHz so i guess the 30% setting is being utterly ignored.

[WereCatf]

1 minute ago, Barnack said:

Checked with OpenHardwareMonitor, cores reach 4716MHz, my CPU is rated for 4.7GHz so i guess the 30% setting is being utterly ignored.

Well, I ain't got any FX-processors, so I don't really know why the setting is being ignored. Maybe someone else could chime in.

[Firewrath9]

FX is pretty old (and god damn hot), undervolting can reduce temps but keep performance

[Barnack]

3 hours ago, Firewrath9 said:

FX is pretty old (and god damn hot), undervolting can reduce temps but keep performance

Yeah well unless you buy me an i9 with a compatible motherboard i'm stuck with that. I'll try undervolting it from bios settings