How to Fix PC Thermal Throttling Issues in 2024

If you want to know how to fix thermal throttling on a PC, the fastest route is to confirm temperatures with monitoring software, clean out dust, improve case airflow, adjust fan curves, and replace dried thermal paste if needed. If that still does not work, undervolting or upgrading your CPU cooler, case fans, or GPU cooling can stop performance drops and keep clock speeds stable.

TL;DR: Thermal throttling happens when your CPU, GPU, or SSD gets too hot and automatically slows down to protect itself. In most cases, you can fix it by checking temps in HWInfo64 or MSI Afterburner, cleaning the PC, improving airflow, increasing fan speeds, and repasting older components. Based on our testing at ThrmlMstc, dust buildup, weak airflow, and ageing thermal paste are the most common causes in UK homes.

You’re in the middle of a high-stakes match in Call of Duty or rendering a complex 4K video project when, suddenly, your frame rate plummets. Your PC sounds like a jet engine taking off from Heathrow, and the stuttering makes the system almost unusable. If this sounds familiar, your system is likely suffering from thermal throttling.

In the UK, as we see more frequent summer heatwaves and increasingly power-hungry components like the NVIDIA RTX 40-series and Intel’s 14th Gen processors, managing heat has become a critical skill for any enthusiast. Therefore, this guide provides a practical, to diagnosing and fixing thermal throttling so your hardware can deliver the performance you paid for.

What is thermal throttling on a PC?

Thermal throttling is a built-in protection feature in modern CPUs, GPUs, and even SSDs. When a component reaches its maximum safe operating temperature, it automatically lowers clock speed and power draw to reduce heat. As a result, your PC stays protected, but performance drops.

In simple terms, thermal throttling is your hardware choosing to slow down rather than overheat. Although that prevents damage, it can cause low frame rates, stuttering, longer render times, and inconsistent system behaviour.

What are the common signs of thermal throttling?

The most common symptoms UK users report include:

• Sudden FPS drops: Especially during gaming after 10 to 30 minutes of load.
• Micro-stuttering: Brief, repeated freezes even when average FPS looks acceptable.
• Loud fans: The system ramps up cooling but still cannot keep temperatures under control.
• Lower CPU or GPU clock speeds: Performance dips once temperatures hit the throttle point.
• Blue Screen of Death (BSOD): In more severe overheating cases.
• PC shutting down when hot: A protective shutdown to avoid hardware damage.
• Slower exports or compile times: Creative and productivity workloads can take far longer than normal.

It is important to note that modern chips are designed to run hot. For example, Intel’s 13th and 14th Gen i9 processors can boost until they approach 100°C. However, if performance falls sharply at those temperatures, your system is throttling rather than simply running warm. For a deeper dive into component temperatures, see our Ultimate Guide to PC Cooling & Thermal Management UK.

How do you check if your PC is thermal throttling?

Before opening your case or buying new parts, you need evidence. The easiest way to diagnose thermal throttling is to monitor temperature, clock speed, and power behaviour during the exact task that causes slowdowns.

Based on our testing at ThrmlMstc, the clearest sign is a pattern where temperatures rise, clock speeds fall, and performance drops at the same time. Therefore, monitoring software should always be your first step.

Which free tools are best for checking PC temperatures?

In the UK PC community, these tools are widely trusted for accuracy and ease of use:

1. HWInfo64

HWInfo64 is one of the best tools for diagnosing thermal issues. It can show CPU package temperatures, per-core readings, GPU hotspot temperatures, motherboard sensors, and, importantly, a specific Thermal Throttling flag on supported hardware. If that flag shows Yes, you have confirmed the problem.

2. MSI Afterburner

MSI Afterburner is ideal for gaming because its on-screen display lets you watch GPU temperature, usage, clock speed, and fan speed in real time. If your GPU clock drops as temperature climbs towards the low-80s, poor airflow or insufficient cooling is usually the cause.

3. Core Temp

Core Temp is a lighter option if you mainly want CPU readings. It is simple, fast, and useful for checking whether one or two cores are hitting thermal limits first.

What temperatures are too high for a CPU or GPU?

Although safe limits vary by model, a general rule is that sustained CPU temperatures in the mid-to-high 90s and GPU temperatures in the 80s may trigger throttling. Hotspot temperatures can be even higher. Always check the official specifications for your exact hardware.

According to UK electrical safety guidance, good ventilation around electronic equipment matters, particularly during warm weather and in enclosed spaces. So, if your PC sits in a cabinet, under a desk with blocked vents, or near a radiator, ambient conditions may be making throttling worse.

How can you fix thermal throttling without buying new parts?

You do not always need to spend money to solve overheating. In fact, many systems throttle because of poor maintenance or conservative default settings rather than a lack of raw cooling hardware.

Should you clean dust out of your PC?

Yes. Dust is one of the biggest causes of thermal throttling, especially in UK homes with carpets, pets, or older properties that collect more airborne particles. Dust clogs heatsinks, blocks fan blades, and reduces airflow through filters and mesh panels.

First, switch off the PC, unplug it, and use compressed air to clean case filters, heatsinks, radiators, and fans. Then check whether intake vents are blocked by walls, furniture, or cables. In many cases, this alone can reduce temperatures noticeably.

Can adjusting fan curves stop thermal throttling?

Yes, often it can. Many motherboards and GPU utilities are tuned for quiet operation, which means fans may not ramp up aggressively enough under load. Therefore, a custom fan curve can provide extra thermal headroom before throttling begins.

For example, if your fans are only reaching 50% speed at 80°C, raising them to 75% or 100% at that point may keep temperatures below the throttle threshold. You will get more noise, but you may also regain stable performance.

Does undervolting help with thermal throttling?

Yes, undervolting can be one of the most effective fixes. Undervolting reduces the voltage supplied to a CPU or GPU while aiming to keep similar performance. As a result, the component produces less heat and often sustains boost clocks for longer.

Based on our testing at ThrmlMstc and wider industry benchmarking, sensible undervolting can cut temperatures significantly without a noticeable performance penalty. This is especially useful in compact UK small-form-factor builds where airflow is naturally limited.

"Undervolting is one of the best-value ways to reduce heat. In sustained workloads, lower voltage often means lower temperatures, less fan noise, and more stable boost behaviour." — ThrmlMstc Engineering Team

What hardware fixes stop PC thermal throttling?

If software changes and cleaning do not solve the problem, it is time to inspect the physical cooling setup. In older systems, the root cause is often a worn thermal interface, weak airflow path, or an undersized cooler.

Should you replace thermal paste?

Yes, especially if your PC is more than two to three years old or has been running hot for a long time. Thermal paste gradually dries out and becomes less effective at transferring heat from the CPU or GPU to the cooler.

Replacing old paste with a quality compound can lower temperatures immediately. If you are unsure how to do it safely, follow our guide on how to apply thermal paste to your CPU safely.

How do you improve case airflow?

Good airflow is about direction as much as fan count. Ideally, cool air should enter from the front or bottom and warm air should leave through the rear or top. Slightly positive pressure, meaning a bit more intake than exhaust, can also help reduce dust entering through unfiltered gaps.

Additionally, tidy cable routing matters. Loose cables can create stagnant pockets of warm air around the GPU, CPU tower cooler, or motherboard VRMs. Therefore, even basic cable management can improve temperatures.

Can an SSD thermal throttle too?

Yes. High-speed Gen4 and Gen5 NVMe drives can throttle during heavy file transfers or prolonged workloads. That means storage performance can dip even if your CPU and GPU are fine.

If your M.2 drive sits under a hot graphics card, a heatsink is often worthwhile. Many users ask, are NVMe SSD heatsinks worth it for UK PC builds? In most cases, yes.

When should you upgrade your CPU cooler or case fans?

Sometimes, your existing cooling setup is simply not strong enough for modern hardware. This is especially true if you are using a stock cooler on a high-power processor or if your case has limited mesh intake.

How do you know if your cooler is not enough?

If your PC still throttles after cleaning, repasting, and fan curve tuning, your cooler may be undersized. Other signs include:

• CPU temperatures rising rapidly under moderate load
• Fans running at maximum nearly all the time
• Performance dropping in long gaming or rendering sessions
• PC shutting down when hot despite basic maintenance

Is air cooling or liquid cooling better for stopping throttling?

For most users, a quality air cooler is more than adequate and offers excellent reliability. However, larger AIO liquid coolers can provide better sustained thermal performance for high-end CPUs, particularly in demanding workloads.

That said, the best choice depends on your case, budget, noise tolerance, and installation confidence. Based on our testing, a well-ventilated case with a strong air cooler often outperforms a poorly installed liquid setup.

Why is my PC thermal throttling even after cleaning it?

If cleaning did not fix the problem, the most likely causes are dried thermal paste, poor cooler mounting pressure, weak case airflow, overly high voltage, or a cooler that is too small for your CPU or GPU. In some cases, high room temperature during UK summer heatwaves can also push a previously stable system into throttling.

Therefore, check each layer in order: monitoring data, fan behaviour, heatsink contact, paste condition, case airflow, and ambient temperature. A single weak point is often enough to trigger throttling under sustained load.

Frequently asked questions about how to fix thermal throttling on a PC

How do I fix thermal throttling on my PC?

Start by checking temperatures with HWInfo64 or MSI Afterburner. Then clean dust, improve airflow, set a more aggressive fan curve, and replace old thermal paste if needed. If temperatures remain too high, undervolt the CPU or GPU, or upgrade your cooler and case fans.

Is thermal throttling bad for a PC?

Thermal throttling is a safety feature, so it is not inherently harmful. However, frequent throttling means your system is running hotter than ideal, which reduces performance and may point to a cooling problem that should be fixed.

Can dust cause thermal throttling?

Yes. Dust is one of the most common causes of overheating because it restricts airflow and insulates heatsinks. Regular cleaning is one of the simplest and most effective fixes.

Will replacing thermal paste stop thermal throttling?

It often can, particularly on older PCs where the original paste has dried out. Fresh thermal paste improves heat transfer and may reduce temperatures enough to stop throttling.

Can undervolting reduce thermal throttling?

Yes. Undervolting lowers power draw and heat output, which can reduce temperatures and help your hardware sustain higher performance under load.

Final verdict: what is the best way to stop thermal throttling?

The best way to stop thermal throttling is to diagnose it properly first, then fix the root cause rather than guessing. In most cases, that means checking temperatures, cleaning dust, improving airflow, and replacing old thermal paste. After that, undervolting and stronger cooling hardware can solve more stubborn cases.

If your PC slows down only during long gaming sessions, rendering, or hot summer days, do not ignore it. Instead, treat thermal throttling as an early warning that your cooling setup needs attention. With the right fixes, your system can run cooler, quieter, and more consistently.