Safe to set Maximum Processor State to 99%?

Question

Hello, just recently bought a Dell G7 15 Gaming Laptop (Intel i7 8750H with Nividia Geforce GTX 1060 with Max-Q) from the Memorial Day Sales.

During extended gaming sessions I'm getting close to around 90 C according to HWMonitor on the CPU (GPU seems fine, peaking around 70-75 C ). I've been looking online for possible solutions. One solution I found is to go into the battery/power settings and change the Maximum Processor State while plugged in from 100% to 99% (Minimum Processor State is untouched). This seems to help immensely, bringing my CPU temperatures down to a more reasonable 60-65 C.  I'm not very tech literate, and I'm not sure what exactly this is doing to my laptop. Is this safe to do, and will it harm or damage my laptop in the long term?

Answer 1

Hey Tennousu,

This is quite safe, I did this with my MacBook Pro. In fact, it's safer to reduce the maximum state rather than to increase it, as heat can be quite an issue. Not only it reduces the life of your fan bearings (like the intake and exhaust fans in your laptop) and motor, it's also not so healthy for the CPU (and even the GPU) to be hot all the time, it also ages rather rapidly. Keep it at lower temperatures and you should be golden, you probably should invest in a cooling pad to further accomplish this.

Let me know if you have any additional questions about this, but I hope this helps.

Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

Answer 2

Thanks for the reply, just wasn't sure whether it was safe or not since this is a brand new gaming laptop, and I want to make sure it lasts.

Answer 3

Tennousu,

Ignore the third-party site disclaimer, I added a website on this but I decided it's content that is unnecessary. Hope I helped though!

Answer 4

Tennousu,

That's fine and totally understandable, I had the same anxieties with my rMBP when I first got it... but once you do it, you'll figure it's nothing to fear.