Why is my Intel CPU stuck at 0.80 GHz?

November 25, 2025 4 answers
Asked by TechGuru99
Hey everyone! I'm having a frustrating issue with my Intel CPU. For some reason, it stays stuck at 0.80 GHz no matter what I do. I've tried a bunch of solutions, but nothing has worked so far. The CPU is showing a power consumption of 70 watts while idling at the low clock speed. In the BIOS, it shows that the clock can go up to 2.4 GHz, but as soon as I boot into Windows, it drops to 0.80 GHz. I've even reinstalled Windows twice from a USB. Here are my specs for reference: Intel i5 10400F, GTX 1650, Asrock H510M 2.0R motherboard, Coolermaster MWE 550W Bronze v3 PSU, and 16 GB of RAM.

Answers

HardwareWhisperer
This sounds like a known issue with laptops, but it's odd to see it on desktops. One trick that sometimes works for laptops is to plug and unplug the charger. Have you thought about booting from a Linux Live USB? It could help narrow down if it's a Windows problem or something to do with the hardware itself.

TechGuru99: Iโ€™m using a desktop, so that doesnโ€™t apply!

Reply to this answer
GamerDude23
Have you checked your Windows power plan settings? It's worth making sure that the Maximum CPU state is set to 100% in the advanced settings! That could be why your CPU isnโ€™t boosting properly.

TechGuru99: I checked that, and itโ€™s already set to 100%, but my CPU is still stuck at 0.80 GHz.

Reply to this answer
OverclockingPro
Try using ThrottleStop software to force the CPU to run at the expected speeds. It can sometimes bypass these throttling issues if set up correctly!

TechGuru99: I tried ThrottleStop as well, but no luck.

Reply to this answer
BIOSWizard
Since youโ€™ve already reset the BIOS to default multiple times, just double-check that thereโ€™s no CPU frequency or voltage settings that got changed. Updating to the latest BIOS version might help too. I noticed that your CPU voltage drops a lot in Windows versus the BIOSโ€”could be a sign of a deeper issue.

TechGuru99: I reset the BIOS like 10 times, installed the newest version, and I see the voltage in BIOS is 0.64V but only 0.46V in Windows!

Reply to this answer

Add your answer

Answers are reviewed before publication.

Related Discussions