CPU Throttled by Power Limits (PL1/PL2)
What is this error?
CPU performance is artificially limited because BIOS power limits (PL1/PL2/Tau) are set too low, preventing the CPU from sustaining its boost clocks under load.
Common causes
- motherboard BIOS defaults to Intel baseline power limits instead of unlimited
- OEM/prebuilt systems with conservative power limits for thermal management
- BIOS update reset power limits to default
- cheap motherboard VRM cannot sustain unlimited power delivery
- Intel 13th/14th Gen recommended power limits after microcode fix
How to fix it
- Check BIOS power limit settings
- set PL1/PL2 to manufacturer spec or unlimited (if cooling allows)
- monitor with HWiNFO64
Too many steps? Crashless can diagnose this automatically — checks your drivers, temps, VRAM, and 400+ known error patterns.
Get free AI diagnosis Detailed analysis
Your CPU might be hitting an invisible wall where it drops clock speed mid-game even though temperatures are fine. This is power limit throttling and it is different from thermal throttling. To check: open HWiNFO64 (sensors only mode), find your CPU section, and look for 'Power Limit Throttling' or 'PL1/PL2 Throttling' — if it says 'Yes' at any point during gaming, you are being throttled. You can also watch 'CPU Package Power' and 'CPU Clock' simultaneously. If power stays flat at a suspiciously round number (like 125W or 65W) while clocks drop below max boost, that is a power limit cap. The fix is in BIOS. Look under 'Advanced > CPU Power Management' or 'Overclocking > CPU Features'. Find PL1 (sustained power limit) and PL2 (short boost power limit). On many boards, setting these to the max value or '4096' effectively removes the limit. However, be careful: your cooler must handle the extra heat, and for Intel 13th/14th Gen i7/i9 CPUs, Intel now recommends keeping Intel Default Settings enabled to prevent CPU degradation. Check HWiNFO64 temperatures after removing limits — if your CPU exceeds 95C under load, you need a better cooler before removing power limits.
When to seek help
If this error keeps happening after trying the fixes above, it may point to a deeper hardware or system issue. Consider professional help if:
- The crash occurs across multiple games or applications
- You see the same error after a clean Windows install
- Your PC is less than a year old (could be a warranty issue)
- You smell burning or hear unusual sounds from your PC
Or let Crashless do the deep analysis for you -- our AI checks drivers, temps, event logs, and 400+ known patterns automatically.
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