Intel Processor Power Consumption

I just got a refurbished dual core 13 MacBook Air (2020 Model). I wanted to test how it cools using some software that I know makes laptops run hot (in this case, MailSteward). I set up Intel Power Gadget 3.7.0 to track the processor and Turbo Boost Switcher Pro to protect the processor. They're both setup right. I have the same rig in my i5 MacBook 12" (2017 Model) so I'm familiar with behaviour I anticipated.

Oddly, and when doing nothing in particular IPG is showing this processor peaking at 240-280 Watt current draw. There seems no rhyme or reason to the pattern; I cannot track it to a software, or switching between different screen settings - it's hard not to say that these spikes appear randomly (other than that, IPG is always running).

I have never seen this characteristic on any machine I have tested in this way.

Is this benign, a likely fault, or is there a way to get further into it?

Thanks in advance for thoughts and considerations.