Windows 7 maximum CPU frequency percentage consistently > 100%

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Level 1

43 points

Windows 7 maximum CPU frequency percentage consistently > 100%

When running Windows I find that my CPU fan constantly runs audibly. The fan revs up immediately after booting Windows, even with no apps running. Windows Resource Monitor shows CPU utilization in the 25-40% range. However, the maximum CPU frequency percentage is consistently above 100% (typically around 110-115%). Does this mean that the system is over-clocking? If so, is it logical to infer that this may be causing the CPU fan to run so much? Finally, how can I get this back down to 100% (or less)?

The fan does not behave this way under MacOS.

MB Pro (circa 2012) running Windows 7 under Bootcamp (MacOS 10.11.6).

Posted on Aug 11, 2016 10:26 AM

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Answer 1

drengfer Author

Level 1

43 points

Feb 28, 2017 9:44 AM in response to drengfer

One more note on this issue, as relates to the fan behavior. I discovered that Windows Update was not working properly - it was basically searching forever and never resolving that search to identified updates. This behavior started in around September 2016. Microsoft Support has articles relating to this issue. I installed (manually) the updates required to make Windows Update work, and, voila!, system no longer over-heating. I suspect that the Windows Update process was, at root, the culprit.

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Answer 2

JimmyCMPIT

Level 7

29,306 points

Aug 11, 2016 4:39 PM in response to drengfer

reset the SMC

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Aug 11, 2016 2:24 PM in response to drengfer

Can you check the cooling options under Control Panel -> Power Options -> Advanced Settings? There are two modes, Passive and Active.

If fans are on, the primary driver is heat. Using a case for the Mac is one parameter. Power Adapter connection is another.

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Answer 4

drengfer Author

Level 1

43 points

Aug 11, 2016 4:41 PM in response to JimmyCMPIT

Thanks, Jimmy! That seems to have done the trick. CPU now clocking 40-50% and machine running nice and cool (without noisy fan!).

Yay!

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Answer 5

drengfer Author

Level 1

43 points

Aug 11, 2016 4:42 PM in response to Loner T

Thanks for your note. After resetting the SMC (per Jimmy's recommendation), I checked the Power Options. It's set to Balanced. As I noted in my response to Jimmy, the machine is now running both cooler and quieter. If things heat up again, I'll check out the power option settings.

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