GPU undervolting gets all the attention, but a CPU mining Malairte flat out can pull more power than people expect - and on many systems you can rein it in without touching voltages at all. Capping the CPU power limit lowers heat, fan noise, and electricity use, with only a modest drop in hashrate.

Method 1: Windows power plan (no risk, two minutes)

  1. Open Control Panel → Power Options → Change plan settings → Change advanced power settings.
  2. Expand Processor power management.
  3. Lower Maximum processor state from 100% to, say, 85%.
  4. Apply, then run your miner for 15 minutes and watch the wall watts and the hashrate.

Dropping the maximum processor state caps clock speed, which sharply reduces power because power scales faster than clock. An 85% cap can cut CPU package power 20-30% while losing far less hashrate, because the highest clocks are the least efficient.

Method 2: BIOS power limits (more control)

Modern Intel and AMD platforms expose package power limits in BIOS, often labelled PL1/PL2 (Intel) or PPT (AMD). Lowering these enforces a hard wattage ceiling regardless of what Windows requests.

  1. Enter BIOS (usually Del or F2 at boot).
  2. Find the CPU power or overclocking section.
  3. Set a package power limit - try 65W on a chip that defaults to 95W, for example.
  4. Save, boot, and benchmark your Malairte hashrate against the wall watts.

Find the efficiency knee

Step the limit down in small increments and record hashrate per watt at each step. You will usually find a "knee" where a little more power buys almost no extra hashrate. Park your cap just below that knee - that is your efficiency sweet spot.

Watch the temperatures

Use a tool like HWiNFO to confirm package power and temperatures actually dropped. A capped CPU should run noticeably cooler; if it does not, the limit is not being honoured and you may need the BIOS method instead of the Windows plan.

Reversible and safe

Both methods are fully reversible and, unlike overclocking, cannot damage hardware - you are asking the chip to do less, not more. Set the cap back to default any time you want full performance for gaming or work, and re-apply it when you go back to mining.