Laptops can get hot, especially when performing demanding tasks like 3D rendering, gaming, and video editing. That's because the hardware underneath — like the CPU and GPU — generates a lot of heat under load. Unlike traditional desktops, laptops don't have adequate space and cooling for the heat to dissipate quickly. And with modern laptops packing more powerful CPUs and GPUs, overheating can be a real problem.

That's when undervolting your CPU using a tool like Intel Extreme Tuning Utility or AMD Ryzen Master comes in handy. Unlike replacing the thermal paste for better temperatures, undervolting takes just a few minutes of your time and is very effective in the long term. Here are some of the main reasons why you should consider undervolting your CPU.

4 Easy way to lower CPU temperature

Requires less skill, and you don't need to spend money

One of the first things I suggest whenever someone complains about the CPU overheating issues is replacing the thermal paste. However, most people aren't skilled enough to pry open their laptops and detach the heatsink without damaging other components; you'll need an expert technician's assistance. Replacing the thermal paste is easier if you have a desktop, though. Plus, you'll need to spend money on a high-performance thermal paste like the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme, which isn't cheap.

Another option is to buy one of the best cooling pads for your laptop, but that's also an additional expense. Fortunately, you don't need to spend any money to undervolt your CPU, as all you're doing is lowering the voltage that's supplied to the processor. Lowering the voltage reduces the electrical energy consumed and, in turn, the heat generated by the CPU, alleviating overheating issues on your laptop.

3 Quieter fans

Lower temperature means lower fan speed

When your CPU starts to heat up during demanding workloads, your laptop's internal fans ramp up to keep the temperature in check. In overheating scenarios, the fans are likely running at full speed, which can be pretty disturbing. Unlike a desktop PC typically mounted on the corner of a desk or under it, laptops sit pretty close to your face. Any fan noise would be easily audible and annoying, even if you wear headphones.

Fortunately, when you lower your CPU temperature by undervolting, your laptop's fans don't have to try as hard to keep it cool. Lower fan speed ensures a quieter overall operation, which is crucial when you're working or gaming in a noise-sensitive environment.

2 It prolongs your laptop's lifespan

A CPU that runs cooler will last longer

High operating temperatures can reduce the lifespan of your hardware components, like the CPU. Frequent overheating leads to wear and tear of your CPU's internals, and you'll likely end up replacing your laptop sooner rather than later. Thankfully, undervolting reduces the thermal stress on not only the CPU but also the other components surrounding it, like the GPU, RAM, and SSD—since they're all closely packed in a laptop.

All in all, undervolting helps delay silicon degradation, which is an important factor in ensuring your laptop's longevity. It's one of the main reasons why I'd never recommend overclocking a laptop at any point; unlike a traditional desktop, you can't swap your CPU with a new one if something goes wrong.

1 You get a power-efficient laptop

A CPU that draws less power is more efficient

More often than not, laptops supply more voltage to the CPU than it needs to operate. But you can make your laptop run more efficiently by simply undervolting the CPU. Even if you lower your CPU's voltage by just 0.1V, you can expect efficiency improvements upwards of 10%. This may not seem like a lot at first glance, but remember that you're mostly using your laptop on battery. When your laptop requires less battery power to operate, it will last longer.

Considering Windows laptops aren't particularly great at battery life, especially compared to Apple's MacBooks, undervolting can make a meaningful difference when you're out and about and don't have a charger with you. And if you want to improve your laptop's efficiency further, you can also try undervolting the GPU, which makes a big difference in graphics-intensive workflows, including gaming.

Undervolting is safe, but you should still be careful

Unlike overclocking, which involves increasing the voltage supplied to the CPU besides increasing the clock speeds, undervolting is typically safe. You don't have to worry about damaging your components, and you won't void your CPU's warranty by undervolting. In most cases, your CPU's performance won't take a hit since you're basically lowering the voltage to sustain the same clock speeds. In fact, I'd argue that your CPU's peak performance would be sustained longer since thermal throttling is less of a concern after undervolting.

However, you should be careful while lowering the voltage; lowering the voltage too much can cause system instability and crashes while performing certain operations. Finding the optimal voltage settings for your CPU will take some trial and error. Fortunately, you can quickly revert the voltage settings or increase your voltage in increments if you experience instability.