How to Control AMD CPU Temperatures

2.1. Changing TDP on the BIOS

Many computers allow you to lower the Thermal Design Power (TDP) to reduce the CPU’s wattage, helping to prevent overheating.

However, some PCs (such as mine) do not have this option.

2.2. Undervolting

Another method is undervolting the CPU with a tool like MSI Afterburner. It doesn’t work for all computers and can be dangerous.

2.3. Dedicated software

Some PCs have dedicated software. For example, for AMD, there is AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition™ Application and AMD Ryzen™ Master Utility for Overclocking Control. However, I couldn’t change the TDP on my computer with either of these tools.

3.1. Check current setup

First, download RyzenAdj to a folder (like C:\AMD). Then, check the current setup with:

ryzenadj.exe -i

You will see information like this:

3.2. What to change with RyzenAdj

There are multiple ways to prevent overheating. In my case, I want to change:

• STAPM Limit (--stapm-limit=40000): Manages the long-term average power consumption of the CPU based on thermal conditions to prevent overheating and ensure thermal comfort.
• Fast Limit (--fast-limit=45000): Controls the maximum power the CPU can draw during short bursts of high performance, allowing the CPU to handle intensive tasks more efficiently.
• Slow Limit (--slow-limit=40000): Sets the maximum sustained power the CPU can draw over longer periods, ensuring that the CPU does not overheat during prolonged use and maintains system stability.
• Thermal Control Temperature (--tctl-temp=90): Sets the maximum allowable temperature for the CPU cores to prevent the CPU from reaching high temperatures, reducing thermal throttling, prolonging the lifespan of the CPU, and ensuring the system remains cool and stable.

After tracking temperatures and CPU usage, I settled for:

3.3. Limit TDP and Temperature

To apply the changes, simply run:

ryzenadj.exe --stapm-limit=40000 --fast-limit=45000 --slow-limit=40000 --tctl-temp=90 -i

Then validate that the limits are properly set up:

5.1. Create Scheduled Task

To automatically apply them at start up, you can create a Scheduled Task.

To do so:

1. Open Task Scheduler:
   • Press Win + S and type Task Scheduler, then press Enter.
2. Create a New Task:
   • In the Task Scheduler window, click on Create Task in the right-hand pane.
3. General Tab:
   • Name your task (e.g., Set AMD TDP Limits).
   • Under Security options, select Run whether user is logged on or not.
   • Check Run with highest privileges.
4. Triggers Tab:
   • Click New... to create a new trigger.
   • Choose At startup from the Begin the task dropdown.
   • Click OK.
5. Actions Tab:
   • Click New... to create a new action.
   • For Action, select Start a program.
   • In the Program/script field, enter the path to ryzenadj.exe. If it’s not in a standard location, you might need to use the full path.
   • In the Add arguments (optional) field, enter the arguments for the command: --stapm-limit=40000 --fast-limit=45000 --slow-limit=40000 --tctl-temp=90
   • Click OK.
6. Conditions Tab:
   • Adjust any conditions if necessary, but it’s usually fine to leave them as default.
7. Settings Tab:
   • Ensure Allow task to be run on demand is checked.
   • Optionally, you can adjust other settings to suit your needs.
8. Save the Task:
   • Click OK.
   • You may be prompted to enter your administrator password to create the task.

5.2. Verify Scheduled Task

To ensure the task works correctly, restart your computer and validate that the limits are correctly applied with:

ryzenadj.exe -i

If you encounter any issues, you can manually run the task:

1. Go back to the Task Scheduler and find your newly created task.
2. Right-click the task and select “Run” to test if it works as expected.
3. Ensure that the TDP limits are applied correctly.