Stopping frequency drops on Intel i7 14700KF in Dead Space 2?

Whenever I'm fighting a swarm of Necromorphs, my FPS suddenly tanks from 120 down to 45. This kind of instant clock drop is a total mood-killer in a horror game, though I was actually pretty hyped to figure out the fix. The default power plan on the i7 14700KF was causing core frequencies to jump erratically between 2.5GHz and 5.4GHz, creating 30ms spikes in frame time. I tried enabling Ultimate Performance in Windows, but that just pushed the CPU to 100℃, hitting the thermal wall and locking me at 3.0GHz—completely missed the mark. I finally went into the BIOS, nuked the C-State and Intel SpeedStep options, and set a manual core voltage offset of -0.05V to keep the heat in check. RTSS showed the frame time variance shrinking from 15-45ms down to 8-12ms. I did notice my idle power draw jumped by 30W, which I only accepted after adjusting my fan curves. Temps now sit at 72-80℃. Power mode switch successful.
Category:AI Filters Last updated:April 2, 2026 4:50 PM