How to unlock CPU power limits on MSI A520M-A PRO for Civ 7?

Once my empire covered the globe, turn processing time stretched to 30 seconds per turn—it was an absolute test of patience. HWInfo showed the VRMs on the MSI A520M-A PRO overheating, causing the CPU to throttle from 4.2GHz down to a pathetic 3.1GHz - 3.4GHz. I tried limiting the core count via software to reduce heat, but that actually pushed turn times up to 45 seconds, which was a total fail. I dove into the BIOS Advanced settings, bumped the PPT power limit from 65W to 85W, and enabled the Enhanced Cooling mode. The core clocks finally stabilized at 4.1GHz - 4.3GHz, and turn times dropped to about 12 seconds. The catch was that the VRM temps spiked to 92℃, so I had to rig up a small 12cm fan to blow directly onto the power phases to bring it down to 78℃ - 82℃. CPU temps now sit between 75℃ - 84℃. It's a bit of a janky solution, but the performance gain is undeniable.
Category:AI Filters Last Updated:2026-05-25 12:52:14