Microsoft adds Power Throttling to Windows 10 test version

Microsoft has added functionality to its latest Insider version of Windows 10 that puts the CPU in its most economical mode for running background processes. For now, the function only works in combination with processors from Intel’s Skylake generation.

The function is intended to prevent apps running in the background from having a major impact on battery life. Power Throttling automatically detects which apps are important to the user, according to Microsoft. This is partly derived from the interaction.

With a Power Slider, the user can indicate how aggressively the throttling mode should be: by default it is recommended, but with Battery Saver the function makes the CPU work even more economically, while at ‘Best Performance’ no throttling is applied. Individual apps can also be excluded from the feature.

According to Microsoft, Power Throttling works in tandem with the Speed ​​Shift technology that Intel introduced with the Skylake generation, but the software company is working on adding support for other processors as well. It also seems unlikely that the function is completely dependent on Speed ​​Shift: that function is intended to complete short workloads as quickly as possible by the CPU, with improvements in consumption as a side effect.

Wide availability is likely to follow with the arrival of Windows 10’s Redstone 3 update later this year.