CompTIA A+ 220-701/702 Practice Exam

Answer - C - If a processor is operating at a speed lower than the one it is designed to operate at, the processor is most likely being throttled. This is done to reduce the dissipated heat and the power consumption in a computer.

Key Takeaway: CPU throttling, also known as dynamic frequency scaling, is a technique that runs the processor at a lower frequency (or, speed) than it is designed to operate. This is primarily done for the following reasons:

1. To reduce heat dissipation in poorly cooled systems.
2. To conserve battery in laptop computers. Operating laptop processors at lower speeds results in less heat generation and reduces cooling costs.