Power plans and CPU throttling during the quiet hours
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2026 2:24 pm
Computers save energy by lowering CPU speed when idle. When a burst of ticks arrives, the processor needs a moment to ramp up. That delay, often a few milliseconds, can make the first reaction of the day slower than later ones.
On laptops and desktops with balanced power plans, the effect is more pronounced. On a VPS, the host handles frequency scaling, and the guest sees only the symptoms.
For scalpers, the pattern appears as slower processing after quiet periods. The first order after a lull takes longer than orders during a busy session.
A high-performance power plan keeps the CPU at higher frequency and reduces the variation. The cost is higher power use and heat, usually negligible for a trading machine.
Also check BIOS settings for features like deep C-states that cause wake-up delays.
Compare latency measurements for orders after long idle periods against those during active periods. A noticeable gap points to throttling.
Does the first order after a quiet stretch show higher latency than the rest?
On laptops and desktops with balanced power plans, the effect is more pronounced. On a VPS, the host handles frequency scaling, and the guest sees only the symptoms.
For scalpers, the pattern appears as slower processing after quiet periods. The first order after a lull takes longer than orders during a busy session.
A high-performance power plan keeps the CPU at higher frequency and reduces the variation. The cost is higher power use and heat, usually negligible for a trading machine.
Also check BIOS settings for features like deep C-states that cause wake-up delays.
Compare latency measurements for orders after long idle periods against those during active periods. A noticeable gap points to throttling.
Does the first order after a quiet stretch show higher latency than the rest?