Enable Undervolt Protection In BIOS | Disabling It To Undervolt CPU

Most users searching for this actually need to disable Undervolt Protection to undervolt their CPU. Here are the exact BIOS paths to turn it off on ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, and ASRock.

Intel introduced Undervolt Protection (UVP) as a security boundary in its 10th Gen and later processors. If you are building a PC or tuning an existing one, UVP blocks Intel XTU and ThrottleStop from applying negative voltage offsets. The workaround is counterintuitive: you must locate the “Undervolt Protection” setting inside the BIOS and set it to Disabled.

Below are the verified menu paths for desktop motherboards from the four major manufacturers, plus the two-step workaround needed for Dell and MSI laptops where the option is hidden or locked by firmware updates.

What Are The BIOS Steps For ASUS, Gigabyte, ASRock & MSI?

Every modern Intel motherboard hides UVP somewhere inside the advanced CPU configuration sub‑menu. The table below lists the exact key combos and paths for the most common boards using Z690 and Z790 chipsets.

ASUS Specifics

After pressing F7 to enter Advanced Mode, navigate to Advanced → CPU Configuration. Set Undervolt Protection to Disabled. You must also set Intel Virtualization Technology to Disabled here – XTU will not release the voltage lock until VT‑x is off. Under the Ai Tweaker menu, set Vcore Voltage to Auto and Vcore Mode to Normal. Set Load Line Calibration (LLC) to Standard and disable ASUS MultiCore Enhancement (choose “Disable Enforce All Limits”).

Gigabyte & ASRock

On Gigabyte boards, tap F2 to enter Classic Mode, then go to OC Tweaker → CPU Configuration. On ASRock boards, press F6 for Advanced Mode and follow the same path. In both cases you will find Undervolt Protection as a simple Enabled/Disabled toggle. Switch it to Disabled, then locate Intel Virtualization Technology in the same menu and disable it as well. Save and exit with F10.

How Do You Unlock Undervolt Protection On Dell XPS & MSI Laptops?

Laptop users face an extra barrier: OEMs pushed firmware updates starting in December 2019 that permanently hide or lock the UVP toggle. The workaround differs by brand.

Dell XPS 15 & Precision Series

Flashing the latest BIOS will only lock the feature deeper. You must downgrade to a pre‑December 2019 version – for the XPS 15 9570/7590 the target is BIOS version 1.5.0. Before flashing, enter the BIOS (F2), go to Security, and disable UEFI Firmware Update Via Capsules. Run the older BIOS installer from Windows (not the Recovery menu). After it finishes, reboot back into BIOS, select Load Defaults, confirm, and restart. Undervolting will now work in XTU.

MSI Laptops (GE, GS, GP Series)

MSI deliberately hides the UVP setting in its laptop BIOS. Press and hold Right Shift + Right Ctrl + Left Alt + F2 while inside the BIOS to reveal the hidden Advanced tab. From there, navigate to Advanced → CPU Configuration → Undervolt Protection and set it to Disabled.

Intel’s official documentation on Undervolt Protection confirms that this feature is enforced at the firmware level and must be turned off before any software‑based undervolt tool can apply offsets.

Setting Up XTU After Disabling UVP

Disabling UVP is only half the work. If XTU still shows a locked bolt icon, check these three settings:

• Intel Virtualization Technology (VT‑x) – must be Disabled in BIOS. XTU refuses to enable voltage control while VT‑x is active.
• Vcore Voltage – set to Auto and Vcore Mode to Normal. Using Manual or Offset mode in BIOS will override XTU’s adjustments.
• Load Line Calibration (LLC) – set to Standard or Normal. Aggressive LLC profiles interfere with negative offsets.

Once these are correct, reboot and open XTU. The bolt icon at the top left should be gone. You are now free to drag the Core Voltage Offset slider into negative territory.

Common Undervolt Mistakes & How To Fix Them

Stability Testing Your Undervolt

A stable undervolt reduces temperatures without sacrificing clock speeds. Start with an offset of −0.050V and run Cinebench R23 or Prime95 for at least 15 minutes. Monitor for WHEA errors in Windows Event Viewer – any WHEA‑Logger Event 47 means the offset is too aggressive. Dial it back by 0.010V and retest.

• Intel Core i5‑13600K – typical stable range: −0.055V to −0.075V
• Intel Core i7‑14700K / i9‑14900K – typical stable range: −0.040V to −0.065V (these chips are more voltage‑sensitive due to higher stock power targets)
• ThrottleStop alternative – if XTU refuses to cooperate after disabling UVP, ThrottleStop with the “Disable and Lock” option removed can often still apply offsets

The final verification is a full Prime95 blend run or Cinebench Multi‑Core loop. If the system completes 30 minutes without a crash or WHEA error, the undervolt is stable. You have successfully disabled Undervolt Protection and reclaimed control over your CPU’s thermal behavior.