Electricity costs remain stubbornly high in many parts of the world in 2025, with some regions seeing sharp spikes driven by demand from data centers, EVs, and energy-intensive industries. For PC gamers—whose setups can rival small servers in energy use—this makes every watt count.
“Most gamers don’t realize they’re sitting on a goldmine of potential savings,” says Serge Eliseeff, CEO of Online Free Games, a platform offering thousands of free browser-based games across multiple genres. “A technique called ‘undervolting’ is rapidly gaining popularity among savvy players who want to keep gaming without breaking the bank on electricity bills.”
This relatively simple hack involves adjusting how much power flows to your computer’s processor and graphics card, potentially saving significant money over time. Here’s what you need to know about this growing trend among budget-conscious gamers.
What Is Undervolting and Why Are Gamers Loving It?
‘Undervolting’ is a technique where gamers manually reduce the voltage supplied to their computer’s CPU (central processing unit) or GPU (graphics processing unit) without changing the clock speed. This creates a more efficient system that draws less power.
“Think of it like tuning a car engine to use less fuel while still maintaining the same speed,” explains Eliseeff. “Most processors are actually set to use more voltage than they strictly need, giving manufacturers a safety margin. Undervolting takes advantage of this headroom.”
According to recent energy consumption studies, gaming computers can use anywhere from 300 to 500 watts per hour during intensive gameplay, which adds up to approximately $6-8 per month in electricity costs for someone gaming 4 hours daily. By undervolting, gamers save on their energy consumption without any noticeable impact on performance.
How The Hack Works
Undervolting works because most computer manufacturers set conservative voltage levels to ensure stability across all their chips, even those with minor manufacturing variations. This means most processors can actually run stably with less voltage than their default settings.
The process involves using specialized software to decrease the voltage gradually while testing stability. Popular tools include Intel XTU for Intel processors, Ryzen Master for AMD processors, and MSI Afterburner or AMD Wattman for graphics cards.
The basic steps include:
- Start small: Reduce voltage by small increments (5-10 mV)
- Test stability: Run stress tests or games after each adjustment
- Find the sweet spot: Continue until you find the lowest stable voltage
- Save your profile: Most tools allow saving different profiles for different activities
“The beauty of this hack is that not only does it cut down your electric bill, it also reduces the heat generated by your system,” Eliseeff notes. “This means your fans don’t need to work as hard, creating a quieter gaming experience and potentially extending the life of your components.”
The Real-World Savings
The financial impact varies depending on local electricity rates and your gaming habits, but the savings can be significant for dedicated gamers.
The average rate for electricity in the USA is currently 19 cents per kWh. Assuming a regular user used a mid-range PC and 500W for four hours per day at that average cost, savings per year could reach approximately $35. Gaming laptops see similar percentage reductions, though the absolute savings are smaller due to their already more efficient designs.
Caution: What Not To Do When Undervolting
While this hack is relatively safe, it’s not without risks if approached incorrectly.
“The biggest mistake I see gamers make is rushing the process,” warns Eliseeff. “They decrease the voltage too much too quickly, and then wonder why their system becomes unstable.”
Other common mistakes to avoid:
- Don’t copy someone else’s settings: Each processor responds differently to undervolting
- Don’t ignore warning signs: System crashes or graphical glitches mean you’ve gone too far
- Don’t undervolt without a restore plan: Know how to reset to default settings if problems occur
- Don’t expect miracles: Extremely aggressive undervolting can cause data loss or game crashes
“If your computer suddenly shuts down or games start crashing after undervolting, you’ve gone too far. Simply increase the voltage slightly until you reach stability again,” advises Eliseeff.
Serge Eliseeff, CEO of Online Free Games, commented:
“Undervolting has been around in competitive gaming circles for years, but it’s only recently become mainstream as electricity prices have soared. What makes this hack so appealing is that unlike many money-saving tips that require sacrifice, undervolting often improves the gaming experience by reducing heat and fan noise.
“For newcomers to this technique, I recommend starting with a modest 5% reduction and testing thoroughly before going further. The best tools right now are ThrottleStop for laptops and Intel XTU for desktops—both are free and relatively user-friendly. Most gamers can safely achieve 15-20% power savings without any noticeable performance difference.
“Beyond saving money, there’s something satisfying about optimizing your system to run more efficiently. It’s like getting free performance. And with heavy gamers – those gaming around eight hours per day – often spending close to $1000 on electricity for their setup annually, these savings can really add up. Just remember: patience is key, and always back up your default settings before making changes.”
