a method for altering an operating frequency of a processor . the method includes monitoring a real - time performance indicator of a system , and determining a desired frequency in response to the indicator . the indicator may be an amount of idle time of a processor of the system . the method also includes selectively altering an operating frequency of the processor in response to a comparison of the desired frequency and the operating frequency , including increasing the operating frequency in response to the desired frequency being greater than the operating frequency , and decreasing the operating frequency only in response to the desired frequency being less than the operating frequency by more than a predetermined value .