TDP stands for thermal design power or, depending who you ask, thermal design profile. The TDP number tells you the maximum heat a computer chip, such as a CPU or GPU , can use in watts. It also is often used as a basic indicator of power consumption.
More watts equals better performance, but also higher temperatures and more power consumption. PC OEMs can sometimes lower the TDP on a chip to increase battery life on a laptop or raise it up to boost speed.
When it comes to CPU shopping , check out your CPU’s TDP to determine what kind of CPU cooler you need and to make sure you have a PSU (power supply unit) that provides enough juice . Selecting the best thermal interface material (TIM) will help keep thermals in check, and you should also make sure to check your CPU temperature semi-annually to ensure that your CPU cooling is up to par.
This article is part of the Tom's Hardware Glossary .
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