> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nomn.jp/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# CPU Performance

> Manage threading and density caps to fit your machine

The **CPU** pill button in the header opens a popup menu for managing FOAM's CPU usage. It controls two things at once: a **bubbles-per-second governor** (a hard ceiling on density) and a **worker thread count** (how many CPU cores FOAM uses for voice rendering).

## Performance Modes

| Mode            | Threads             | When to use                                  |
| --------------- | ------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| **Battery**     | 1                   | Laptop on battery, light sessions            |
| **Balanced**    | 2                   | Default for most situations                  |
| **Performance** | 4                   | Heavy sessions, multiple instances           |
| **Maximum**     | All available cores | Standalone or solo plugin work, full machine |

The thread count for each mode is detected from your CPU and shown in the menu.

## Bubbles-per-Second Governor

In addition to the threading mode, the menu shows the current bubbles-per-second cap. FOAM will smoothly throttle density above this threshold to prevent runaway CPU spikes — the cap protects you from setting Rate too high in combination with high Cascade values.

You can also set a custom value from the menu.

## Other CPU Tips

* Reduce **Rate** — fewer bubbles per second means less CPU
* Reduce **Topology** — foam physics simulation is CPU-intensive
* Lower **Cascade** — chain reactions multiply bubble count exponentially
* Choose a less complex **Resonator** preset, or set Resonance amount to 0% if you don't need it