AFAIUI it is 5 secs on - 5 secs off

Actually, at 50% it's 1 second one, one second off. At 60% [former default], it was 3 seconds on, 2 off. Fifty percent is btw the best thermal setting, the only use of the throttle, and aimed purely at laptops and other devices that have poor cooling. For Desktops the function is needless and useless, provided the innards are kept clean.

The good news is, and first saw this mentioned in a September Grenoble presentation by Dr. A(anderson), the sub-second throttle switching is underway. In fact, it might be so close, it could be hitting the 7.3 alpha test release, then targeted for a 7.4 public release. Then 50% would work as 0.5 second on / 0.5second off. Ideally it would be even more frequent within the second for the best smooth experience, but sub-second already would be a massive improvement.

Theory is too, courtesy I think of IBM dev efforts and push, it will work for all platforms... Linux, Mac, Windows. Don't know about Android [it's a nix base, so if it's needed it may get it too.

So, here's hoping. Till then, for Windows use the add-on TThrottle. It works on detecting system/CPU/GPU temps and slows BOINC cycle use down when it gets over a set ceiling.