Various embodiments of a thermal control methodology and apparatus are disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes one or more thermal sensors, comparison circuitry, and control circuitry. The comparison circuitry is configured to receive temperature readings from the one or more thermal sensors. The control circuitry is configured to reduce a performance level of one or more controlled subsystems responsive to the comparison circuitry determining that at least one temperature reading from the one or more thermal sensors exceeds one of one or more threshold values. A software-based thermal control mechanism may also execute concurrently with the apparatus.