CPU core speed query

[CurlyWhirly]

I have 2 PC's - my main PC has a Q9650 in it and my other PC has a E2200 in it.

When I run the CPU-z utility, the core speed doesn't match the speed that the core is supposed to run at

In both cases the core speed is around a Ghz less than it should be


By the way, I'm new to modern processors as, until recently, I've been using an antiquated AMD Athlon XP3000+

I think that CPU-z is showing a misleading core speed as, in both cases, the processors appear to be running at the proper speed.

The top stats say that the Q9650 is running at 3 Ghz and the bottom stats say that the E2200 is running at 2.20 Ghz which are both right.

Cheers.

 

[cooljimy84]

Speed step.....

 

[CurlyWhirly]

Speed step.....

Thanks, I've just googled it - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpeedStep

So basically that when I'm just (say) browsing the web, it runs slower but when running a game then it runs at full speed?

 

[cooljimy84]

Thats the puppy, i've still got it switched on on my overclocked Q6600, but some people find that it causes problems with there overclocks, it's to save power/heat/run time

 

[CurlyWhirly]

Thats the puppy, i've still got it switched on on my overclocked Q6600, but some people find that it causes problems with there overclocks, it's to save power/heat/run time

I can't understand how it's working as in the BIOS I have left the option 'Smart fan control' on disabled


Slightly off topic but I've often wondered if I should enable the 'Hyper Threading technology' which is off by default

Would I gain performance by having this enabled?

I don't think that there's much software out that takes advantage of this feature?

Thanks.

 

[CurlyWhirly]

I can't understand how it's working as in the BIOS I have left the option 'Smart fan control' on disabled

Well SpeedStep is working as I've just tested it by running a SpyBot scan (which works the CPU a bit more than idle) and my core speed has gone up to 3 Ghz (well 2997 Mhz which is near enough)

That's a great idea to limit the speed of the processor when idle

I expect that AMD processors have a similar feature to SpeedStep ?

 

[Corasik]

Smartfan has nothing to do with speedstep. Its sometimes called C1E in bios, you can also normally disable it within vista's power saving control panel. But even when overclocking speedstep rarely affects stability, and its so quick at jumping back to full speed the performance penalty is negligable.

AMD's version is Cool&Quiet, imho speedstep is better, but there isnt much in it.

For most people (even overclockers) speedstep is more good than bad. It also lowers the voltage in idle, so the CPU is drawing considerably less power with the combination of reduced clock speed, and reduced voltage.