Multiplier automatical changing

Elrad · 14 Dec 2011 at 00:09

Hey, Not sure if this is the right place but you guys know a lot about Processor speeds and multipliers,

So here goes. I have a AMD Athlon x3 445 3.1Ghz on a Asus M4A78LT-M LE motherboard.

I just downloaded CPU-Z to do a little overclocking.
At first it said: Core speed 3.1Ghz - multiplier X15.5
just siting here it now says: Core speed 800Mhz - multiplier X4.0
now and again it goes up or down depending what its running at to: Core speed 1.9Ghz - multiplier X9.5

Is it meant to do that when idle or somthing?
Just wanted to check before i start anything.

Cheers Sean

Reaper 392 · 14 Dec 2011 at 00:22

thats perfectly normal.

youve probably worked this out, but processor speed = FSB speed x multiplier. the multiplier will go up or down depending on how hard the processor needs to work. if your just writing a word document then its a waste of power making it run at 3Ghz, so it will reduce the multiplier and save power. if your playing a game then you will need as much processing power as you can get, so it turns itself up to full

let me know if you find a way of overclocking on that motherboard while keeping this feature turned on, because i cannot get the variable multiplier working when i overclock the PC. this is the only reason i havent overclocked my own processor

Threepwood · 14 Dec 2011 at 00:42

I'm not familiar with the motherboard but does the setting under the 'Advanced Clock Calibration' tab affect that Reaper?

Elrad · 14 Dec 2011 at 13:55

Thanks for the reply reaper.
I did think that's why it might go up and down but i thought i better
Ask just in case.

I don't know about keeping that setting while OC. Only done a little oc in the past
Ill have a play and see what happens.

Cheers Sean