Reported CPU speed

Biohazard · 26 Jul 2009 at 13:20

Guys

Got my E6400 overclocked to 3.7Ghz using 463 fsb (iirc).

My IP35 boots and reports the processor as 3700mhz, however almost every application I use including cpuz/intel processor ID app all say it is running at the stock 2.3Ghz?

I know that the chip will throttle back, and have seen it sit around 2.7 before and crank up to 3.7 on full use.. it just seems like whatever I do in the bios doesn't matter, windows wants me running at stock speed.

please help, I hope I'm not being dumb!!

D D Danneh · 26 Jul 2009 at 13:29

It's speedstep kicking in. It slows down the processor when it isn't in full use to save power. If you turn speedstep off in the bios, you'll see it always runs at full throttle.

Biohazard · 26 Jul 2009 at 14:05

Yeah I'll go try turn it off just now, but throttling will not reduce it back to stock speeds though. IIRC its 63% default in my bios, which would take me to 2.33ghz when overclocked too 3.7 not back to stock 2.13. CPU-Z reports CPU at 1596.2mhz as I write this so thats throttling kicking in on stock speed.

So clearly somewhere between bios and windows I'm losing my overclock

I'll take a video of the computer starting to show I'm not talking crap.

RJC · 26 Jul 2009 at 14:26

Try dropping the overclock a little, boot into windows and see if does register.

Biohazard · 26 Jul 2009 at 14:31

But I don't want too!

Took me ages to run the chip in and eventially get it up to 3.7 from 3.6. Its worked fine for about 6 months like that too.

I will go test to see if it works, report back in a min.

D D Danneh · 26 Jul 2009 at 20:18

I don't get what you mean. Does it go up to 3.7GHz when it's in full usage?

Biohazard · 26 Jul 2009 at 20:24

When the computer posts, the abit bios displays my e6400 running at 3.7ghz. Windows and every other program under the sun shows clock speed at stock 2.13ghz.

Biohazard · 26 Jul 2009 at 20:32

Just dropped it down to 450fsb for 3.6Ghz, same problem again POST reports 3.6hz windows reports 2.13ghz.

wtf :confused:

faulty motherboard? chip finally fed up?

Edit:

450fsb x 8 = 3.6Ghz
Core V = 1.485v
DDR2 = 1.9v
North B = 1.37v

System is E4600 on Abit IP35 with 4Gb DDR2-667 and 8800 512 GTS. CPU temp stable around 47c.

BIGBC · 26 Jul 2009 at 20:43

Ive been experiencing exactly the same thing on a MSI P7N SLI Platinum and Q6600 - slight overclock registers in BIOS + post dialogue but as soon as Windows loads its running at stock speeds.

StevenRaith · 26 Jul 2009 at 21:05

can you get a screenshot of CPU-Z when it's running prime? it should be at full speed then.

Also, drop it to stock and run SuperPi or similar benchmark that is reliant on CPU speed. Then clock it up and retry; you should see a very noticable increase in performance. If not, then something is up.

Also, try running a live Linux CD - Ubuntu is easiest. Check to see what it reports. In Ubuntu, that's System menu, Administration, then System Monitor. The first tab has the CPU listed on it.

Biohazard · 26 Jul 2009 at 21:06

I run some pretty intensive games when it was running overlclocked and it never crashed just doesn't lock anymore, I'll get screenshots just now will have to d/l prime.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3368/crapd.jpg7

here is an old screenshot of it working at 3.5ghz, stopped benchmarking when I got it up to 3.6/7ghz.

http://server3.uploadit.org/files/Soneji-Image1.jpg

StevenRaith · 26 Jul 2009 at 21:13

Ideally try to get something that will allow a rating to be taking - Intel Burn Test is allright, it gives a time measurement so you can do a back to back comparison between clocks.

Biohazard · 26 Jul 2009 at 21:24

I can't really do that as no matter what I put into the BIOS clock speed wise windows just reports 2.13.

I've went down - 3.7 > 3.6 > 3.5 > 3.4 > 3.3 > 3.2ghz one after the other and its still reporting 2.13ghz with cpu-z running prime.

I'm away to try below 3ghz

StevenRaith · 26 Jul 2009 at 21:38

Biohazard said:
I can't really do that as no matter what I put into the BIOS clock speed wise windows just reports 2.13.

I've went down - 3.7 > 3.6 > 3.5 > 3.4 > 3.3 > 3.2ghz one after the other and its still reporting 2.13ghz with cpu-z running prime.

I'm away to try below 3ghz

Ignore what it reports - run SuperPi at stock speeds, see how long it takes to do a 1M run.

Then set the BIOS to [overclock here] and retest. If it's faster, it's windows being crap and misreporting the speed and you can ignore it. If it's the same, or similar, then something is going wonky indeed!

Any CPU benchmark which reports a time will be OK, or anything that gives a 'rating' - try Primate Labs Geekbench.

Biohazard · 28 Jul 2009 at 01:21

Ran tests with intel burn test, sandra and some others. all result in what appears to be stock performance and same times. re-loaded safe default in bios and started again to no avail.

wierd thing is windows 7 rc7200 32bit recognises the 3.7ghz in the system panel but cpu-z reports stock speed? :rolleyes:

I give in!

Dr Who · 28 Jul 2009 at 07:54

Ignore what cpu-z is telling you, they all show the stock speed

Bottom left shows the megahertz

Should show 3700

Biohazard · 28 Jul 2009 at 12:56

Doesn't show 3700mhz at all.

Anyone any ideas? I don't want to return the mobo to ocuk if it isn't that.

AMDX23800+ · 28 Jul 2009 at 13:19

My BIOS overclocks weren't actually happening either, I reset the CMOS, loaded default BIOS settings and started again, that worked for me

Biohazard · 28 Jul 2009 at 15:17

I'm going to pull it all apart tonight and try again, failing that I will overclock my back up 3.4ghz P4 see if that sticks.

Dr Who · 28 Jul 2009 at 15:35

Worth trying the new version of CPU-Z before you pull it all apart?

Pic shows 1.51 new version is 1.52