Thread: Processor at wrong speed

  1. #1

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    Processor at wrong speed

    My parents computer system just got a new motherboard installed. I came home for break and saw that the processor is not listed at the proper speed. It should be at 3.4GHz , but when I go to My Computer it says that it is running at 2.79GHz.

    I've attached a screenshot of what I am talking about. What's even more bothersome is that in startup, when I go to the BIOS, it says that it is 1.6GHz. I have absolutely no clue what could be causing this, perhaps a defunct mobo battery? bus speed set incorrectly? Hmm.
    I'm not immature, I'm refined in the opposite direction.

  2. #2
    Kernel hacker
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    First of all, get yourself a decent CPU speed detector. ZCpu for example is a good one. That will also tell you what the ACTUAL clock multiplier and bus-speed is.

    One thought that comes to mind is that either the heatsink isn't working right, or the temp limit for the processor isn't set high enough, so the system is "clock-throttling" [overheat protection by pulsing the "clock-stop" pin on and off every few microseconds. This means that although when it's running, the system is running at full speed, it's also stopped for a period of time now and again - a bit like driving a racing car with traffic-lights every 100 yards].

    Another possibility is of course that the system is running some sort of power-saving scheme [SpeedStep] that adjusts the CPU speed according to the load on the system. I'm not quite sure which models of processor supports this and which doesn't, and/or what motherboard settings are needed for it to work. If this is the case, your system is just not busy enough to require full CPU speed, so that would be a good reason to run a slower speed.

    There are several other options too, but these are the most likely.

    --
    Mats
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    Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.

  3. #3

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    Thank you for the suggestions, I was not familiar with those possibilities and the ZCpu program, I highly appreciate the response. I will let you know what I find, thanks again.
    I'm not immature, I'm refined in the opposite direction.

  4. #4
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    Here's what happened. Your parents brought their computer in to get a new motherboard. The guy installing it realized that the CPU is *way* better than the one he has at home, he took the 3.4GHz out of your parents board and put his old 1.6GHz, overclocked to 2.79GHz, and shipped it back to your folks.

  5. #5

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    The only thing I can see that is different between the way the setup should be and the way it currently is is the multiplier. The multiplier is 14, and it should be 16 for 3.2GHz, 17 for 3.4GHz. I'm just not sure how to change it on this system (Intel pentium 4 3.4GHz cpu, i875 chipset). There does not seem to be a bios option, I'm afraid that it's locked (how do I determine if the multiplier is locked, and how could the computer people have changed this?)
    I'm not immature, I'm refined in the opposite direction.

  6. #6
    Woof, woof! zacs7's Avatar
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    Before accusing anyone I'd read what it physically says on the CPU. That way you can determine if you've been had, otherwise you're wasting your time. If they've scratched the numbers off, get the 12Gauge.

  7. #7
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    Here's what happened. Your parents brought their computer in to get a new motherboard. The guy installing it realized that the CPU is *way* better than the one he has at home, he took the 3.4GHz out of your parents board and put his old 1.6GHz, overclocked to 2.79GHz, and shipped it back to your folks.
    Hehe.


    I would trust what the BIOS says. The multiplier is probably set incorrectly. Most boards come from the factory in OEM condition which is not always the optimal nor advertised speed.

  8. #8

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    Ultimately, the multiplier is set incorrectly and the speed it is actually running at while in windows, which is 2.7GHz (speed obtained using the CPU-z program), is substantially less than the 3.4GHz that the processor is manufactured to run at. Now, what I need is to be able to adjust the multiplier from 14 to 16. How do I do that? I have looked at EasyTune software but have not had success (the program will not run). Any other suggestions?
    I'm not immature, I'm refined in the opposite direction.

  9. #9
    Devil's Advocate SlyMaelstrom's Avatar
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    Can you tell us the maker and version of your BIOS? If not, how about the manufacturer of the motherboard?

    Why not try this link? It shows a few i875 motherboards and every screen in the bios for them.

    http://www.hothardware.com/articles/...F%5FChaintech/
    Sent from my iPadŽ

  10. #10
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    Most of the time you can set the multiplier right inside the BIOS. My ASUS board makes it very simple to do this but I'm not sure about your specific board.

  11. #11

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    Thank you for the replies.

    Here is the information for my BIOS (obtained, again, from the CPU-z program):

    Brand: Dell Computer Corporation
    Version: A01
    Date: 04/28/2003

    I don't know if it is telling, but the BIOS lists the process as 1.6GHz, which surely is not accurate for the computer once it has started up. I do not know how the BIOS can misread the processor speed, but CPU-z verifies that it is operating at 2.7GHz once I am in the operating system, not 1.6GHz.

    I do not see any option for changing the multiplier in my BIOS. I have read that Intel sometimes locks the multiplier, but, that wouldn't make sense in this case because the people that installed this motherboard somehow (purposefully or not) changed it.

    I am currently googling to see if I can find out how to change the multiplier with this BIOS, I will reply if I get it so that nobody wastes any time. Thanks again.
    I'm not immature, I'm refined in the opposite direction.

  12. #12
    Officially An Architect brewbuck's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobMcGee123 View Post
    I am currently googling to see if I can find out how to change the multiplier with this BIOS, I will reply if I get it so that nobody wastes any time. Thanks again.
    Why are you wasting YOUR time? The technicians have obviously screwed up your parent's computer. Send it back and insist they fix it. Why are you spending your own time fixing their mistakes?

  13. #13
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by brewbuck View Post
    Why are you wasting YOUR time? The technicians have obviously screwed up your parent's computer. Send it back and insist they fix it. Why are you spending your own time fixing their mistakes?
    here here.

  14. #14

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    Why are you wasting YOUR time? The technicians have obviously screwed up your parent's computer. Send it back and insist they fix it. Why are you spending your own time fixing their mistakes?
    It's a small business, and on this week there is a holiday in the US called Thanksgiving. Small businesses choose their own hours and this one in particular has decided to take not only Thanksgiving day off, but also the rest of the week.
    I'm not immature, I'm refined in the opposite direction.

  15. #15
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    If you guys just had thanksgiving in October like the rest of the thanksgiving celebrating world, you wouldn't have this problem.

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