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    2.53ghz dual core running only 1.6ghz? CPU-Z pic inside

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by tassadar898, Jul 28, 2009.

  1. tassadar898

    tassadar898 Notebook Evangelist

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    Is there a reason my CPU core speed never goes above 1.6ghz even tho I have a P8700 @ 2.53ghz?
     

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  2. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    It's called Intel SpeedStep. It lets your processor run at a lower frequency and voltage when it's not being fully utilized, to save power and produce less heat. It's perfectly normal. Try opening up a large program and you will see the frequency jump up to the maximum.
     
  3. tassadar898

    tassadar898 Notebook Evangelist

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    I see, awesome thanks alot
     
  4. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Your computer is telling you that you rarely need the full speed of the CPU. A 1.6GHz processor would run most of your tasks just fine...
     
  5. spradhan01

    spradhan01 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Does Intel SpeedStep happens automatically or we need to triger it?
     
  6. madmook

    madmook Notebook Evangelist

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    It's automatic, unless you disable it in your BIOS (if your BIOS even has the option).
     
  7. spradhan01

    spradhan01 Notebook Virtuoso

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    I have not recognized it yet. I will look for it after I get home.
     
  8. IntelUser

    IntelUser Notebook Deity

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    If the speed is NEVER going over the lowest Speedstep grade of 1.6GHz, I'd say you have another problem. You'd notice with CPU-Z that even opening Firefox will increase your CPU speed briefly. I've seen laptops that don't increase speed at all. This laptop was so bad that that it basically acted as if it was a 800MHz default clock speed CPu was installed!(even though it was nominally 2GHz). I think the dead fan was the culprit but I never found out the real reason.