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    AMD Sempron 3000 + wierd GHz question...

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Knickatknite, Dec 19, 2006.

  1. Knickatknite

    Knickatknite Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi, I have an Acer Aspire 3000 Notebook with the AMD Mobile Sempron 3000 + 1.8 GHz...

    Here's the deal, when I am in Windows and click on 'My Computer' and then 'properties' sometimes it reads 1.8 Ghz, or it reads 1.58 Ghz...I've even had it read 792 MHz???!! What the heck is up with that? Is Windows just confused or is it actually reading those figures at that very moment? I've never had a computer do this before...
     
    Knickatknite, Dec 19, 2006
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  2. TedJ

    TedJ Asus fan in a can!

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    No, what you're looking at is dynamic adjustments to processor speed to conserve battery power. On mobile AMD based systems, it's called PowerNow!
     
    TedJ, Dec 19, 2006
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  3. vespoli

    vespoli 402 NBR Reviewer

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    vespoli, Dec 19, 2006
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  4. Rahul

    Rahul Notebook Prophet

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    Yes, what is happening is that your processor keeps throttling up or down depending on how much CPU power is required in order to conserve battery life and produce less heat and fan noise. Its nothing to get worried about though I'm betting there's an option to have the CPU always run at full blast if you wish.
     
    Rahul, Dec 19, 2006
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  5. TedJ

    TedJ Asus fan in a can!

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    Welcome to my new sig... ;)
     
    TedJ, Dec 20, 2006
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  6. ez2remember

    ez2remember Notebook Evangelist

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    The CPU dynamically adjust according to its demand.

    The difference in performance between constantly running at 1.8Ghz and dynamically adjusting itself from 800Mhz to 1.8Ghz is almost zilch. It throttles up and down in milliseconds.

    You can test this with benchmarks. Run SuperPI or any other CPU intensive program and it will remain at 1.8Ghz. If you use NHC (notebook hardware control) you can see it constantly jumping up and down. For example even when I click the start button it jumps from 800Mhz to 1Ghz...
     
    ez2remember, Dec 20, 2006
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  7. Knickatknite

    Knickatknite Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks a lot for all the clarification guys! I thought something was wrong with it, but now it makes perfect sense--PowerNow! Duh!?
     
    Knickatknite, Dec 20, 2006
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