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    Safely change Intel SpeedStep?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by cephasara, Feb 10, 2009.

  1. cephasara

    cephasara Notebook Consultant

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    Is it possible to change intel speedstep from dropping the clock speed down to as low as 800 MHz (normal clock is 1.86GHz) while plugged in? While I am putting a considerable load on it I still usually see it around 1.2GHz or somewhere around there. If I did change settings like this would it shorten the life of the parts on my computer as well? Given it would get warmer.. I just would like to be able to use my computer at 1.86GHz more often, in fact I don't even see my clock speed around there that often. Now I personally feel like clock speeds of laptop processors are more of a gimmick.
     
    cephasara, Feb 10, 2009
    #1
  2. namaiki

    namaiki "basically rocks" Super Moderator

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    What are you doing with your computer that would require 1.86GHz at all times?

    The processor ramps up when more power is needed.
     
    namaiki, Feb 10, 2009
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  3. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    Its not a gimmick lol. Whats the point of getting 1.8ghz when you dont need it? Your just gonna use up more power.
     
    flipfire, Feb 10, 2009
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  4. fluffboy

    fluffboy Notebook Evangelist

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    try to download rmclock you can change the multipliers with the program.
     
    fluffboy, Feb 10, 2009
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  5. Andriaz

    Andriaz Newbie

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    Andriaz, Feb 10, 2009
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  6. AlexMcIver

    AlexMcIver Notebook Consultant

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    Speedstep is designed so that you use your full speed when you need it and slower speeds otherwise. There's no downside to it when it's operating properly: if I boot up a game, for example, it immediately switches to the maximum speed and I notice no performance drop. Expecting it to run at full speed regardless of what you're doing is akin to flooring the gas pedal when driving at 10mph in traffic: completely unnecessary and a waste of energy (and money).
     
    AlexMcIver, Feb 10, 2009
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  7. Michel.K

    Michel.K 167WAISIQ

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    AlexMcIver, hehe, that was indeed a good comparision with the gaspedal :)
    I agree. waste of money and energy.


    Speedstep works just fine, even if you made it run at full speed all the times, it wouldn't use 100% load when doing the things you do today when it uses 1.2Ghz or 800Mhz, in other words, full speed won't do any difference on those kind of things you're doing. Because if speedstep isn't boosting the CPU up to maximum, you ain't doing anything that requiers it either :)

    There is only upsides with speedstep ON.
    Longer batterylife / draws less energy / cost less money
    Stays alot cooler / runs more quiet / runs alot more efficent
    No notice in performance drops because of it's downclocks, as it goes to maximum clock in a blink of an eye when it's needed.
    Longer lifetime of the hardware too, as you thought.

    It's really not a gimmich, it's just that you don't do anything with your computer that needs more power. You could've settled with a less powerful CPU :)
     
    Michel.K, Feb 10, 2009
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