CPU core speed not constant

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Twag Scott

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Apr 23, 2014
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Hey everyone, so I was taking a look at my cpu using CPU-Z and I saw my core speed is not staying constant. I have a 6700k so it should be running at 4.00GHz (didnt OC it) but instead it varies by the second jumping all over the place from 4000MHz for a few seconds to 1200MHz. Does anyone know the reason for this and how to fix it so it constantly stays at 4000MHz? Thanks for all the help :)
 
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That varies by motherboard/BIOS and CPU. It is usually multiple adjustments because the CPU adjusts voltage/current constantly as well when adjusting core clock. If you want to manually set one thing (fixed clock) I believe you will usually have to tweak other values as well. Then you also have to consider whether you want that to apply to 1, 2, 3 or all cores. I would look for an overclocking guide for your CPU online.

BTW, if not done right you could end up with an unstable system (reboots/blue screens) or even a fried CPU. Even if you are not trying to raise the clock rate, you are technically getting into overclocking here.
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c4s2k3

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Sep 17, 2015
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It will hit its max under load, otherwise, it clocks down to save energy and reduce heat. Perfectly normal. You could fix the clock speed in bios but you probably won't notice any difference under normal use. You'll just be wasting energy and generating excess heat even when there isn't much for the CPU to do.
 
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Twag Scott

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Apr 23, 2014
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Thank you for the reply. What setting do I need to change in my BIOS to do it?

 
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c4s2k3

Reputable
Sep 17, 2015
347
0
4,960
That varies by motherboard/BIOS and CPU. It is usually multiple adjustments because the CPU adjusts voltage/current constantly as well when adjusting core clock. If you want to manually set one thing (fixed clock) I believe you will usually have to tweak other values as well. Then you also have to consider whether you want that to apply to 1, 2, 3 or all cores. I would look for an overclocking guide for your CPU online.

BTW, if not done right you could end up with an unstable system (reboots/blue screens) or even a fried CPU. Even if you are not trying to raise the clock rate, you are technically getting into overclocking here.
 
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dudeman509

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Jan 23, 2015
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It's Speedstepping - Intel CPUs have done that for many years. They run cooler and use less power when they scale back - there really is no reason to have it run at constant top speed when CPU usage is near idle.

Hit it with a heavy task that utilizes all cores - such as a Handbrake video conversion - and you'll probably see it hold constant 4.0 GHz.

If it still is scaling back, look at your core temperatures.
 
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