E8400 low 3dmark06 score (1842) why?

[bsmith239]

Just finished an interim build and I was suprized to find that my e8400 was only getting a score of 1842. This seems very low so what gives? Here are the specifics

SM2.0: 4346

HDR/SM3.0: 4991

CPU: 1842

New Rig:

Asus P5N-D Bios 801
E8400 @ 3.0ghz w/ AC cooling
EVGA 8800gts 512mb with newest drivers
2gb gskill ddr2 800 set to 4-4-4-12
750w OCZ powersupply
Vista 32bit SP1

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cjl]

That does seem oddly low. Are both cores enabled and visible?

 

[bsmith239]

When I go into BIOS it says it is running at 2.0ghz with a 6.0 multiplier. How do I check that both cores are running properly?

 

[bsmith239]

In AI suit it has 2 bars under CPU usage. It also has the CPU running at 2ghz, .333 x 6.0, fsb 1333 with a 43C temp.

 

[BobfaceBilly]

Your computer is using Speedstep to save power, so it downclocks your cpu unless under high load.

So just go into your bios and disable it if you want, it might have a different name then speedstep.... But blasted if I can't remember what the other name is right now.

 

[bsmith239]

Under load AI suite is showing that it stays at 2.0ghz. It never goes over that. Shouldn't it got to 3.0ghz under load?

 

[bsmith239]

Update!

Bios says cpu speed = 2.0ghz

Disabled the C1e in cpu configuration.

Changed the multiplier to 9x.333

AIsuite now is showing the cpu running at 3.0ghz with a temp of 46c

Is this a safe temp?

 

[bsmith239]

after the change my news scores in 3dmark06

SM2.0: 5915

HDR/SM3.0: 5694

CPU: 2760

total: 12450

Looks like that fixed the problem.

Is 46-52C too hot for the temp. I am using an Arctic Cooling 7 for the cpu.

 

[BobfaceBilly]

Is that the temp at idle, or during your tests?
If its idle then that is running pretty hot, and I would suggest trying to re-seat your CPU fan, also make sure you are not using to much, or to little thermal paste. You should only have to use about a pea sized drop, and then spread that around.

 

[bsmith239]

It is idle. I am reading that the 8400 have a bug or something in them that make any temperature reading unreliable. Something to do with diodes.