Clock Multiplier

[lovetolearn]

Hello,

I am new to the world of computers, currently studying for the A+ Exam. I used the CPU-Z on my computer. It told me that my computer had an internal speed of 798.2MHZ. The clock multiplier was 8x. Does that mean that my computer should be running at 6.0GHZ?

 

[rolli59]

How about 8x100 = 800MHz! Just guessing old computer?

 

[lovetolearn]

No, its a new computer. Intel i5 - 2410M

 

[Chipbuster]

Unless you're running the computer on some insane cooling system, then it should be on fire right about now. I'm assuming that it's not, and thus that something is off (either you're reading the actual clock and the multiplier, or that CPU-Z is wrong)

 

[amuffin]

The mobile cpu's downclock themselves to save power. That is why it is running at 800mhz instead of 2.4ghz.

 

[lovetolearn]

I agree. That's why i didn't understand. In addition my System Properties only show a maximum speed of 2.3GHz.
What do you mean when you say that I am reading the actual clock and the multiplier?

 

[lovetolearn]

The mobile cpu's downclock themselves to save power. That is why it is running at 800mhz instead of 2.4ghz.

I understand the concept of the internal speed being 800MHz. However, what I do not understand is how come the CPU-z tells me that my CPU can run at a maximum of 6GHz when System Properties tells me its only 2.3GHz.

Is the CPU-Z wrong? From what I have heard, it is pretty accurate.

 

[amuffin]

I understand the concept of the internal speed being 800MHz. However, what I do not understand is how come the CPU-z tells me that my CPU can run at a maximum of 6GHz when System Properties tells me its only 2.3GHz.

Is the CPU-Z wrong? From what I have heard, it is pretty accurate.

take a screen shot, also there are clock speeds, which in this case is 100mhz. It is multiplied by 8 to get 800mhz

 

[lovetolearn]

take a screen shot, also there are clock speeds, which in this case is 100mhz. It is multiplied by 8 to get 800mhz

How do I insert the screenshot?

 

[amuffin]

How do I insert the screenshot?

upload it to a website like image shack

 

[cbag]

CPUZ shows what speed the computer is currently at (which in your case is ~800Mhz).

My guess is you aren't running any programs so the CPU has downclocked in order to save energy. If you leave CPUZ open and run a prime95 it will probably go up to the regular clock and multiplier

 

[lovetolearn]

You may have to open the image in a new browser.

 

[amuffin]

can you copy and paste the link? Im too lazy to type it letter for letter.

 

[lovetolearn]

can you copy and paste the link? Im too lazy to type it letter for letter.

LOL. Will do.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/444/cpuzle.jpg/

 

[amuffin]

Yeah thats 800mhz, how are you getting 6ghz?

 

[lovetolearn]

By multiplying the Core Speed with the Clock Multiplier.

 

[amuffin]

its multiplying multiplier with bus speed not core speed and clock multiplier.

 

[Chipbuster]

AAAAaaaand amuffin gets to it right before me. That's what I meant when I said "actual clock" (core speed) by the multiplier. I put it pretty badly though

Is an 8.0x multiplier normal for an intel chip? I've only used AMD so far, but I don't think SpeedStep works by altering the multiplier....and that would imply that your CPU is capped at 800MHz ish

 

[amuffin]

AAAAaaaand amuffin gets to it right before me. That's what I meant when I said "actual clock" (core speed) by the multiplier. I put it pretty badly though

Is an 8.0x multiplier normal for an intel chip? I've only used AMD so far, but I don't think SpeedStep works by altering the multiplier....and that would imply that your CPU is capped at 800MHz ish

It is at 8x because it is a laptop cpu that downclocks itself to save battery life.

 

[Chipbuster]

Oh, I see. So it actually does change the multiplier.

 

[amuffin]

Oh, I see. So it actually does change the multiplier.

Yes, that is called turbo boost. Current gen sandybridge cpu's downclock themselves. So the desktop series downclocks to 1.6ghz.

 

[lovetolearn]

Sorry I been out for a few days. Thanks for all the help. Just so that I am clear on things. CPU-Z displays the current clock speed of the CPU. On laptops, the CPU downgrades the clock speed in order to save power. Thus, that is why CPU-Z is reading 800MHZ instead of 2.4 GHZ (the advertised clock speed for my unit). Is this correct?

 

[amuffin]

Sorry I been out for a few days. Thanks for all the help. Just so that I am clear on things. CPU-Z displays the current clock speed of the CPU. On laptops, the CPU downgrades the clock speed in order to save power. Thus, that is why CPU-Z is reading 800MHZ instead of 2.4 GHZ (the advertised clock speed for my unit). Is this correct?

yes.

 

[lovetolearn]

Best answer selected by lovetolearn.