Need help evaluating my CPU

I built a new system recently, and I'm fairly new to this, so I really dont understand all the intricacies of whats going on, but I think that my CPU might be underperforming?

I'm running a Phenom II X4 945 125 W

Here's what CPU-Z shows:

I've noticed my performance has been pretty poor in games in which I expected no issues at all. I'm also including my dxdiag for additional system information. I can post whatever is needed.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 9/29/2009, 12:45:47
Machine name: KRIS-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7100) (7100.winmain_win7rc.090421-1700)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO.,LTD
System Model: MS-7388
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 945 Processor (4 CPUs), ~800MHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 4096MB RAM
Page File: 1227MB used, 6960MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7100.0000 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9460)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9460&SUBSYS_80301462&REV_00
Display Memory: 2809 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1018 MB
Shared Memory: 1791 MB
Current Mode: 1366 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: VX20L HDTV20A
Monitor Id: VIZ0035
Native Mode: 1366 x 768(p) (59.815Hz)
Output Type: HD15
Driver Name: atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.14.0010.0697 (English)
Driver Version: 8.650.0.0
DDI Version: 10.1
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 8/13/2009 20:49:38, 4629504 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D720-11CF-6B75-3AA0A1C2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x9460
SubSys ID: 0x80301462
Revision ID: 0x0000
Driver Strong Name: oem10.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_R7X:8.650.0.0ci\ven_1002&dev_9460
Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C
D3D9 Overlay: Not Supported
DXVA-HD: Not Supported
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled

Message edited by jackyparadism on 09-29-2009 at 08:08:37 PM

Add a reply

Register or log in to remove.

With a core speed of 800Mhz you'd expect to have lousy performance.

Can you take a CPU-Z screenshot while you have a gaming running?

And seriously..... you can edit out all the DxDiag report after Display Devices section and make us happy.

Reply to WR2

Here is a Phenom-II-955-CPU-Z screenshot showing a correct CPU core speed of 3200Mhz.

link to image: http://www.pcgameshardware.com/screenshots/medium/2009/05/Phenom-II-945-CPU-Z.png
Your 945 should be showing something in the ~3000Mhz range there in the core speed.

Message edited by WR2 on 09-29-2009 at 09:04:08 PM

Reply to WR2

Thank you for the quick reply. Your image is not showing up. Also, should I simply jump into the BIOS and tweak the settings up slowly, or set them straight to what your image shows and see what happens?

I ran Champions Online, a game which heavily stresses my system right now, with CPU-Z running.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by jackyparadism on 09-29-2009 at 08:16:54 PM

Reply to jackyparadism

Isn't that AMD cool'n'quite at work. If it is then all it just means it that cpu is underclocking it self when there nothing cpu intensive work going on.

Reply to warmon6

Which if thats the case then we need to see you doing somthing the will work the cpu. whether its a game or stress program we will need to see if your speed goes back up. if so then there maybe another bottleneck in the computer.

Reply to warmon6

jackyparadism wrote :

Thank you for the quick reply. Your image is not showing up. Also, should I simply jump into the BIOS and tweak the settings up slowly, or set them straight to what your image shows and see what happens?

I ran Champions Online, a game which heavily stresses my system right now, with CPU-Z running.

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/5554/cpuz2j.png

well now that is a problem. try in bios turning off the cool'n'quite feature.

Reply to warmon6

Hi, updated my post above, originally forgot to put the screenshot in while running a game, but if you have alternative suggestions for something I can post to help, I'd be glad to.

Edit: Ok, will try turning that off and seeing what happens.

Message edited by jackyparadism on 09-29-2009 at 08:20:40 PM

Reply to jackyparadism

Cool n' Quiet was disabled, so it's not that. I jotted down the settings while I was in BIOS.

D.O.T. Control [Disabled]
AMD Cool n' Quiet [Disabled]
HT Ratio [Auto]
Adjust CPU FSB Frequency [200]
Adjust CPU Ratio [Auto]

Adjusted CPU Frequency [800]

Reply to jackyparadism

well this becoming troubles some.

Reply to warmon6

Reset BIOS defaults.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to someguy7

Where a person that knows the amd cpu like the back of there hand when you need one?

Well you could go over to the overclocking section of this fourm and see if they know how to bring this cpu back up to speed. (not an overclocker so i cant help there.) There maybe a setting that forcing the cpu to run at those speed and some one the overclocks maybe able to help you identify the settings.

Reply to warmon6

someguy7 wrote :

Reset BIOS defaults.

or do what he said.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to warmon6

warmon6 wrote :

or do what he said.

Heh, these actually are the defaults. I'll try posting in the overclock forum and see if I can get some help. I appreciate everyones input so far, and I'll check back to this thread as well and see if anyone popped in with suggestions.

Reply to jackyparadism

You really do have a problem going on there. Your CPU is being throttled something terrible.

What motherboard and CPU cooler are you using?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to WR2

Those settings should NOT be the default BIOS settings.

Load default settings or fail safe settings. Or update your BIOS if needed.

Reply to someguy7

WR2 wrote :

You really do have a problem going on there. Your CPU is being throttled something terrible.

What motherboard and CPU cooler are you using?

Here are Newegg links to my motherboard and case. I'm using the heatsink and fan that came bundled with the processor, as well stock cooling from the case. I'm not sure what other information I can give about the CPU cooler, is there anything specific you're looking for?

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Cas

MSI K9A2 CF-F V2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard

Reply to jackyparadism

Knowing it's the AMD stock CPU cooler is fine.
Time to monitor the CPU operating temps. Downnload CoreTemp
and take reading at idle and while a game is running.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to WR2

WR2 wrote :

Knowing it's the AMD stock CPU cooler is fine.
Time to monitor the CPU operating temps. Downnload CoreTemp
and take reading at idle and while a game is running.

Heres my idle temperature.

And while running a game

The difference seems pretty low, maybe I'm doing something wrong?

Reply to jackyparadism

bus speed and ht speed are both correct, but there is something wrong with the mutliplayer Defalut it should be X15 because the stock speed for Phenom II X4 945 is 3.0 GHz, 15 X 200 = 3000mhz = 3.0ghz

try going to bios and increase your multiplayer to 15, however dont go all the way 15, increase it in small numbers, or if you dont wanna risk it and you still have your warranty then send it back and get a new one.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to intelx

intelx wrote :

bus speed and ht speed are both correct, but there is something wrong with the mutliplayer Defalut it should be X15 because the stock speed for Phenom II X4 945 is 3.0 GHz, 15 X 200 = 3000mhz = 3.0ghz

try going to bios and increase your multiplayer to 15, however dont go all the way 15, increase it in small numbers, or if you dont wanna risk it and you still have your warranty then send it back and get a new one.

I've actually already tried this, I jumped it up to like 10x originally, thinking that it was simply the problem, and my PC refused to turn on. I had to manually switch the jumper to reset.

I just tried again with a minimal increase, from 4x to 6x and I had the exact same result, PC wont boot.

This is baffling to me, my manufacturer claims my BIOS is fully updated, but I'm going to try and dig around and see if I'm missing an update. Could this problem be caused by compatibility issues with my motherboard? Supposedly my CPU is supposed to be compatible, but I have no clue at this point.

Reply to jackyparadism

thats an older am2+ board with a new am3 cpu.. its not doing something right.

I didnt think those even had a 4x multiplier setting

the board probably needs a bios update . and 1volt doesnt look right for voltage either but I dont have a phenom.. my last amd proc was a 5200+ brisbane.

Reply to rand_79

Update your motherboards BIOS to the latest version and ensure it has proper support for that model Phenom II. When Phenom II first launched a lot of people were dropping them on boards without updating the BIOS and were stuck running at 800mhz.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to loneninja

loneninja wrote :

Update your motherboards BIOS to the latest version and ensure it has proper support for that model Phenom II. When Phenom II first launched a lot of people were dropping them on boards without updating the BIOS and were stuck running at 800mhz.

I doublechecked the MSI website, and lo and behold, despite the live update telling me nothing was available, there is an update for compatibility with my processor, and I believe its the one I need. I'm working on flashing the BIOS, and I'll report back.

Reply to jackyparadism

Well, it was indeed my BIOS! Despite their autoupdate telling me the BIOS was fine, I dug through and found the latest BIOS release and sure enough, it's all working fine now! Default optimized settings show my core speed at 3000 MHz, so just where they should be!

Thank you all again for the help, I was pretty lost without the guidance!

Reply to jackyparadism

Np. Enjoy that system. Now you know for future references to not rely on all that auto update nonsense.

Reply to someguy7

yea so what do i get? a 5870? or a gtx 295? either will be appreciated.

Reply to intelx

Focus On

Forum CPU & Components : CPUs - Need help evaluating my CPU