What is going on with this CPU?

[gamee-o]

Core 2 Duo E6550 on an Asus P5LD2-SE board.... CPU-z displays it's default specs as @2.33GHz, but it never reaches that.

Instead core speed continuously varies in the ~1600-1800 MHz range, multiplier constantly jumps from 6x to 7x and then back down, core voltage is always fluctuating between 1.216 to 1.392 V.... All this on idle.

BUS speed stays at 267.1 MHz, Rated FSB stays at 1068.5 MHz.

Excuse the ignorance, but what is this?

 

[Pinhedd]

This is Intel's Speedstep. It varies the processor speed to handle workloads while keeping power down. CPUs are discrete devices, they're either on and operating or off and not operating. When they're on and have nothing to do they just run a simple loop known as the System Idle Process in Windows. The SIP doesn't need to be run full speed so the operating system can slow the processor down to conserve power (and thus reduce heat dissipation) while still meeting software constraints. When a task requires the processor's full potential it will very quickly step back up to full speed.

If you watch the processor's frequency while running a heavy task such as Prime95 you'll see it run at full speed

 

[thently]

This is just intel speed step you never see it get to max because you are not putting a load on it so it is saving you heat and electricity. It does go up to max speed when it is needed.

Thent

 

[kidcrumb]

Just one of intels/windows means of saving power. If you play a game or anything then it should jump up to what it needs to process it effectively.

 

[gamee-o]

Thank you for the answers. It was the voltage variation that had me somewhat worried. Shouldn't there be more voltage stability? Isn't the 1.384+V (sometimes it reaches just over 1.4) that I am getting too high for a non overclocked CPU?

 

[gamee-o]

Best answer selected by gamee-o.