CPU-Z reports incorrect CPU speed

[Turbonium]

Processor is a T5470 (1.6 GHz Core 2 Duo, mobile CPU).

CPU-Z reports a 1.8 GHz speed half the time (it fluctuates between this and the supposed maximum of 1.6 GHz - spec sheet):

I realize this is probably a bit of a newb question, but what gives?

 

[peroludiarom]

Hi,

as far as i see, your multiplier is increased for 8.0 (default) to 9.0, and i suppose that this is motherboard setting, that have to be adjusted.
What is your mobo ?

 

[Turbonium]

Hi,

as far as i see, your multiplier is increased for 8.0 (default) to 9.0, and i suppose that this is motherboard setting, that have to be adjusted.
What is your mobo ?

Likely a proprietary Dell motherboard (this is a Vostro 1400). The exact model or revision, I'm not sure of.

I figured CPU-Z is just giving a false reading, but what you're telling me is rather alarming (in the sense that the motherboard was repaired/replaced a couple years back, and I haven't ran CPU-Z since, meaning if the multiplier is indeed maxing out at 9.0x, I've been running the CPU overclocked for a couple years now, totally unaware).

 

[peroludiarom]

Likely a proprietary Dell motherboard (this is a Vostro 1400). The exact model or revision, I'm not sure of.

I figured CPU-Z is just giving a false reading, but what you're telling me is rather alarming (in the sense that the motherboard was repaired/replaced a couple years back, and I haven't ran CPU-Z since, meaning if the multiplier is indeed maxing out at 9.0x, I've been running the CPU overclocked for a couple years now, totally unaware).

If you don't have issues with these settings, you can leave it like that. You get 10% overclock for free 🙂 And as you mention, you have used these settings for couple of years, so you don't have to worry about it ... :whiste:

 

[Turbonium]

I just ran Windows Experience Index (Vista 32-bit) and compared scores, and I got the exact same CPU score as I did when I first got this system (4.7).

I checked the BIOS, and there's no multiplier setting. The BIOS also reported the min/max clock of the CPU to be 1200MHz/1600MHz, respectively.

I still think this is a false reading, but I want to know what other, more knowledgeable members think.

 

[sm625]

Its a 35W processor. It is amazing how a SU9600 is just as fast but is uses 10W. Not a bad shift for one generation.

 

[Turbonium]

Seeing this thread just now: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=153761

Seems like more evidence pointing towards bad software readings.

Seriously, this has me really curious as to how the clock speed of a CPU is even determined (e.g. multipliers), as well as measured.

 

[GammaLaser]

Your CPU supports Intel Dynamic Acceleration, which lets it "turbo" up by one multiplier if it is running a single threaded workload. It is basically a simple version of TurboBoost seen on newer Core ix CPUs but isn't a big advertised feature.

 

[Turbonium]

Your CPU supports Intel Dynamic Acceleration, which lets it "turbo" up by one multiplier if it is running a single threaded workload. It is basically a simple version of TurboBoost seen on newer Core ix CPUs but isn't a big advertised feature.

Thanks for the clarification.

I thought this CPU only had SpeedStep, where it downclocked to save power, not overclocked to increase performance.