Dimension E510 and CPU Throttling

[msi1337]

have a dell dimension e510 and having an issue where my prescott 630 (3ghz,2mb cache) keeps going from 15x multi when running apps to a 14x multi during idle... I have looked all in the bios and windows and I see nowhere to stop it from doing this... is it even possible?

 

[RadiclDreamer]

If its a mobile chip, they slow down when idle to save power and deliver better cooling

 

[Markfw]

Its not a mobile chip. What are the temps ? The prescott series that you have are know to run hot, and when they get too hot, they throttle down. Thats probably whats happening.

 

[stevty2889]

The 6xx series chips have speed step, thats what it is using.

 

[msi1337]

speedstep has already been turned off in the bios

everything relating to cpu throttling is off..any way windows can be automatically trying to use it?

 

[Markfw]

You can;t turn off throttling. It just does it I think. Stevty ?

 

[Furen]

It's speedstep, perhaps your bios doesnt work as it should. Regardless, there's no point to disabling it, since it's saving you a bit of cash on your electric bill.

 

[Bork]

Quoting directly from Dell E510/5150 Service Manual:
"SpeedStep (On=default) Allows the BIOS to modify the processor fan and speed based on processor temperature readings.
NOTE: Intel SpeedStep® is not supported by all processors; therefore, this option will appear only when a supported processor is installed."
Actually my BIOS says the default is OFF. Odd thing is, in my experience with 3 of these PCs, whether OFF or ON, the CPU will idle at 14x and increase to 15x Multiplier under load. Also, only one of them would vary the fan speed; the others just stay at low-speed, almost dead-quiet, no matter what the CPU load.

 

[stevty2889]

TM2 throttling can usualy be disabled in the bios, TM1 is built in to the chip and can't be turned off, but in this case, it just sounds like speed step is doing it's job. It can be turned off as well(unless the dell doesn't give you the option, but it should).