How to determine current CPU speed of Toshiba Laptop

[joelryan3k]

Is there a utility that will show me the current power state of the CPU - as in what the Toshiba power saver utility has decided to set it to? I've noticed that, when the CPU is really hot, the utility silently drops the speed of the CPU. However, the speed of the fan is normal - not what you'd expect if the CPU is too hot.

Sisoft Sandra scores indicate that the CPU is sometimes stuck at 1/2 speed - not even matching the speed of a 1.7 Celeron. This morning I run the CPU benchmark and the score matches the speed of a 2.8 Celeron.

Both these scores are using my 'high power' profile which is basically everything set to 'max'.

Thanks
-- Joel

SiSoftware Sandra

System
Host Name : JOELSNOTEBOOK
User : jryan
Domain : WORKGROUP

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.80GHz
Speed : 2.80GHz
Performance Rating : PR3080 (estimated)
Cores per Processor : 1 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Internal Data Cache : 8kB Synchronous, Write-Thru, 4-way set, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 128kB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 2-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 lines per sector

Mainboard
Bus(es) : ISA X-Bus AGP PCI IMB PCMCIA CardBus USB i2c/SMBus
MP Support : No
MP APIC : Yes
System BIOS : TOSHIBA Version 1.80
System : TOSHIBA Satellite A65
Mainboard : TOSHIBA Portable PC
Total Memory : 1.2GB DDR-SDRAM

Chipset 1
Model : ATI Technologies Inc ??? (CAB3)
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 100MHz (400MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 256MB DDR-SDRAM

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor/Panel : Default Monitor
Monitor/Panel : Default Monitor
Adapter : ATI MOBILITY RADEON 7000 IGP
Imaging Device : CanoScan LiDE 30/N1240U #2

Physical Storage Devices
Hard Disk : ST96812A (56GB)
CD-ROM/DVD : TOSHIBA DVD-ROM SD-R2512 (CD 24X Rd, 24X Wr) (DVD 3X Rd)
CD-ROM/DVD : Generic DVD-ROM SCSI CdRom Device (CD 32X Rd) (DVD 4X Rd)

Logical Storage Devices
1.44MB 3.5" (A : N/A
Hard Disk (C : 56GB (14GB, 25% Free Space) (NTFS)
CD-ROM/DVD (D : N/A
Lsse95_1 (E : 553MB (CDFS)

Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 1 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
PCMCIA/CardBus Controller : Texas Instruments PCI-1410 CardBus Controller
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse : Synaptics PS/2 Port Pointing Device

SiSoftware Sandra

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.80GHz
Speed : 2.80GHz
Performance Rating : PR3080 (estimated)
Cores per Processor : 1 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Package : FC µPGA478
Rated Speed/FSB : 2800MHz / 4x 100MHz
Multiplier : 28/1x
Minimum/Maximum Multiplier : 0/1x / 28/1x
Generation : G8
Name : P4C (Northwood) Celeron 130nm 2GHz+ 1.525V
Revision/Stepping : 2 / 9 (A)
Stepping Mask : D1
Microcode : MU0F292E
Core Voltage Rating : 1.525V
Maximum Physical / Virtual Addressing : 36-bit / 32-bit
Native Page Size : 4kB

Co-Processor (FPU)
Type : Built-in
Revision/Stepping : 2 / 9 (A)

Processor Cache(s)
Internal Data Cache : 8kB Synchronous, Write-Thru, 4-way set, 64 byte line size
Internal Trace Cache : 12kB Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way set, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 128kB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 2-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 lines per sector
L2 Cache Multiplier : 1/1x (2800MHz)

Upgradeability
Socket/Slot : mFCPGA
Upgrade Interface : Other
Supported Speed(s) : 3.20GHz+

 

[Smartazz]

The program CPU-Z tells you current cpu speed and I use it on my laptop when it lowers speed.

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

You have a 2.8 celeron, and your score matches a 2.8 celeron. What's wrong?

 

[INM8]

You could just right click on the my computer icon and select properties. There is a cpu-speed meter down the bottom under the "Computer:" heading.

 

[PsYcHoCoW]

Originally posted by: unfalliblekrutch
You have a 2.8 celeron, and your score matches a 2.8 celeron. What's wrong?

What's wrong is that "Sisoft Sandra scores indicate that the CPU is sometimes stuck at 1/2 speed - not even matching the speed of a 1.7 Celeron", as is written in the original post, first sentence of the second paragraph.

 

[cubalis]

Try giving notebook hardware control a look - http://www.pbus-167.com/chc.htm

Lets you set up your own voltage/multiplier settings and monitor temps and processor speeds using a taskbar icon.

 

[corkyg]

And you can also run SYSINFO.

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo\msinfo32.exe"

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

Originally posted by: PsYcHoCoW

Originally posted by: unfalliblekrutch
You have a 2.8 celeron, and your score matches a 2.8 celeron. What's wrong?

What's wrong is that "Sisoft Sandra scores indicate that the CPU is sometimes stuck at 1/2 speed - not even matching the speed of a 1.7 Celeron", as is written in the original post, first sentence of the second paragraph.

I'm pretty sure that's the celeron's power saving feature. I remember old northwood celerons had speedstep (NOT enhanced speedstep). Losing the "enhanced" part means if you are running on battery, there is a set clock it will run, and if you are on AC, it runs at full speed. I'm guessing the times that sisoft indicates you are stuck at 1/2 speed is during battery operation.

 

[kmmatney]

Use cpu-z to get real-time cpu speeds.

 

[joelryan3k]

Thanks for all your replies.

CPU-Z was indeed the correct utility to use as it gives the current speed the CPU is running at. However, it helped me discover that this CPU probably doesn't have speedstep, at the clock is running at 2800 MHz even when Sandra returns results consistent with a 1.7 GHz chip. The OS must be doing something else to limit CPU speed.

 

[corkyg]

Speedstep is not necessarily automatic. It has to be installed and enabled.

That really was a good tip on CPU-Z. It does a very good job.

CPU-Z

 

[Nextman916]

cpu-z work on labtops?

 

[corkyg]

Absolutely! Here is the clip from my laptop . . .

Lap

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: Nextman916
cpu-z work on laptops?

Yes it does.