Is this normal behavior, clock multiplier flunctuating?

[Bateluer]

MSI's temp/voltage/RPM software is called Core Center. At the center of the screen, it reports the HTT MHz and the clock multiplier. Stock would be 200Mhz x 11.0, for a total of 2.2Ghz. At times, I watch the MHZ flunctuate slightly downwards, to about 196, the the core clock drops slightly with it. It is my understanding that motherboards often flunctuate it this manner, so I didn't think anything of it. However, I left the Core Center program open to see how quickly it reported my temps dropped about 8 hours of Seti. I have now seen the clock multiplier flunctuate from 11.0 to 11.5 several times.

Is the multiplier supposed to vary like that? I though the X2s, AM2 and s939 had locked multipliers and only the FX series had unlock multipliers.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Only the higher multipliers are locked -- you can use any multiplier lower than the stock. Do you have Cool 'N' Quiet enabled?

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
Only the higher multipliers are locked -- you can use any multiplier lower than the stock. Do you have Cool 'N' Quiet enabled?

Enabled in the BIOS, but I don't have windows set with the 'Minimal Power Management' Scheme, so technically no.

If the higher mults are locked, why did it jump to 11.5 for a second or so?

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: Bateluer

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
Only the higher multipliers are locked -- you can use any multiplier lower than the stock. Do you have Cool 'N' Quiet enabled?

Enabled in the BIOS, but I don't have windows set with the 'Minimal Power Management' Scheme, so technically no.

If the higher mults are locked, why did it jump to 11.5 for a second or so?

I believe the mobo can change the multi (for a short amount of time) to make up for lost HTT.

 

[thescreensavers]

does it have the thing called digicell. It does that with me also on my K8L board wiht the 4200 it ssays on the box that it loweres it to maintain the parts to last longer and run cooler look on the box mine does the same thing so dont worrie.

 

[Captante]

The clock speed will fluctuate slightly on my A8N-E too during normal use according to the NTune utility so I don't think the MSI Core-cell has anything to do with it ... I also have cool & quiet disabled so its not that either.

 

[Bateluer]

I just tried to change the clock mult in the bios. 11.5 isn't even an option. And it defaults to 11.0 no matter how many times I try to change it to 12, I can change it to a lower mult though.