Windows says 700Mhz, but it is a 1Ghz!

[BBC454]

The computer I have is a Dell Inspiron 8000, it is about 2.5 yrs old. Anyways, I went onto the Dell website to check for any new drivers and say they have basically a hardware scanner, so I used it. Everything is what it says it is except the processor; it says it is a 700Mhz p3, I know it is a 1Ghz p3. So I checked in the control panel to see what it says and that too now says 697Mhz. What is going on? I know it is a 1G.

Is there any programs that actually test the speed of the processor or the computer in general? Any websites? Should I worry at all?

Oh, I am running XP Home Edition.

Thanks

 

[oLLie]

This program should tell you lots about your CPU. Perhaps there's a FSB jumper on the motherboard (or an option in bios) set to 100 MHz that you need to set to 133 MHz. It's a common problem for AMD CPU people who forget that the default on many motherboards is 100 MHz. Did you maybe flash the bios, clear CMOS, something that made it forget its settings?

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: oLLie
This program should tell you lots about your CPU. Perhaps there's a FSB jumper on the motherboard (or an option in bios) set to 100 MHz that you need to set to 133 MHz. It's a common problem for AMD CPU people who forget that the default on many motherboards is 100 MHz. Did you maybe flash the bios, clear CMOS, something that made it forget its settings?

The processors they come with are Pentium 3 Mobiles. I believe they have a speed switching feature to help save power. If your laptop is unplugged, it goes down to 700 mhz, if it is plugged in, it is full speed. I believe it can be changed in the bios.

 

[phpdog]

de'll computers always have weird settings .

 

[AnitaPeterson]

another solution would be for you to download Belarc advisor and check things out thoroughly...

 

[dnuggett]

This program should tell you lots about your CPU.

Please relink. Your link is dead.

 

[sciencewhiz]

I assume he was talking about wcpuid: http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA002374/src/download.html

 

[ITJunkie]

If you go into your BIOS you should find a setting called "Smart CPU Mode" that will allow you to enable or disable it for both battery and AC. I think it is enabled on both by default. You should be able to disable under AC and see maximum CPU speed.

It's a part of the energy conservation thingy

 

[xSauronx]

my mothers compaw lapto was read by windows as a~500mhz ,,,,

is there some mobile duron that adjusts its speed? i dont keep up with them. i rebooted into knoppix and it was back at 1ghz like it should be, gah

 

[BBC454]

ITJunkie had it exactly, thanks for all of your guy's help. It is all normal now.

 

[crapito]

i'd recommend CPU-Z over WCPUID (the other program linked above). very similar, but CPU-Z shows more info. of course, both with show your CPU speed.

 

[alm4rr]

ah good the site works for me now

 

[oLLie]

Originally posted by: crapito
i'd recommend CPU-Z over WCPUID (the other program linked above). very similar, but CPU-Z shows more info. of course, both with show your CPU speed.

I believe I've heard of CPU-Z but I've never used it. The poster earlier was correct, I was talking about WCPUID. I guess the link is broken because I tried to link directly to the download. If you google WCPUID, the homepage is the first result IIRC. (Or you can try CPU-Z)

 

[stevewm]

Originally posted by: xSauronx
my mothers compaw lapto was read by windows as a~500mhz ,,,,

is there some mobile duron that adjusts its speed? i dont keep up with them. i rebooted into knoppix and it was back at 1ghz like it should be, gah

Moble Durons have AMD's power saving feature called PowerNow

PowerNow adjusts CPU speed based on CPU load. The more processor power you use, the higher the clock rate. However to work correctly your OS needs to support it as well. Windows supports ir just fine, knoppix may not.