CPU Speed Cut in Half (Almost) ????

comp_ali · Aug 4, 2011, 01:38 PM

My brothers computer has a strange issue. The CPU speed is always stuck at 1.6 instead of 2.8GHZ sometimes it peaks to 2.8GHZ for less than a second (Noticed that through CPUZ) but even if there is a heavy game/program running it is always 1.6GHZ. Tried the following:
1. Forcing 10.5 multiplier instead of auto which always stick to 6.0 through bios.
2.Updating motherboard bios.
3.Manually tweaking various frequency setting in bios but it always revert to 6.0 after reboot.

The system specs :
MB: Gigabyte 945 S2L
C.P.U: Intel E7400 2.8GHZ
Ram: 2 GB Kingston

I am sick of this bug/hardware fault. Any suggestions.

IvanV · Aug 4, 2011, 01:49 PM

I'm guessing that something is overheating, not necessarily the CPU itself, possibly the power circuitry on the motherboard. When I set my CPU multiplier too high (it's a black edition), it quickly starts throttling down when under load so I actually get lower performance with higher multipliers. I'm suspecting the motherboard in my case because it's a value model with no heatsinks on voltage regulating elements and the CPU temp doesn't get that high, possibly it's something similar with your brother's PC.

Maybe you could try lowering the multiplier in BIOS to 9.5 and see what happens.

Kizo · Aug 4, 2011, 01:50 PM

Have you tried disabling the EIST altogether, instead of forcing a certain multiplier?
Also, check the temps, as Ivan suggested.

Edit: The reason I'm suggesting disabling EIST is that it will show if the CPU has some issues at native speed. Also you might want to keep an eye on the temps while EIST is disabled.

comp_ali · Aug 4, 2011, 02:36 PM

Yea, it was an overheating issue. First time I notice it hit 71c idle. The cooler was not loose and not intact. Thanks Guys. I should have thought it could be this simple

Judas · Aug 5, 2011, 01:02 AM

lol yeah... heating first thing to check..

had a customer come in that regularly apparently "cleaned" his processor as he was told that white stuff would regularly build up on it which needed to be cleaned...

i looked at him so strangely as i had this same kinda statement before...

i asked him to show me

he opened the case... pulled the heatsink off.. and proceeded to wipe what little was left of the white thermal paste was on it...

at which point i asked who told him to do that.

long story short...

his issue was related to it running slow and rebooting frequently "recently"... the cpu was a little roasted but after applying new thermal paste after cleaning it.... and hooking things up properly... the machine was back up to it's top speed when it needed to (auto throttling)..

It was stuck at 900mhz (P4)

Aug 4, 2011, 01:38 PM	#1
comp_ali Sniper Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Egypt Posts: 10,469 Rep Power: 339 System Specs	CPU Speed Cut in Half (Almost) ???? My brothers computer has a strange issue. The CPU speed is always stuck at 1.6 instead of 2.8GHZ sometimes it peaks to 2.8GHZ for less than a second (Noticed that through CPUZ) but even if there is a heavy game/program running it is always 1.6GHZ. Tried the following: 1. Forcing 10.5 multiplier instead of auto which always stick to 6.0 through bios. 2.Updating motherboard bios. 3.Manually tweaking various frequency setting in bios but it always revert to 6.0 after reboot. The system specs : MB: Gigabyte 945 S2L C.P.U: Intel E7400 2.8GHZ Ram: 2 GB Kingston I am sick of this bug/hardware fault. Any suggestions. __________________

Aug 4, 2011, 01:49 PM	#2
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,914 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	Re: CPU Speed Cut in Half (Almost) ???? I'm guessing that something is overheating, not necessarily the CPU itself, possibly the power circuitry on the motherboard. When I set my CPU multiplier too high (it's a black edition), it quickly starts throttling down when under load so I actually get lower performance with higher multipliers. I'm suspecting the motherboard in my case because it's a value model with no heatsinks on voltage regulating elements and the CPU temp doesn't get that high, possibly it's something similar with your brother's PC. Maybe you could try lowering the multiplier in BIOS to 9.5 and see what happens. __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Aug 4, 2011, 01:50 PM	#3
Kizo HHs Valve fanatic/C++ dev Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 281 Rep Power: 73 System Specs	Re: CPU Speed Cut in Half (Almost) ???? Have you tried disabling the EIST altogether, instead of forcing a certain multiplier? Also, check the temps, as Ivan suggested. Edit: The reason I'm suggesting disabling EIST is that it will show if the CPU has some issues at native speed. Also you might want to keep an eye on the temps while EIST is disabled. Last edited by Kizo; Aug 4, 2011 at 01:56 PM.

Aug 4, 2011, 02:36 PM	Thread Starter #4
comp_ali Sniper Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Egypt Posts: 10,469 Rep Power: 339 System Specs	Re: CPU Speed Cut in Half (Almost) ???? Yea, it was an overheating issue. First time I notice it hit 71c idle. The cooler was not loose and not intact. Thanks Guys. I should have thought it could be this simple __________________