Windows 7 - Turbo Boost -- what gives?

My new DELL desktop came with an Intel i7-2600 CPU @ 3.4 GHz w/ Turbo Boost technology. The specs indicate the CPU speed can go up to 3.8 GHz. I ran a few CPU speed tests and they were disappointing.

I monitor CPU core frequency with ArgusMonitor. When CPU load is at 100% on all 4 cores / 8 threads, I get an extra 0.1 GHz boost on each core (3.5 GHz instead of 3.8 GHz). That is by design, I think; I read somewhere that, if all cores are at top speed then Turbo Boost does not kick in. So I ran a test on one logical CPU. Still not getting 3.8 GHz -- maybe because the OS distributes CPU load over multiple CPUs even when the application only uses one core?

Is there a test that can demonstrate the full Tubo Boost capabability of a CPU? That is, one that results in ArgusMonitor showing at least one core/thread running at 3.8 GHz for a short amount of time? Thanks.

My Acer laptop computer came with Intel Turbo Boost Monitor. Check your Start menu Programs for an Intel folder. I can't imagine a name brand system not having this preinstalled. I have it visible on the desktop at all times.

Download copz to measure your frequency and core temp to measure your CPU temps. Keep a close watch on the cpu temps and if they get too high stop the test. Download the Intel Burn test and run it on standard. With all 3 applications open you will know most of the info you want to now. Keep a close watch on the CPU temps because they will increase rapidly.

Thanks for your advice. None of the four cores go above 3.6 GHz, even when stress level in Intel Burn Test is set to "Maximum". Core temperature never reaches 75 degrees Celsius and stability is good. I suppose there is a safety setting in the Dell BIOS which prevents the cores from reaching 3.8 GHz.

Knowing Dell as well as I do, that does not surprise me.

have you tried changing Power Management features in the Control Panel?
Perhaps to a high performance setting.

If that doesn't help, there very well may be something limiting the Turbo Speeds in the bios. Which may be locked on a Dell.

Turbo boost only goes up to 3.8ghz on a single core/single threaded applications. It drops down to 3.6ghz when two or more cores are in use.

Since you've seen 3.8ghz on a single core - and 3.6ghz on others, it's working as it should.

Bingo! I get 3.8 GHz if and only if I set the Intel Burn Test to run on 1 (one) thread. It was set to Auto by default. Thank you all for your help!

But:

I presumed that you had.

Thank you, smarteyeball, in the mean time I figured out a solution based on the input received here and I edited my post without knowing that you had replied. Cheers!