Win 7 Pro decresed my CPU Clock speed by 600mhz!

[AC73]

I ordered Win7 Pro 2 weeks ago and I have been loving it since I installed it. I'm really digging the level of customizing that you can do, and this site is a godsend. Thank you all for your efforts and tutorials! However, I just noticed today that my Core2Quad Q9450 is now running at 2.0Ghz instead of 2.66Ghz Also the the memory has been clocked down 33% according to BlackBox 2.0.
Can anyone tell me why this is? I was going to start overclocking soon, but if this is a problem I would like to have it fixed first. I haven't touched the BOIS. I did not have this machine overclocked with XP either, I had it running at stock speeds. All I did was a clean install with a format of my system drive.
I haven't checked the BIOS yet, I'm going to later, I have to leave the computer on for the next 20-30 mins. I just thought I'd check to see if this has happened to anyone else.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

[whs]

I fail to see how an operating system (or any program) can change the clock speed of a processor. What is odd though is that Win7 reports the right clock speed and the other 2 programs do not. Absolutely mysterious.

 

[stormy13]

AC73, welcome to the forums.

Any chance you have Speedsstep or any other power saving modes enabled in the bios? If so then between that and Windows 7 own power settings (default is Balanced), that would explain it. Clock speeds are lowered as well as voltages in most cases when the computer isn't under load, and ramps back up to full speed when needed.

 

[FZ21Z]

Clock speeds are lowered as well as voltages in most cases when the computer isn't under load, and ramps back up to full speed when needed.

+1.

 

[Samcro]

+2
I have Speedstep running on my i7-860 and see the same thing.
Not worried as I know it will ramp up as needed

 

[AC73]

AC73, welcome to the forums.

Any chance you have Speedsstep or any other power saving modes enabled in the bios? If so then between that and Windows 7 own power settings (default is Balanced), that would explain it. Clock speeds are lowered as well as voltages in most cases when the computer isn't under load, and ramps back up to full speed when needed.

Well after a reboot, all is well it seems. I don't really understand why this happened. I was unaware that C2Q's had speedstep. I thought it was introduced in the Lynnfield CUP's? I have my system specs in my profile for all too see, I don't think my system is compatible with speedstep.
I'm not using any power saving modes in the BIOS or other wise. The only power saving option I have selected in Windows is to turn off the monitor after 30mins.

Thanks for the replies. I'll check periodically to see if this happens again. If so I'll let you all know.
Now its back to customizing Windows with the awesome tutorials here.
Thanks again.

 

[logicearth]

All of Intel's Core line have Speedstep and other power saving features. (less power == less heat)
Windows 7 offers the ability to configure how much to step the processor in advance power settings.

You notice in the first screenshot CPU-Z reports the Multiplier as x6.0 while in the latest it is reported as x8.0. That was Speedstep's doing.

 

[canspec]

All of Intel's Core line have Speedstep and other power saving features. (less power == less heat)
Windows 7 offers the ability to configure how much to step the processor in advance power settings.

You notice in the first screenshot CPU-Z reports the Multiplier as x6.0 while in the latest it is reported as x8.0. That was Speedstep's doing.

Does Intel i3 have Speedstep as well? And if so...how do I go about chcking this "Speedstep to see if it powered back my laptop as well? Thanks for your time!

 

[AC73]

All of Intel's Core line have Speedstep and other power saving features. (less power == less heat)
Windows 7 offers the ability to configure how much to step the processor in advance power settings.

You notice in the first screenshot CPU-Z reports the Multiplier as x6.0 while in the latest it is reported as x8.0. That was Speedstep's doing.

I noticed the mutiplier. I thought the multiplier was locked on my CPU. I just bought an OEM without a HSF, does this mean that speedstep and change the multiplier but I cannot in the BIOS?
I am going to OC, just not right now, I'm a bit busy for the next week or so. I don't have any games installed yet anyways.

 

[logicearth]

Does Intel i3 have Speedstep as well?

Yes. http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLBMQ

I thought the multiplier was locked on my CPU.

It is locked, except to Speedstep which is a function of the CPU itself.

 

[CommonTater]

I fail to see how an operating system (or any program) can change the clock speed of a processor. What is odd though is that Win7 reports the right clock speed and the other 2 programs do not. Absolutely mysterious.

I don't know about Intel so much but AMD actually has downloadable drivers for just that purpose... It's called Cool and Quiet... My AMD 64x2 idles along at 900mhz and ramps up to 2.4ghz when needed... There is also a BIOS setting for it but you also need the drivers to detect CPU load and switch the multipliers.

Also my ASRock ION 330 comes with their "OC Tuner" which sits in the taskbar and lets me overclock it without even rebooting... During startup the service part of the program changes the CPU speeds to my settings.

 

[stormy13]

I don't know about Intel so much but AMD actually has downloadable drivers for just that purpose... It's called Cool and Quiet..

Which is needed in Windows 7 as it is already built-in/supported natively, just needs to be enabled in the bios.