Processor is 2.4ghz - Windows says only 1.20 is being used?

[Ummon]

I have a '02 model Dell that came with a 1.8ghz P4. I just put in a 2.4ghz P4 and now the bios says it's only a 1.2ghz. In system>general it says:

Pentium P4 2.40ghz
1.20ghz 768 RAM

The thing's sure slow enough, so obviously it's only using half of it. There are no socket 478 dual cores, right?  And the 'speed step' deal shouldn't be on because the power scheme is 'Home/office desk' (not that changing the scheme to something like 'always on' worked, neither).

Anyone know what's going on?

[SirDaShadow]

Update the Bios. Chances are that the motherboard doesn't even know the 2.4 exists....

[Turnarcades]

What he said.

The system will not be able to utilise the full power until it identifies it at it's correct speed.

[TOK]

Do you know what the front side bus speed is set at? Is it adjustable on a Dell?
If it's wrong, this will happen.

[ViciousXUSMC]

My Guess: Its the cool & quiet tech (thats what AMD calls it, I forget what Intel called it on the P4 series)  go download a cpu stress program like wprime and get a real time cpu monitor program like cpu-z and open cpu-z and see what your speed is.

Then start wprime and see if when under load the cpu goes up to full speed.

Its a normal thing for the cpu to throttle down to save power and heat when all of the cpu power is not needed.

[Ummon]

The bus speed is 400mhz and is not adjustable in the bios. The manual says the board can handle 400 and 533, though. As far as Dell says, I have the latest bios (A03), but in this thread a guy says he got A04. I dunno.

[SirDaShadow]

It will help us if you tell us what Dell model you have and what CPU you have. Run CPU-Z and take pictures of all tabs and post them here.

[Ummon]

Okay.

[johnnya]

Dell's specs for that model say, "Intel�  Pentium� 4 that runs at 1.70, 1.80, 1.90, 2.00 GHz internally and 400 MHz externally; 2.26, 2.40, 2.53, or 2.66 GHz internally and 533 MHz externally; or Intel Celeron� that runs at 1.70, 1.80, or 2.00 GHz internally and 400 MHz externally" Since your processor is a 2.4 GHz processor, Dell seems to think you need the 533 MHz FSB model in order for it to work properly with your MB. Dunno if that's actually the problem or not.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4500s/specs.htm#1101572

[ViciousXUSMC]

It looks like nobody saw my post a few up from here.  Try putting the system under LOAD, I almost bet a apendage that you will see the speed go up like its supposed too.  A computer is smart enough to downclock itself when not under load to save power.

Go get WPRIME run it, and then open CPU-Z while it is RUNNING A BENCHMARK (just use the big test and cancel it after you see your cpu-z readings.)

[Ummon]

Dell's specs for that model say, "Intel�  Pentium� 4 that runs at 1.70, 1.80, 1.90, 2.00 GHz internally and 400 MHz externally; 2.26, 2.40, 2.53, or 2.66 GHz internally and 533 MHz externally; or Intel Celeron� that runs at 1.70, 1.80, or 2.00 GHz internally and 400 MHz externally" Since your processor is a 2.4 GHz processor, Dell seems to think you need the 533 MHz FSB model in order for it to work properly with your MB. Dunno if that's actually the problem or not.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4500s/specs.htm#1101572

I dunno. That's essentially a copy of what's in my manual.

It looks like nobody saw my post a few up from here.  Try putting the system under LOAD, I almost bet a apendage that you will see the speed go up like its supposed too.  A computer is smart enough to downclock itself when not under load to save power.

Go get WPRIME run it, and then open CPU-Z while it is RUNNING A BENCHMARK (just use the big test and cancel it after you see your cpu-z readings.)

I saw it. I just didn't want to go and do that necessarily. However, I've noticed that the more apps I run, the more it lags; or, alternatively, if I run current mame, it lags more than my 1.8 did.

A friend of mine thinks it has to do with 'speed step', but as far as I can see, it shouldn't be active. It also comes to mind that maybe I could try the regular 4500 bios. I'm going to look for it.

[Havok]

Turn off hibernation mode if it is enabled. I saw a similar issue once that I resolved by doing that. Also, re-install the chipset drivers, that could be another cause.

[ViciousXUSMC]

speed step is what I was talking about, and its always enabled by default.  You have to turn it off in your bios if you want it off.  And unless you have a driver/chipset issue it wont ever effect performance.

Im a computer tech, sad that you come asking for advice and I try to help and you ignore it because its "trouble" it would have only taken a few moments of your time.

[SirDaShadow]

speed step is what I was talking about, and its always enabled by default.  You have to turn it off in your bios if you want it off.  And unless you have a driver/chipset issue it wont ever effect performance.

Im a computer tech, sad that you come asking for advice and I try to help and you ignore it because its "trouble" it would have only taken a few moments of your time.

I have an intel-based mobo, and it always reports max frequency when the power scheme is "Always on" or "Home". He said that at the beginning of the thread. That's why I asked him to post the cpu-z screens. One of the links he mentioned had a blurb about Northwood chips. I wish I could help him more, but I didn't pay attention to the p4 era...

PS: A+ Technician here if that matters...

[ViciousXUSMC]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_speed_step

May explain it a bit more to you.

I work with notebooks often, like right now i am on my notebook so the scaling tech is in place at all times.

Believe it or not they had P4 notebooks though who ever came up with the idea of putting one of the hottest cpu's of all time in a notebook should be shot.


To the OP, this is a simple problem with a simple fix.  I was just trying to walk you through the steps to trouble shoot it, I cant give you the fix until I know the root of the problem.  I wouldnt call a tech for service on a system and just demand the fix he is going to walk you through things to test or look at first.  Its the same process for tech help on a forum.

If your not willing to work with me I cant help you, thats the only point I was trying to make. 

[BASS!]

Ummon is one smart cookie. If this were a super simple fix he would nab it.

You are on the right track with that bios. There has to be a way you can unlock that fsb of yours. I have taken some prebuilt comps like gateway hp and compaq and reflashed the bios to original with great sucess. That fsb of 98mhz is what is killing you.  That should be reading 200.

[ItchyD]

if you can't change the fsb speed in the bios it must be a jumper on the motherboard, good luck!

[VicBond007]

Can you take a picture or a scan of the top of the CPU that you installed?  Or at least transcribe what's written on it?  Sounds to me like you put the wrong chip in.

There are P4s that run at 533 MHz FSB and 800 MHz FSB.  They both fit in the same socket.  They are both "Northwood" cores so the only way to identify which is which, is by looking at the CPU itself.  Software is only going to report what the motherboard is reading, which in this case, is obviously inaccurate.  The 533 MHz P4s were phased out pretty quickly and replaced by the 800 MHz variants with hyperthreading (two fake cores on one real core).  Your Dell only works with the older Northwoods, not the "newer" ones.  A BIOS update won't help.  A jump in timings that dramatic requires completely different parts.  Major PC manufacturers don't future-proof like the aftermarket component manufacturers do since it's considerably cheaper to put in exactly what works and nothing more.

It is not speed step.  P4s do not have that kind of power saving.  Only their mobile counterparts do.  Speed stepping on desktops didn't really come into play until after the last-gen P4s (Prescott) got slammed for reaching idle temps that would make even today's PC users panic.  At CES, following the release of the Prescott, AMD gave out an "Intel CPU Care Kit" which featured an oven mitt.  This definitely helped push a new line of cooler and quieter CPUs 

[ViciousXUSMC]

Yes the press-hots

I had both the old and new P4, big waist of money now looking back at it.

I did not use a dell mobo though it was I want to say biostar.  That is a problem with proprietary brands like Dell though being forced to use certain kinds of parts, namely the PSU's a common one.

[Ummon]

Ummon is one smart cookie. If this were a super simple fix he would nab it.

You are on the right track with that bios. There has to be a way you can unlock that fsb of yours. I have taken some prebuilt comps like gateway hp and compaq and reflashed the bios to original with great sucess. That fsb of 98mhz is what is killing you.  That should be reading 200.

Well, I've been shown and know some things an all, but I'm by no means an expert.

Can you take a picture or a scan of the top of the CPU that you installed?  Or at least transcribe what's written on it?  Sounds to me like you put the wrong chip in.

There are P4s that run at 533 MHz FSB and 800 MHz FSB.  They both fit in the same socket.  They are both "Northwood" cores so the only way to identify which is which, is by looking at the CPU itself.  Software is only going to report what the motherboard is reading, which in this case, is obviously inaccurate.  The 533 MHz P4s were phased out pretty quickly and replaced by the 800 MHz variants with hyperthreading (two fake cores on one real core).  Your Dell only works with the older Northwoods, not the "newer" ones.  A BIOS update won't help.  A jump in timings that dramatic requires completely different parts.  Major PC manufacturers don't future-proof like the aftermarket component manufacturers do since it's considerably cheaper to put in exactly what works and nothing more.

This is what I've been thinking about. I kind of assumed my computer guy, whom I got this from, would've known all that, but sometimes I find I know more than he does. I happen to be on that computer right now, so I'll get back to you with that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_speed_step

May explain it a bit more to you.

I work with notebooks often, like right now i am on my notebook so the scaling tech is in place at all times.

Believe it or not they had P4 notebooks though who ever came up with the idea of putting one of the hottest cpu's of all time in a notebook should be shot.


To the OP, this is a simple problem with a simple fix.  I was just trying to walk you through the steps to trouble shoot it, I cant give you the fix until I know the root of the problem.  I wouldnt call a tech for service on a system and just demand the fix he is going to walk you through things to test or look at first.  Its the same process for tech help on a forum.

If your not willing to work with me I cant help you, thats the only point I was trying to make. 

I just take and do things in my own stride. Fortunately, things are most often a sort of route step vs formation march, though I generally keep my basic bearing, mind. (Which isn't a comment on yours at all.)

[Ummon]

Obviously, I'm not as smart as I could be....because I should've looked at the face of the processor before I bought it. My original 1.8ghz processor reads P4/1.8ghz/400.  This one reads P4/2.4ghz/800. So I guess that answers it. Thanks all.

The only thing now....you know, one of those 'but you just never know!' kind of things.....is that I gave away this Lenovo board I'd gotten off Freecycle, and I think it may've not worked because it needed this kind of processor - which I didn't have at the time, and now I have no board for this processor. Wouldn ya know it!

[BASS!]

I've got a p4 2.8 w/ 1gb ram and a msi board I could let go to ya for pretty cheap if you really wanted. Or even a athlon 3800 with board in a little better shape if you need. Lemmie know:-)

sam

[ViciousXUSMC]

Ummon I think this is a great excuse reason to upgrade!

It wont take much to get yourself a nice C2D & mobo combo.  Or AMD stuff is even cheaper.  I got a Micro ATX mobo & Amd 4850e for under $100 and thats a super power efficient cpu, probably 1/4th the power P4 used while giving you 4x the performance, plus the MATX form factor is really nice when something is not your main desktop.  I made a HTPC out of it.

I just cant recommend getting anything older than C2D or paying to fix an older setup because while a bit cheaper its not cheap enough to justify the performance loss and it gets harder and harder to find stuff for it.

[Ummon]

Oh, yeah, I know. This was on my old, 'main' computer. My gaming rig, while still not 'new' is a 2.8ghz P4 HT. My computer guy I got it from almost two years ago was always urging me to completely switch to it, and I was reluctant. (Lately, he's been urging me to upgrade again, and I don't need to, nor am I interested in the hassle with Windows.....although...if I re-installed, maybe...) Then a few months ago I thought more about it and was going to but some things had gotten in the way. Recently, some other things plus this incident just cemented it. So I'm only using my gaming rig. Of course, I have a few other systems, for lower-rate mame cabs, and it would've been nice to add this one to the lot, but not necessary. Thanks, all.