Core i7 speed not changing?

[Nyankeefan]

So I just recently got an ASUS G51J-A1 with an Intel Core i7 Processor 720QM @ 1.6Ghz – 2.8Ghz. I downloaded a program to check real-time CPU speed and started playing Dragon Age Origins and some other games

My CPU speed is staying at around 1.6ghz constantly and not going up.

Shouldnt it be going up?

thanks for the help, sorry if its a stupid question haha

 

[welshmousepk]

no, turbo boost is a feature that increases the speed of a SINGLE core when needed. it disables the other cores to give it the thermal headroom to overclock the one being used, increasing performance in single threaded apps.

in gaming, all cores should be being used, so turbo will do nothing.

 

[eriko]

You could try starting task manager, right clicking the games' process, choosing 'set affinity', so that it occupies fewer cpu's. Thus turbo mode has a chance of clocking up for you.

You could try Bill2's process manager to get things setup automatically in future.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/Bill2-s-Process-Manager.shtml

But the long story-short is that none of us with these cpu's are very happy at how easy they clock down - as soon as you do something.

I see now way around, other than to purchase the 920QXM to get some performance....