CPU only running at about 780MHZ and 3.25gigs of RAM

[Brooks G]

Hey guys, I was wondering if you could help me out with a problem. I made a new build ans started using it about a week or two ago. I've worked out a lot of the quirks except 2, my cpu and ram. I think I understand why windows is only showing 3.25gigs of ram instead of 4 because it's a 32bit xp os. But my cpu is only showing 780MHZ, when it should be about 2800MHZ, and my pc has been running alittle slow. I think it may be running slow because of all of the programs the mobo (ASUS) installed on it, but I'm not sure. I've tried to disable the programs on it, but not sure if it did anything. My parts:

Mobo: ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 630 Propus 2.8GHz

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB)

GPU: XFX HD-485X-ZDFC Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit

Any help is appreciated from you guys, Tom's had done nothing but help me get through tough computer problems! THANX!

 

[loneninja]

Your right about your ram and that your using 32bit Xp, 32bit operating systems can't handle anything more than 4Gb memory and things like the video card memory(vram) are taken away from that total.

As to the low clock speed, it is most likely one of two issues. Does the cpu clock itself up when you put a load on it? AMD has technology called cool n quiet and I believe all Athlon II and Phenom II idle at about 800mhz, but when they're stressed they speed back up, it's for power saving. If your cpu doesn't speed up when put under load, than the problem is probably bios support, did you update your motherboards bios before installing the processor?

Updating your bios and disabling cool n quiet will probably fix the low clock speed problem.

 

[Bluescreendeath]

780MHz = downclocking due to Intel Stepspeed or AMD Cool N' Quiet

3.25GB = 32bit OS (ie. XP) only recognizes 3.25 gigs of RAM

 

[will_chellam]

Thank you for condensing the two most-asked questions into the same post.....

 

[LePhuronn]

Yes, your CPU is downclocking when not in use (that motherboard won't need a BIOS update).

Make sure though you download and install the AMD CPU driver for XP (yes, a driver for a CPU!) to get Cool n Quiet 3 working properly.

I've just gone back to XP from the Windows 7 RC on my new Phenom II X2 550 BE build and had to put those bits back in to get Cool n Quiet working again.

 

[steadfast1984]

a good way to see if that is the case (the down stepping) jump into CPU-z. it has a real time cpu clock Gage. then download PRIME95. when you fire up prime 95, watch CPUz and you will see if the clock speed jump to the speed you think it should be. if it doesnt, then its other issues.