Question High clock rate while IDLE

[TheNewbie6]

I have just opened my PC and have only epic games and steam in the background and I can see the following clock speed:

https://imgur.com/a/AgqvDf0

View: https://imgur.com/a/AgqvDf0


Is that an indicator of anything bad(virus, malware or mining hack)? Because even when I have epic and steam shut down at IDLE I still have clock rate around 3 GHZ.

 

[Dj0gany]

Thats normal, my R7 5700X is at 4.40Ghz as I am typing this currently, while the usage is at 7% with only League of Legends and Discord/Spotify open.

 

[CompuTronix]

Dj0gany,​

Respectfully, the OP has an Intel i7-12700. Comparing your R7 5700X to the OP's CPU is like comparing Apples to Oranges, since the Core Utilizations are fundamentally different.

TheNewbie6,​

You're Intel i7-12700 is not at "IDLE".

"Idle" means no more than 1% CPU Utilization under the Performance tab in Windows Task Manager.

Check that SpeedStep, Speed Shift and all C States are enabled in BIOS. Windows Power Options should be set to "Balanced" (NOT High Performance). Confirm that your rig is at minimum idle; no programs or screensaver running. No Dropbox or Folding or SETI or "tray-trash" running in the background, and off-line; no web browser open.

Use HWiNFO to verify that your i7-12700 is at no more than 800MHz with about 700mV (0.700 Volts) at about 4 Watts CPU Package Power, with no more than 1% CPU Utilization in Windows Task Manager. This is "Idle".

By about 10 minutes under the above conditions, CPU Package Temperature (Hottest Core) should typically be about 3 to 5°C above Ambient (room) temperature.

CT

 

[TheNewbie6]

I

Dj0gany,​

Respectfully, the OP has an Intel i7-12700. Comparing your R7 5700X to the OP's CPU is like comparing Apples to Oranges, since the Core Utilizations are fundamentally different.

TheNewbie6,​

You're Intel i7-12700 is not at "IDLE".

"Idle" means no more than 1% CPU Utilization under the Performance tab in Windows Task Manager.

Check that SpeedStep, Speed Shift and all C States are enabled in BIOS. Windows Power Options should be set to "Balanced" (NOT High Performance). Confirm that your rig is at minimum idle; no programs or screensaver running. No Dropbox or Folding or SETI or "tray-trash" running in the background, and off-line; no web browser open.

Use HWiNFO to verify that your i7-12700 is at no more than 800MHz with about 700mV (0.700 Volts) at about 4 Watts CPU Package Power, with no more than 1% CPU Utilization in Windows Task Manager. This is "Idle".

By about 10 minutes under the above conditions, CPU Package Temperature (Hottest Core) should typically be about 3 to 5°C above Ambient (room) temperature.

CT

I am really grateful for that long reply. I didn't seem to find anything that is called speedstep or speed shift in bios (neither C steps), is it because I have a version of ufei from 2021(it is the default version of b660m mortar that I have)? Also I couldn't find what SETI means or tray trashing when I searched for them(will be grateful if you explain them). Anyway after I closed the mentioned apps I got 0.50ghz for cpu so IDK what that should mean exactly(although if I open one tab in Microsoft edge I go back to around 3.5ghz IDK of that is normal).
One interesting thing that I found in my bios settings is that I have found that you can set wattage according to the cooler that you have (I have noctua NH -d15) and the basic settings was set for water cooling which was +4000w so I changed it to air tower cooler which was around 288w as far as I remember, I guess that is the right choice right?
Thanks in advance

 

[CompuTronix]

C-States: When enabled (default), allows the CPU to achieve low power states where frequency, voltage, power and temperature is reduced for idle.

SETI@home is a scientific experiment, based at UC Berkeley, that uses Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). You can participate by running a free program that downloads and analyzes radio telescope data. https://setiathome.berkeley.edu

Folding@home refers to running simulations of proteins, the molecular machines that perform most of the active processes we associate with life ... The calculations we’re performing to understand how biology works and how we can treat disease are computationally demanding. We need every ounce of computer power we can get ... become a citizen scientist and join forces to fight global health threats by donating your unused computer power.

Tray Trash means leftover "Startups" from various software installations, which reside as Icons in the "System Tray" located toward the lower right hand corner of your Task Bar near the clock. These Icons "Startup" programs when Windows starts up. Many are unnecessary that waste vital system resources such as CPU clock cycles and RAM memory by running in the background. Most users never bother to remove their "Tray Trash" after installing software, which can be accomplished in Task Manager in the Startup Tab by simply disabling unnecessary items so their computers can truly idle.

For example, Dropbox is a huge resource hog, so if it's not frequently used, then it doesn't need to start up with Windows.

CT

 

[TheNewbie6]

C-States: When enabled (default), allows the CPU to achieve low power states where frequency, voltage, power and temperature is reduced for idle.

SETI@home is a scientific experiment, based at UC Berkeley, that uses Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). You can participate by running a free program that downloads and analyzes radio telescope data. https://setiathome.berkeley.edu

Folding@home refers to running simulations of proteins, the molecular machines that perform most of the active processes we associate with life ... The calculations we’re performing to understand how biology works and how we can treat disease are computationally demanding. We need every ounce of computer power we can get ... become a citizen scientist and join forces to fight global health threats by donating your unused computer power.

Tray Trash means leftover "Startups" from various software installations, which reside as Icons in the "System Tray" located toward the lower right hand corner of your Task Bar near the clock. These Icons "Startup" programs when Windows starts up. Many are unnecessary that waste vital system resources such as CPU clock cycles and RAM memory by running in the background. Most users never bother to remove their "Tray Trash" after installing software, which can be accomplished in Task Manager in the Startup Tab by simply disabling unnecessary items so their computers can truly idle.

For example, Dropbox is a huge resource hog, so if it's not frequently used, then it doesn't need to start up with Windows.

CT

Thank you so much.