Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 stuck @ 1.61GHz

[LightningsalesUK]

I am trying to get a system setup however the system seems to be stuck at 1.6GHz Maximum.
It shows 1.61GHz on the system properties next to the speed it should be. ( 2.66GHz)
I have updated the bios and set the performance to max in the Windows 10 settings.
I heard it could also be a Heat issue however I have an optimal cooler and just added thermal paste. I get told I have 28c in the bios for CPU temps however it says around 43c on idle on the system when I actually load into Windows. I have used the HDD with the OS on in different systems before, could this be a drive issue causing it to lower the clock?
Another issue is that it the system seems to turn off when it goes into away mode on Windows.
I am using a Biostar motherboard.

 

[TechyInAZ]

Don't rely on the system properties for your clock speed. Fire up CPU-Z and run a stress test (CPU-Z has one built in FYI), then check and see if your core clock is at the normal 2.66ghz.

Windows can get clock speeds very wrong, I've seen it a lot.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

It's just your Enhanced Speed Stepping. So when the CPU doesn't require full speed it will downclock to save juice.

You can disable it in the bios, or by using the high power profile in the windows power scheme.

 

[LightningsalesUK]

Don't rely on the system properties for your clock speed. Fire up CPU-Z and run a stress test (CPU-Z has one built in FYI), then check and see if your core clock is at the normal 2.66ghz.

Windows can get clock speeds very wrong, I've seen it a lot.

It's just your Enhanced Speed Stepping. So when the CPU doesn't require full speed it will downclock to save juice.

You can disable it in the bios, or by using the high power profile in the windows power scheme.

CPU-Z Also says 1.6GHz when booting up games and CPU heavy programs. Openhardwaremonitor also tells me it is 1.6GHz.

 

[LightningsalesUK]

It's just your Enhanced Speed Stepping. So when the CPU doesn't require full speed it will downclock to save juice.

You can disable it in the bios, or by using the high power profile in the windows power scheme.

I read up about this issue and I have been through my whole bios and cannot find it and my Windows power scheme is at high power.

 

[TechyInAZ]

Go into your BIOS, and reset to it's default state.

 

[SkyNetRising]

There is no such thing as Core 2 Quad Q4000.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

It's just your Enhanced Speed Stepping. So when the CPU doesn't require full speed it will downclock to save juice.

You can disable it in the bios, or by using the high power profile in the windows power scheme.

I read up about this issue and I have been through my whole bios and cannot find it and my Windows power scheme is at high power.

what your exact mobo model?

It should be there. It's standard option. It could also be called enhanced C1 state.

 

[LightningsalesUK]

Go into your BIOS, and reset to it's default state.

It currently is.
I booted it up and for some reason this time it is running at the speed it should be, I have not rebooted it since then. I did not change any settings in BIOS or in operating system, It just seemed to have decided to work for some odd reason.

 

[LightningsalesUK]

It's just your Enhanced Speed Stepping. So when the CPU doesn't require full speed it will downclock to save juice.

You can disable it in the bios, or by using the high power profile in the windows power scheme.

I read up about this issue and I have been through my whole bios and cannot find it and my Windows power scheme is at high power.

what your exact mobo model?

It should be there. It's standard option. It could also be called enhanced C1 state.

Biostar G41D3+ it sat in the box unused until now. It is in brand new state.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

It's just your Enhanced Speed Stepping. So when the CPU doesn't require full speed it will downclock to save juice.

You can disable it in the bios, or by using the high power profile in the windows power scheme.

I read up about this issue and I have been through my whole bios and cannot find it and my Windows power scheme is at high power.

what your exact mobo model?

It should be there. It's standard option. It could also be called enhanced C1 state.

Biostar G41D3+ it sat in the box unused until now. It is in brand new state.

Try looking for EIST settings in the bios.

You must mean a Q9400?


edit: ah, if it's out of the box, it's most likely not got the most recent Bios. So update that as soon as you can. It will most lilkey fix the issue, or show new bios options like EIST/Enhanced Speedstep etc.

Then try the fixes outlined above.

 

[LightningsalesUK]

I have updated earlier today when I first got the system booted, it is flashed to the latest BIOS however it seems to have sorted itself out now?
It now seems to have full CPU power but still turns off when going to away mode.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

I have updated earlier today when I first got the system booted, it is flashed to the latest BIOS however it seems to have sorted itself out now?
It now seems to have full CPU power but still turns off when going to away mode.

This is the speedstep technology. It should go up to full speed on full load. You can check this by using HWmon and running a CPU intensive task like a benchmark or stress test. Have HWmon running in the backround, and monitor CPU utilization. When running a bench/stress like Cinebench/Prime 95 the core usage will go up to 100% on all cores/threads. You will also see the max CPU speed. This will tell you when your system is loaded that your CPU is hitting the right speeds.