Old Core 2 duo CPU runs at 100% frequency

[Aditya123456]

Hello,
I have an old computer which always runs at full fan speed.
So, I investigated at found out that in resource monitor it shows:
10~20% Usage and 100% Maximum frequency.

This is when running firefox with 6 tabs open.
On idle it shows:
1~6% Usage and 100% Maximum frequency.

Is this a software, MB, CPU, driver issue?
Is this causing high power usage?

My specs are:
Intel Core 2 duo E4600
Zebronics ZEB 945
2 DB DDR2 667 MHz RAM.

I had bought this computer 2 years ago, with the MB and other components new: Case, PSU. HDD and RAM, with the processor refurbished. It was a good deal.

 

[americanbrian]

I am not sure that the e4600 would throttle its frequency, it doesn't have a turbo/boost. 10-20% usage sounds about right.

A CPU HS/F will typically run at max speed the whole time anyway, unlike a gpu which has a speed profile.

 

[SkyNetRising]

So? What's the problem?
You want your CPU to not use maximum frequency or what?

Anyway - you can lower power consumption by applying different power plan (Control Panel/Power Options).
Your current one is probably "Max Performance".

Also check BIOS - if Intel Speed Step is enabled (it may also be called EIST - enhanced Intel speedstep technology).

 

[Aditya123456]

I am not sure that the e4600 would throttle its frequency, it doesn't have a turbo/boost. 10-20% usage sounds about right.

A CPU HS/F will typically run at max speed the whole time anyway, unlike a gpu which has a speed profile.

Actually in my laptop (Core i3 3227 U) and my desktop (Core i5 6500), both on high performance, the frequency changes along with the usage.
You can see it task manager in Windows 8.1 and above.

So, I can have like 50% usage and the 6500 running at just 1.1GHz.
Basically, both of them change frequency as per needed:

 

[americanbrian]

Those are both "core i -series" CPU's that have turbos. The old CPU does not. Also laptops do have fan speed profiles. Desktops typically do not.

 

[Aditya123456]

So? What's the problem?
You want your CPU to not use maximum frequency or what?

Anyway - you can lower power consumption by applying different power plan (Control Panel/Power Options).
Your current one is probably "Max Performance".

Also check BIOS - if Intel Speed Step is enabled (it may also be called EIST - enhanced Intel speedstep technology).

Basically I wanted the PC to turn down the frequency when not needed to save power.
Here is a snapshot of my laptop, it is in Windows 10:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzvPNlWbQIrRb0RwRTRtVzFYMU0/view?usp=sharing

On Windows 8.1 and on my Desktop, it is even lesser.

I checked the BIOS, there is no option of Intel speed Step.
Is it that the Motherboard doesnt support it?

 

[SkyNetRising]

I checked the BIOS, there is no option of Intel speed Step.

Well - if BIOS has no options for Intel Speed Step, then dynamic CPU frequency may not be available to your PC.
BTW - that hardware is really old - 7 years at least. That's a lot for PC.

 

[Aditya123456]

So? What's the problem?
You want your CPU to not use maximum frequency or what?

Anyway - you can lower power consumption by applying different power plan (Control Panel/Power Options).
Your current one is probably "Max Performance".

Also check BIOS - if Intel Speed Step is enabled (it may also be called EIST - enhanced Intel speedstep technology).

I also changed the power plan to power saver and the
Usage dropper to 3%, with the Frequency still at 100%:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzvPNlWbQIrRemlheWdIUlIyRW8/view?usp=sharing

I was trying to find this settings in the power options, but cant find them.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzvPNlWbQIrRZEFDeG1sdmYtQjQ/view?usp=sharing

 

[Aditya123456]

Those are both "core i -series" CPU's that have turbos. The old CPU does not. Also laptops do have fan speed profiles. Desktops typically do not.

Well, on my old P4 (2007, 3.6 Ghz, HT), The CPU fan changes speed according to the CPU usage.
How do I know, It has an old Cooler master fan which when spins up makes a loud noise at higher speeds (bearings failing), but is quiet on low speeds.

Also, about turbo boost, My desktop 6500 is at 3.2 Ghz, turbo upto 3.6 GHz.
But on low loads, the processor runs at 1.1 Ghz and above.

 

[Aditya123456]

So, basically, I just wanted to see if I could:
Dynamically reduce the CPU Frequency to save power.
Not have the CPU Fan running at full speed, i.e. let it dynamically change speed as per the CPU Usage just like my old P4.

 

[spdragoo]

From what I can find, the Core 2 Duos support the old EIST/SpeedStep technology. It's a software solution vs. a hardware solution, but supposedly is triggered in Windows (at least back in XP) by using the power profiles, but it seemed like it was kind of "all-or-nothing".

I did find some other options, however:

http://superuser.com/questions/725755/how-to-turn-off-speedstep-in-windows-7: It actually talks about how to disable SpeedStep, but you can essentially reverse the suggested settings (i.e. reduce the minimum processor state).

https://communities.intel.com/thread/33313: It's for a different motherboard, but at least it talks about how you should look for "EIST" or "Enhanced SpeedStep Technology" in the BIOS settings.

 

[Aditya123456]

From what I can find, the Core 2 Duos support the old EIST/SpeedStep technology. It's a software solution vs. a hardware solution, but supposedly is triggered in Windows (at least back in XP) by using the power profiles, but it seemed like it was kind of "all-or-nothing".

I did find some other options, however:

http://superuser.com/questions/725755/how-to-turn-off-speedstep-in-windows-7: It actually talks about how to disable SpeedStep, but you can essentially reverse the suggested settings (i.e. reduce the minimum processor state).

https://communities.intel.com/thread/33313: It's for a different motherboard, but at least it talks about how you should look for "EIST" or "Enhanced SpeedStep Technology" in the BIOS settings.

Actually just checked CPU-Z
The procesor runs between 1196.50 - 2400 MHz. But on opening resource monitor, it shows 100% max frequency.

but now the problem is that the fn runs t full speed.
I installed speedfn to control it.
Can anybody tell me how to use it? Please?