Q9300 is running slower than expected

[Capriccio]

Hi guys, I'm back here with my problem, because I didn't solve it. My intel quad core Q9300 should have 2.5 GHz, but it runs only at 2.0. I have new cooler, which handles it, reset BIOS, just memory remapping, because otherwise I have a limit. Can you help me please? My spec: CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo Q9300
GPU: VGA Sapphire HD7500/7700, that guy was not that clever (1GB)
RAM: 6GB, (I don't know frequency, just how much)
Motherboard: ASUS P5W DH DeLuxe

 

[refillable]

Force it to run at 2.5 GHz with manual clock tweaking?

 

[GhislainG]

Force it to run at 2.5 GHz with manual clock tweaking?

He can't do that on that motherboard; that's the main reason I got rid of mine

"Due to chipset limitation, i975X chipset is not able to support all the features of 45nm CPU. The following is a list of the limitations:
1. VT function does not work.
2. The maximum FSB is capped at 1066MHz.
3. 0.5 CPU multiplier is not supported.
4. L2 cache size is not recognized correctly. However L2 cache is still functioning."

 

[refillable]

That's very sad to hear, I guess it's a Motherboard problem then.

 

[GhislainG]

That's very sad to hear, I guess it's a Motherboard problem then.

It isn't a motherboard problem; it's a chipset limitation. There are newer motherboards that fully support that CPU.

 

[Capriccio]

Force it to run at 2.5 GHz with manual clock tweaking?

And how to do it please?

 

[GhislainG]

Force it to run at 2.5 GHz with manual clock tweaking?

And how to do it please?

You can't; refillable probably never had that motherboard and he wasn't aware of its chipset limitations. Dump it and get a used Asus or Gigabyte P35 or P45 based motherboard that supports your 4 DDR2 memory modules. Your motherboard is 9 years old and you unfortunately didn't check compatibility before it was too late. Depending on where you live, you may be able to get a used motherboard locally at a good price. Old CPUs are not expensive because they rarely fail, but the limited availability of motherboards that support them often drives their price up. Personally I'd upgrade the system, but if you decide to get a motherboard, make sure it fully supports your CPU or ask here and we'll check it for you.

 

[Capriccio]

I found out that whole damn system is underclocked. My RAM is now working on 266MHz

 

[GhislainG]

That's normal.