CPU is underclocking

vdogvictor · 05-20-2010, 11:15 PM

When I run this command (or conky)

Code:

less /proc/cpuinfo

It says that the name of my processor is Intel Pentium III 1066MHz

but then the actual clock speed is listed as 730MHz. There is nothing in the BIOS that would be causing this. I'm running Arch.

RockDoctor · 05-21-2010, 05:24 PM

You're not demanding much of the processor, so your system slows it down to conserve power. Try looking at /proc/cpuinfo while viewing a flash video - that should be demanding enough to get your CPU up to speed

vdogvictor · 05-21-2010, 11:11 PM

I think you're mixing up CPU clock speed and CPU usage. Especially with older processors like this, it should always be running at the same clock speed. And the reason I'm concerned is precisely because it is having high CPU usage, it gets all the way up to 90% or more and the clock speed does not change.

H_TeXMeX_H · 05-22-2010, 09:11 AM

Does it have CPU scaling ? usually this is true on a laptop. If so, turn it off.

vdogvictor · 06-01-2010, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H_TeXMeX_H

Does it have CPU scaling ? usually this is true on a laptop. If so, turn it off.

Yep, turns out it was "speedstep." I never knew that technology saw much use back in the Pentium III days. Thanks for the answers.