# Determining processor speed on a PC

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/determining-processor-speed-on-a-pc/46483>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 20, 2000, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/determining-processor-speed-on-a-pc/46483 "2000-12-20T05:44:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/determining-processor-speed-on-a-pc/46483/21 "2000-12-20T23:07:58Z")

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Sandra by Sisoft is a great downloadable diagnostic utility. I’m not going to post a link cause of the whole non-advertisement thing, but punch Sisoft Sandra into any browser and you will find download sites. I think it’s shareware so do what your conscience tells ya. 🙂

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/determining-processor-speed-on-a-pc/46483/22 "2000-12-21T00:06:18Z")

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Naw, just open the case, shine a flashlight on the CPU & read it. That’s the only way to know for sure.

MSD, which comes with DOS is great but no speed check.

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**Author:** ![Wytehawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Wytehawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wytehawk)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/determining-processor-speed-on-a-pc/46483/23 "2000-12-21T01:23:48Z")

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Meephead - Thanks for the link to the freeware!

It’s exactly what I need. Thanks also to everyone else for their suggestions.

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**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/determining-processor-speed-on-a-pc/46483/24 "2000-12-21T01:39:49Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Funny, I’ve never seen an Intel CPU that didn’t

Really? Hmmm. On the top of the chip? I only have my laptop with me right now and I’m sure as hell not going to crack this sucker open. Maybe I’m just going blind or something.

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**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/determining-processor-speed-on-a-pc/46483/25 "2000-12-21T03:52:30Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Meephead \*  
> \*\*[CPUSpeed](http://am-productions.yi.org/downloads.php?fcode=13) is a nifty little freeware utility for determining CPU speed. \*\*

How come every time I run it I get a completely different speed?

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/determining-processor-speed-on-a-pc/46483/26 "2000-12-21T16:18:46Z")

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“How come every time I run it I get a completely different speed?”

Probably because it doesn’t recognize your chip properly. I don’t use that program anymore.

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