# Wrong processor speed **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 13, 2009, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-processor-speed/502843 "2009-07-13T07:01:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-processor-speed/502843/1 "2009-07-13T07:01:10Z")
Should I worry that my newly reinstalled XP partition lists my processor wrong? While System Properties recognizes that it’s a 3100+ Sempron, it says it is at 1.00Ghz, when it should be at 1.8. (It’s a $100 eMachine from a few years ago, so no making fun. It was a good deal at the time, just for the included components.) Basically, I’m wondering if it is actually checking my processor speed and getting too low a number (which shouldn’t happen as it’s using the original Mobo drivers), or is it more like an incorrect registry setting? I just haven’t used Windows in a long time. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-processor-speed/502843/2 "2009-07-13T07:23:00Z")
Nevermind. A linux dump of /proc/cpuinfo reports the same problem, so I know it’s not a Windows issue. This is weird. If anyone has experienced this problem and knows where to look for help, please advise, but, otherwise, it seems a bit too big a problem for this forum. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-processor-speed/502843/3 "2009-07-13T09:39:52Z")
You’ve posted in the wrong forum (this is Cafe Society), but check your BIOS settings…my bet is that your processor is actually clocked at 1 GHz right now, and you need to get your chip clocked back up to the proper setting. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-processor-speed/502843/4 "2009-07-13T13:12:22Z")
This will do better in GQ, so I’ll move it thither. twickster, Cafe Society mod ---
**Author:** ![Iamametalrobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@Iamametalrobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iamametalrobot)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-processor-speed/502843/5 "2009-07-13T16:48:23Z")
Maybe the Cool and Quiet function of the CPU is turned on, which automatically downclocks/volts the processor when you aren’t doing much with it. Try running something CPU intensive, and see what the clock speed does. ---
**Author:** ![BorgHunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@BorgHunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorgHunter)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-processor-speed/502843/6 "2009-07-13T16:54:04Z")
> [@Iamametalrobot](#): > > Maybe the Cool and Quiet function of the CPU is turned on, which automatically downclocks/volts the processor when you aren’t doing much with it. Try running something CPU intensive, and see what the clock speed does. Precisely what I thought of when I saw the thread title, and I’d put good money that this is what’s going on. More info: [Cool'n'Quiet - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool%27n%27Quiet) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-processor-speed/502843/7 "2009-09-14T04:55:24Z")
Sorry to necropost, but Cool’n’Quiet was it. Sorry I didn’t get back to you guys.