Processor Speed (Actual vs Reported)

crazzyeddie · Nov 18, 2003

On my Powerbook Titanium 1ghz, I have been running into one issue over and over. While System Profiler and other Apple system tools report my CPU as a 1ghz processor, the terminal command "sysctl hw.cpufrequency" shows it as running at 667mhz. Someone with an 800mhz TiBook also gets a return of 667mhz when he runs this command.

Do you think this could be an issue as to how other programs run on the computer? The Unix command SHOULD return the value that the computer is running at, more so than System Profiler, which is basically pre-programed by Apple.

RandomDeadHead · Nov 18, 2003

That command reports accurately on my G4 iMac. Not sure why It doesn't on your Pbook.

Macpoops · Nov 18, 2003

possibly some sort of stepping? Maybe try it when it's plugged into the wall

G5orbust · Nov 18, 2003

Originally posted by Macpoops
possibly some sort of stepping? Maybe try it when it's plugged into the wall

I agree. You may want to go into system prefs>energy saver and see if your performance is set to highest for battery power. If it is not, then it is set to reduced, which runs at a little bit about half proc power, for you that would be about 667MHz.

Powerbook G5 · Nov 18, 2003

Mine is reporting it accurately even with it set to "automatic" in energy saver. It reads it as 124999995.

crazzyeddie · Nov 18, 2003

The Powerbook is plugged in and on highest performance, but still reporting 667mhz.

hugemullens · Nov 18, 2003

My 12 inch reports 533mhz. Odd. Not comforting.

Flynnstone · Nov 18, 2003

Mine reads : hw.cpufrequency: 1800000000

AdamR01 · Nov 18, 2003

My iBook Reports the proper clock speed, but if i do sysctl hw.model it says i have a powerbook??

5300cs · Nov 18, 2003

Originally posted by AdamR01
My iBook Reports the proper clock speed, but if i do sysctl hw.model it says i have a powerbook??

Mine too

AdamR01 · Nov 18, 2003

if i do sysctl hw.machine it says PowerMac. Either something is hosed, or the feature isnt used maybe? I got bored and went through the man pages for sysctl and started trying random things.

crazzyeddie · Nov 18, 2003

I think the machine type is Powermac for all Mac's, just sort of a universal machine type, not x86 but Powermac.

Has anyone else tried the cpu frequency on a powerbook?

Powerbook G5 · Nov 18, 2003

I did on my 1.25 GHz PowerBook and it came back as PowerBook 5,2 and at 12499995 as I already stated above.

Counterfit · Nov 18, 2003

Now this is odd, my PowerBook comes up at 1249999995 but the machine says it's a Power Macintosh. Why would two near-identical machines have such different answers for the same question?

Counterfit · Nov 18, 2003

Ah HA found the bugger! hw.machine gives Power Macintosh, while the probably more specific hw.model gives PowerBook5,2. As to the iBooks showing as PowerBooks, they technically are PowerBooks, as every Apple notebook has had that name, the exception being the iBook, which is basically a PowerBook from a few upgrades ago.

MacManDan · Nov 18, 2003

Originally posted by AdamR01
My iBook Reports the proper clock speed, but if i do sysctl hw.model it says i have a powerbook??

Check your system profile. If I remember correctly, the entire line of Apple laptops are based on the "PowerBook" hardware model. You'll just have different numbers than those people with powerbooks.

Also, I am running a PB G4 800 and mine also reads 667Mhz, despite the energy saver settings on "Highest", and it is plugged in.

Powerbook G5 · Nov 18, 2003

Now if only the system thought I had a dual G4 in my PowerBook and made everything faster...now that would be cool with me.

Powerbook G5 · Nov 18, 2003

Maybe Apple just likes to try defaulting to the number 666 for some reason...

manitoubalck · Nov 18, 2003

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
Maybe Apple just likes to try defaulting to the number 666 for some reason...

It's the Devil.

benixau · Nov 19, 2003

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
Now if only the system thought I had a dual G4 in my PowerBook and made everything faster...now that would be cool with me.

just got to get sysctl hw.ncpu to report back with a 2 rather than a 1

phrancpharmD · Nov 19, 2003

intriguing. . .

I get the PowerBook 4,3 when I check sysctl hw.model, and my CPU speed is correct. Perhaps it is scalable - running "faster" with more processes running? I'll stop folding and check again. . .

phrancpharmD · Nov 19, 2003

Nope, load average went from 1.xx to .0x, but the command still showed that the CPU is running at 600mhz. . .

ExoticFish · Nov 19, 2003

my 12" AlBook reads at 999999997 which is odd because it's not plugged in and i have it set to lowest performance when on battery.

mactastic · Nov 19, 2003

Hmmm... my 1Gig TiBook also reports back as a 667. Wonder why.

Powerbook G5 · Nov 19, 2003

Maybe Apple throttles your processors back and slowly uncaps them with each OS X update to make you believe that OS X gets faster or that the G5s are faster than G4s for sure.

Processor Speed (Actual vs Reported)

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