CPU frequency is just 800

[nelly22]

I have MacBookPro10,2 Late 2012 10.14.4 and i just noticed that CPU frequency is most of the time about 800 when this Mac has Intel Core i5 2,5 GHz.

Why is that? I now monitor frequency using iStat Menus.

Any way i can force it back to 2500?

 

[chrfr]

I have MacBookPro10,2 Late 2012 10.14.4 and i just noticed that CPU frequency is most of the time about 800 when this Mac has Intel Core i5 2,5 GHz.

Why is that? I now monitor frequency using iStat Menus.

Any way i can force it back to 2500?

Does the battery still work in that computer? If not, the computer will run at about 800MHz to prevent unexpected shutdowns due to overtaxing the power supply.

 

[nelly22]

Battery says "Service battery" and it lasts about 30 minutes if i remove power cord.

Is there any way i can force it fast again. It is some times 2400 but then drops 800.

 

[bogdanw]

You can get detailed info on the CPU with Intel Power Gadget https://software.intel.com/content/www/us/en/develop/articles/intel-power-gadget.html
Try to run a resource intensive app and see how it behaves.

 

[iAssimilated]

All modern CPUs throttle themselves when not being used (or used lightly) to save energy (this is true of desktop processors as well as mobile ones).

 

[KPOM]

I have MacBookPro10,2 Late 2012 10.14.4 and i just noticed that CPU frequency is most of the time about 800 when this Mac has Intel Core i5 2,5 GHz.

Why is that? I now monitor frequency using iStat Menus.

Any way i can force it back to 2500?

This is normal. The “base” speed is just what it runs at when it is at the stated TDP. If the programs running don’t need the extra power, the OS won’t request it.