rMBP 2.6GHz i7 - max turbo on all cores?

[RestlessCaviar]

I have a 2.6GHz i7 rMBP, and as expected it's maxing out all 4 (8 hyper threaded) cores.

It's doing 54fps on a bluray MKV backup, but both of the monitor widgets I have say the processor is still only running at 2.6.

Am I correct in thinking that turbo boost only works when all cores aren't at full capacity? That's to say, it's meant for non-parallel tasks to be sped up, not something like Handbrake.

 

[optics261]

I have a 2.6GHz i7 rMBP, and as expected it's maxing out all 4 (8 hyper threaded) cores.

It's doing 54fps on a bluray MKV backup, but both of the monitor widgets I have say the processor is still only running at 2.6.

Am I correct in thinking that turbo boost only works when all cores aren't at full capacity? That's to say, it's meant for non-parallel tasks to be sped up, not something like Handbrake.

you have it mostly correct.

its used to speed up single core tasks. So when a core isnt being used, the heat and energy for that core would be instead be used to an actually active core to increase its frequency.

when all cores can be used it is faster to use all cores instead of turning them 'off' and speeding up a few.

 

[Rudy69]

When the load is on 1-2 or 3 cores it will shut down unused cores and speed up the working cores. In your case you're maxing out all 4 so you can't go higher than 2.6