Why are my RAM and processor not running at full speed?

[upsguy27]

Okay, so I have Windows 7 installed on my Mac Pro (specs in sig), and I was checking CPU-Z, and apparently my processors are running at 2.6Ghz, and my memory is running at 400Mhz instead of 800Mhz. Can anyone tell me why they're underclocking? Screenshot attached.

 

[r.j.s]

Because they don't need to at the moment. They will adjust speed to meet the needs of running apps.

 

[upsguy27]

Because they don't need to at the moment. They will adjust speed to meet the needs of running apps.

I just ran GTA IV, which is a huge CPU hog, and I Alt-Tabbed out and opened CPU-Z, and the processors were still at 2.6Ghz each and the memory still at 400Mhz. Why is that?

 

[r.j.s]

I just ran GTA IV, which is a huge CPU hog, and I Alt-Tabbed out and opened CPU-Z, and the processors were still at 2.6Ghz each and the memory still at 400Mhz. Why is that?

The app was not actually accessing the RAM from the background, just some CPU cycles.

 

[m1stake]

Gotta love speed step

 

[upsguy27]

The app was not actually accessing the RAM from the background, just some CPU cycles.

So is it using the full 2.8Ghz and 800Mhz RAM?

 

[r.j.s]

So is it using the full 2.8Ghz and 800Mhz RAM?

When it needs to.

Try doing some video encoding and then check the stats.

 

[UltraNEO*]

Okay, so I have Windows 7 installed on my Mac Pro (specs in sig), and I was checking CPU-Z, and apparently my processors are running at 2.6Ghz, and my memory is running at 400Mhz instead of 800Mhz. Can anyone tell me why they're underclocking? Screenshot attached.

If it we're a real PC, you could over-ride the speed step functionality of the system's energy saver program via the BIOS but at the end of the day you'll be burning up extra energy for no apparent reason. If you wanna see does your system step up the speed give it some work to do, perhaps you can run 3Dmark Vantage... the third or fourth test should make the CPU wok it's arse off, as it's force to render visual data.

 

[upsguy27]

If it we're a real PC, you could over-ride the speed step functionality of the system's energy saver program via the BIOS but at the end of the day you'll be burning up extra energy for no apparent reason. If you wanna see does your system step up the speed give it some work to do, perhaps you can run 3Dmark Vantage... the third or fourth test should make the CPU wok it's arse off, as it's force to render visual data.

Okay, I guess that brings me to my next question, is there any way to overclock the processors in Windows? The ZDNet tool for OSX said it would carry over the overclock into Windows but it didn't. What Windows tool can I use?

 

[r.j.s]

Okay, I guess that brings me to my next question, is there any way to overclock the processors in Windows? The ZDNet tool for OSX said it would carry over the overclock into Windows but it didn't. What Windows tool can I use?

Why would you want to?

The gain you receive will be negligible at best, and you risk permanent damage to your machine.

 

[upsguy27]

Why would you want to?

The gain you receive will be negligible at best, and you risk permanent damage to your machine.

Hmm, guess I'm too used to Windows machines then.