Sempron 2800+ running at 800Mhz instead of 1.6GHz???

[hopejr]

My dad's compaq is driving him crazy. It has a Sempron 2800+ which is supposed to have a clock speed of 1.6Ghz, but System Properties in Windows is saying it's 800Mhz (causing him to have problems installing some games that check the clock speed through Windows).
I've gone into BIOS setup, which happens to report it as 1.6GHz. I thought it might have been a multiplier or FSB setting, and I can't find anything to modify/set/view these. When I say view, the values aren't displayed anywhere in BIOS setup.

Does anyone have any idea what the hell could be wrong with it (apart from it being a Compaq, or ripping the thing open to see if there's an FSB jumper on the mobo)? The computer is only 2 months old.

EDIT: forgot to say that it's like this even running on AC, and I checked the Power Options in Windows to no avail...

 

[rasczak]

there should be an option to set the cpu on performance as opposed to battery saving. have you tried this? it should be in your power options. if you are still having problems you might wanna check hp/compaq's knowledge base for any issues similar to yours.

 

[2kfire]

Try running CPU-Z (Link), then play a game or do something that needs full CPU power (encode a video, run Prime95, etc.). It SHOULD go up to 1.6GHz. If it doesn't, then there is something wrong. The mobile Semprons automatically reduce their clockspeed when you don't need all the CPU power. I THINK they do this at any power setting, not like the desktop chips that only do it at certain settings.

 

[hopejr]

jpbelauskas: Didn't actually make any difference. That only changes the time before the disks, monitor, etc turn off. I wish there was a drop-down box that allowed CPU performance to be set... oh well.

2kfire: I'll try that and see what happens.

 

[2kfire]

Originally posted by: hopejr

2kfire: I'll try that and see what happens.

Let us know what happened

 

[hopejr]

2kfire, you are right. The multiplier doubles as soon as anything starts requiring lots of power (pushing it to 1.6GHz). Ok, now my dad will be really annoyed, coz there's nothing wrong with the processor. lol

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: hopejr
2kfire, you are right. The multiplier doubles as soon as anything starts requiring lots of power (pushing it to 1.6GHz). Ok, now my dad will be really annoyed, coz there's nothing wrong with the processor. lol

"AMD PowerNow! Technology allows the system to dynamically and automatically select CPU speed, Voltage and Power combination that match the instantaneous user performance need. These changes can happen as often as 30 times per second." Works eh?

 

[tyanni]

If the games are actually complaining about the speed when you go to install them, couldn't you run something in the background to get the speed up to normal, then do the install? Although I am not sure why it wouldn't clock up as soon as you start installing the game...

Tim

 

[2kfire]

Glad to hear all is well I'm sure your dad won't be too annoyed when he finds out that his computer is smart enough to know when he needs more power and it automatically provides it Enjoy!

 

[hopejr]

Now he just needs more RAM so that he can have back the RAM his video card is stealing.