Task Manager reporting wrong CPU frequency


Recommended Posts

Don't know if this is a bug or a feature but the Windows 8 Task Manager always shows frequency higher than CPU-Z.

When I do CPU intensive task, it shows 5.10 Ghz frequency which is obviously wrong as my i5-3550 has maximum frequency limit of 4.10 Ghz.

fmrpM.jpg

Anyone noticed this? Clean re-install nor updating BIOS helped.

Well your CPU will automatically underclock itself when it's not being used, so that part is probably correct.

But when it displays 5.1GHz, I have no idea what's going on there. Does CPU-Z show the same thing?

This is normal if speedstep is on and you are using Balanced as your power plan AFAIK.

The CPU will clock down, then clock up to it's standard operating speed. That CPU operates at 3.30Ghz, and Turbos up to 3.7Ghz. Run prime95 on it and you should see it go up to 3.7Ghz.

I don't see where it says 5.1ghz but I don't know why it's showing 4.1Ghz unless you overclocked it

  On 09/10/2012 at 14:15, sanke1 said:

CPU-Z shows 4.1 Ghz. Windows task manager shows 4.8 Ghz or 5.1 Ghz depending on it's mood.

I would definitely say it's a Windows problem then. But you shouldn't be surprised. :rolleyes:

  On 09/10/2012 at 14:10, sanke1 said:

Don't know if this is a bug or a feature but the Windows 8 Task Manager always shows frequency higher than CPU-Z.

When I do CPU intensive task, it shows 5.10 Ghz frequency which is obviously wrong as my i5-3550 has maximum frequency limit of 4.10 Ghz.

Anyone noticed this? Clean re-install nor updating BIOS helped.

the newer intel cores have "Turbo Boost". Which will underclock your CPU automagically during low loads. During more CPU intensive tasks it will bring it up to speed. It's possible that when CPUz is launched it doesn't have much load and as such you see a lower speed, whereas I am assuming Windows 8 can take that into account and show the maximum, as well as the current.

  On 09/10/2012 at 14:58, Deranged said:

If you've got the system overclocked then yes, it's probably just showing the max speed under TurboBoost. When only one or two cores are active it'll boost the speeds. http://en.wikipedia....tel_Turbo_Boost

i5-3550 is Non-K edition. It cannot be overclocked.

  • 2 months later...
  Quote
i5-3550 is Non-K edition. It cannot be overclocked.

That has absolutely nothing to do with it. Turbo Boost doesn't require a K series processor and is enabled on most of the I-series processors. Basically if it detects that a running program isn't multi-core optimized it shuts off some (1, 2, or even 3) of the cores and overclocks the remaining cores.

For example, my processor is 1.73 but with turbo boost enabled (on 1 core for this example) it rises to 2.93.

What's weird though is Intel says your CPU has a max turbo frequency of 3.7, but Windows is reporting 4.1/5.1 :/ Maybe your motherboard/BIOS is reporting the wrong CPU?

^^ Motherboard and Bios are reporting the exact CPU which I purchased. It's just that Windows Task Manager reports incorrect frequency compared to CPUz or any other CPU freq monitoring program.

This issue has nothing to do with overclocking. The new Task Manager in Windows 8 is incapable of reading correct CPU speeds in some cases. I call this Windows bug.

People replying about Speedstep, try reading again. Looking at the pictures will help explain, also. That's what they're there for.

That being said, I've not seen that, but I generally use slightly older processors. Maybe it's the way the newer ones are seen by the OS?

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Posts

    • Is Polaroid's Now 3rd Gen camera worth the $99.99 price drop? by Paul Hill For at least a decade there has been a nostalgic feeling gripping people in response to the digitization of everything. We’ve seen this mainly in products like vinyl, and even apps like Slowly that make you wait before your friends receive your “letter”. Another such product trying to capitalize on nostalgia is the Polaroid Now 3rd Generation camera. For a limited time, you can pick it up for just $99.99, instead of $119.99. If you are still searching for a gift for Father’s Day, taking advantage of this limited-time deal would be our suggestion. The Polaroid Now 3rd Generation is available in several colors but only four - Black, Coral, Purple, and Yellow - are available for $99.99, and they all look great. While there is certainly nothing wrong with snapping photos on your phone and storing them in the cloud, you do lose out on the tactileness of a photograph that you get with the Polaroid Now 3rd Generation. Additionally, in recent years, Google has been nagging everyone that their Google Photos storage is about to run out, urging you to delete photos or pay to upgrade, in future clean ups, you might accidentally delete a photo you really wanted to keep, you can’t do that as easily with hard-copy photograph. What it does (and doesn’t) With the 3rd generation of Polaroid Now, you get several improvements over the predecessor. There is a better light meter, upgraded two-lens autofocus, a built-in tripod mount, photo filter compatibility, a self-timer to take snaps with yourself included, and double-exposure modes. This camera remains faithful to the iconic Polaroid design but comes with new colors, four of which are now $99.99 for a limited time. Environmentalism has become all the rage in recent years and consumers want stuff that’s produced more responsibly; to this end, Polaroid has used 40% recycled materials to reduce waste and improve the product’s carbon footprint. The Polaroid Now 3rd Generation uses Polaroid i-Type Film and 600 Film, both of which are sold separately. The cost of the film is probably the biggest issue with this product, it’s priced at $17.99 per 8-pack, so you’re definitely going to want to be mindful about the shots you take. You can cut the cost by buying in bulk. Some of the reviewers were also disappointed with the low-light shots they took indoors. If you are planning to take indoor shots, then be mindful about what other people have said. Outdoors, everything seems in order. The two-lens autofocus system mentioned earlier is a key new feature of this camera. The system combines two fixed focus zones with one lens covering distances from 0.40 meters to 1.3 meters, and the other covering from 1.0 meter to infinity. The camera then automatically switches lenses depending on the best one for the shot. With the self-timer, you can now set up the Polaroid Now 3rd Generation on a tripod and join in with a group photo, or just take a shot of yourself. The double exposure feature lets you layer two images on one piece of film to bring out your creativity to create visually striking and unexpected results. How it compares At this discounted price, the Polaroid Now 3rd Generation is the same price as the 2nd Generation model, but gets newer features. It should also be stated that there’s a Polaroid Now+ 3rd Generation which you can connect to your phone to control with an app, but it’s priced higher. If you’re just looking for a camera that doesn’t complicate things, then the Polaroid Now 3rd Generation is the ideal model. You get the new hardware features, but don’t need to worry about extra connectivity. Who it’s right for The Polaroid Now 3rd Generation is ideal for casual photographers, those looking to snap memories to tangible film, gift-givers looking to buy a parent a Father’s Day gift, or those who love the classic Polaroid aesthetic and want it on a shelf somewhere for decorative purposes. While the camera is now priced well at $99.99, buyers need to consider the on-going cost of the film, which can add up. For anyone who hasn’t used a film camera before, it’s also important for me to point out that prints take a bit of time to develop, some users have also complained about the low-light performance when indoors. If you’re looking for snapping retro outdoor shots, the Polaroid Now 3rd Generation is definitely worth your consideration! Polaroid Now 3rd Generation (Black): $99.99 (Amazon US) - MSRP $119.99 / 17% off Polaroid Now 3rd Generation (Coral): $99.99 (Amazon US) - MSRP $119.99 / 17% off Polaroid Now 3rd Generation (Purple): $99.99 (Amazon US) - MSRP $119.99 / 17% off Polaroid Now 3rd Generation (Yellow): $99.99 (Amazon US) - MSRP $119.99 / 17% off This Amazon deal is US-specific and not available in other regions unless specified. If you don't like it or want to look at more options, check out the Amazon US deals page here. Get Prime (SNAP), Prime Video, Audible Plus or Kindle / Music Unlimited. Free for 30 days. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • My Machines with Classic Outlook 365, have a banner on top Next Time Outlook is opened, will be autoly switched to NEW Outlook, not sure if i should try to prevent that or just get used to new Outlook at this point Probably gonna try to prevent that now that i read that privacy notice
    • Yeah, no. I won't be "upgrading" to the "mandatory" Windows 11 until all the bugs with DirectX and Hibernate are sorted out. Until then ASUS and Microsoft can both stuff it where the sun don't shine.
    • Microsoft Edge It works as expected, and I see no reason to use another browser.
  • Recent Achievements

    • First Post
      m10d earned a badge
      First Post
    • Conversation Starter
      DarkShrunken earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • One Month Later
      jrromero17 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      jrromero17 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Conversation Starter
      johnwin1 earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      251
    2. 2
      snowy owl
      157
    3. 3
      ATLien_0
      140
    4. 4
      +FloatingFatMan
      139
    5. 5
      Xenon
      128
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!