Fluctuating CPU Core Clock Multiplier!?!? 0_o

Hey guys, this is a really odd problem my friends labtop has been having since he got it back from Geek Squad (the HDD Controller went out on his labtop the first time ). Anyways, Processor is an AMD Athlon 2800 XP-M (barton core), MB is a HP PQ1A84, Ram is 512 MB, 64 disignated as video. The Labtop itself it s a Compaq Presario, 2100. Anyways, he downloaded and installed AMD clock at my request, and CPU Z along with some other Utility Programs and such. AMD clock the first time he ran it showed his CPU clock speeds fluctuating anywhere from 500 MHZ - 2100 MHZ. CPU Z shows the Clock speed Multiplier Changing erratically, from 4, to 5, to 12, to 16, however, the FSB speed is remaining the same. Is this a thermal management feature or something, perhaps its keeps the labtop cooler by lower the multiplier when not much processing is being done, or perhaps its a feature of the AMD Athlon 2800 XP? I have never seen this before! Anyways, all help is appreciated!

PS. labtop is running CPU Burn In just fine, atleast for an hour now, so it doesnt "seem" to be effecting anything in a substantial manner.

-David

 

BAM ! you got it ..it also saves battery power ...