CPU slowdown

OK I have kind of a messed up problem. My 2.0 Ghz CPU which used to run at 1994 Mhz started miraculously running at 797 Mhz a few days ago. I am not really sure what caused this. I have done pretty much all the virus removal stuff on this website, and tried using system restore and nothing. This is really bad and I have NO idea what is doing this. Any idea whatsoever would help.

Oh, btw it is not the motherboard slowing it down b/c of overheating....it only does that to like 1550 Mhz or something. And it is really slow the second I turn on my comp. Thanks

 

Hi rmyere. Welcome to MG.

Hve you checked in the BIOS to see what speed that is indicating for you CPU. You should be able to change the speed in the BIOS and if it has reset to something unexpected it may be that your CMOS battery is starting to fail.

 

Yea I thought of that and it was one of the first things I checked. I have a Dell XPS Gen-2 and the BIOS does NOT let me alter those speeds. It says what it always has. It just says that I have a 2.00 Ghz Pentium M. I should add that I am also monitering the CPU core temperature, and even when I first turn on my computer and it is at like 40 degrees, it is still running at 797 Mhz. It only gets to 50-55 degrees. It just seems to think that it's max speed is at 797 Mhz. Also, yes my laptop is plugged in (someone on another forum was convinced that it wasn't) so it is not running at reduced speed to save battery. Thanks for your help.

 

OK Have you checked to see what the CPU multiplier is set at?

 

This I do not know how to do...help with it??

 

Laptops can do strange things to CPU speeds in order to save power. Did you install any newer drivers or updates? That may explain it... try a 3rd party CPU app like CPUZ or Crystal.... several are free to download here at MG. Your Windows may be reporting the speed incorrectly.....

hopperdave2000

 

I already have CPUZ...it is one of four programs that is telling me the it is running at 797. And that is the thing...I have installed absolutely nothing in a LONG time, not even windows updates because I have not connected to the internet for a long time (using another computer). I am using CPUZ, tinyresmeter, a system info program by Gabriel Topala and Prime 95. oh, and I am not running Prime95 just used it to quadruple check the CPU speed. And the weird thing is, windows reports it at running at 2 Ghz.

 

AHH I see!!! My CPU multiplier HAS changed....how do I change it back???? It was at 15 and now it is at 6....Two questions

1. Why the heck did this happen???? (any idea)
2. More importantly...at least for the short term, how do I change it back????

 

Sorry I didn't get back sooner but I've been a little busy.

You should be able to change the multiplier in the BIOS generally just by selecting the item hitting the space bar (or sometimes Enter) and then typing in the new value. If you can't find it in the BIOS there are programs you can get (such as Superutilities for Foxconn mobo's) to make it easy for you.