Old Laptop

Hi.
I've got an old DELL L400 with Pentium 3 coppermine 700MHz.

The laptop works fine but in the BIOS I read that runs a 700MHz, while ALL
benchmark/diagnostic SW tell me that runs at 500MHz (100 x5).

Why?

All the benchmarks confirm me that it runs exactly at 500MHz and the speed
index is the same of a P3 500MHz.
What I can do?

There is the possibility that the previous owner has changed the CPU 700MHz
with a
500MHz or changed the multiplier?

Thanks.

the multiplier is locked and cannot be changed but it is possible that the
processor was changed.
try this link for a good diagnostics tool http://www.cpuid.com/


"Excel Line" wrote in message
...
Hi.
I've got an old DELL L400 with Pentium 3 coppermine 700MHz.

The laptop works fine but in the BIOS I read that runs a 700MHz, while ALL
benchmark/diagnostic SW tell me that runs at 500MHz (100 x5).

Why?

All the benchmarks confirm me that it runs exactly at 500MHz and the speed
index is the same of a P3 500MHz.
What I can do?

There is the possibility that the previous owner has changed the CPU
700MHz with a
500MHz or changed the multiplier?

Thanks.

"BigJim" ha scritto nel messaggio
...

try this link for a good diagnostics tool http://www.cpuid.com/

I've tried also Everest and Sandra: they tell me that is a 500Mhz.
WHY the BIOS tell me that there is a 700MHz?

Does is possible?

WHY the BIOS tell me that there is a 700MHz?
Does is possible?

Not really relevant to your question, but PC Chips used to make
motherboards out of whatever tat they could lay their hands on - if
that meant using the wrong timing oscillators, they simply changed the
BIOS to pretend it was doing what it should.

Excel Line wrote:
"BigJim" ha scritto nel messaggio
...

try this link for a good diagnostics tool http://www.cpuid.com/

I've tried also Everest and Sandra: they tell me that is a 500Mhz.
WHY the BIOS tell me that there is a 700MHz?

Does is possible?





That machine has Intel speedstep. Are you real sure you haven't got it
turned on?
The documents are found here as to how to adjust it.
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/ug/index.htm

"Colin Wilson" o.uk ha
scritto nel messaggio

Not really relevant to your question, but PC Chips used to make
motherboards out of whatever tat they could lay their hands on - if
that meant using the wrong timing oscillators, they simply changed the
BIOS to pretend it was doing what it should.

I've not understud... sorry.

I've not understud... sorry.

Don't worry about it, as I said, it wasn't relevant - just a random
bit of info where I pointed out that some hardware vendors would
knowingly replace components, then force the software to lie to make
it look like you were getting the right speed out of the processor.

"Pen" ha scritto nel messaggio
...

That machine has Intel speedstep. Are you real sure you haven't got it
turned on?

Speed step was disable from BIOS before start benchs

"Excel Line" ha scritto nel messaggio
...

Speed step was disable from BIOS before start benchs

Uhm... it seems that "DISABLED" doesn't means "DISABLED"!


I've set the option of "Maximum performance" and now the diagnostic tell me
700MHz (100 x7).
WHY?

Does there is any SW that can change this value within Windows XP, without
use the BIOS?
Thanks.

Excel Line wrote:
"Excel Line" ha scritto nel messaggio
...

Speed step was disable from BIOS before start benchs

Uhm... it seems that "DISABLED" doesn't means "DISABLED"!


I've set the option of "Maximum performance" and now the diagnostic tell me
700MHz (100 x7).
WHY?

Does there is any SW that can change this value within Windows XP, without
use the BIOS?
Thanks.


Did you read the docs at the link I posted before? That explains speed
step. It's all part of the battery saving scheme.