Author:
Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation:
4 August 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
CPU speed determines the speed at which the tasks are processed on the computer. CPU speed is not as impactful as it once was with the introduction of multi-core processors. However, you should still check the CPU speed when buying a new program to make sure your computer can handle it. Also, checking the CPU benchmark speed is useful when you are overclocking for better performance.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Windows
Open the System window. There are a few quick actions to open this window.
- Windows 7, Vista, XP - Right-click on Computer / My Computer in the Start menu and select "Properties". On Windows XP, you may have to click on the "General" tab after selecting "Properties".
- Windows 8 - Right click on the Start button and select "System".
- All versions - Press ⊞ Win+Pause.
Look for the "Processor" category. This is in the "System" section, under Windows.
Record the speed of your processor. The model name and processor speed will be displayed. Speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz). This is the single core speed of your processor. For multi-core processors (most newer models do), this will be the speed of each core.
- If your processor is overclocked then most likely this is not the real speed. Refer to the next section to find the actual speed of the overclocked CPU.
Check how many cores your processor has. If the machine has a multi-core processor, the multiplier will not be displayed on this window. Multi-core processor doesn't mean programs will run faster, but it can speed up custom-made programs.- Press ⊞ Win+R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type dxdiag and press the key ↵ Enter. Click Yes if prompted to check for the driver.
- Look for the "Processor" item in the System tab. If the computer has a multi-core processor, you will see the number in parentheses after the speed (eg, 4 CPU). This number tells you how many cores the processor has. Each kernel runs at approximately the same speed (there is always a very small variation).
Method 2 of 4: Mac
Click the Apple menu and choose "About This Mac".
Find the "Processor" item under the "Overview" tab. This item will show the processing speed. Note that this is not the actual speed at which the CPU is running, as the CPU slows down on its own when not processing heavy tasks to save power and extend life.
Download Intel Power Gadget. This is a free utility for CPU monitoring and actual speed reporting of the operating system. You can download it for free at this site.
- Extract the file and double click on the DMG file to install Intel Power Gadget.
Download and install Prime95. If you want to check the maximum speed of your processor, you need to force the CPU to load a heavy program. One of the most common ways is to use the Prime95 program.You can download it for free at the site. Unzip the program and double click on the DMG file to install it. Select "Just Stress Testing" at program launch.
- Prime95 is designed for prime computation that causes the CPU to run at full capacity.
Find the speed of your processor. The second graph in this program will show the processor speed. The item "Package Frq" is the current speed based on the task processing of the machine. This metric is usually lower than "Base Frq", the advertised speed. advertisement
Method 3 of 4: Linux
Open terminal. Most of the tools available on Linux do not show the actual speed of the processor. Intel has released a turbostat that helps you check the real speed of your processor. You need to manually install this tool through the terminal.
Type.uname -rand press the key↵ Enter. Note the version number displayed (X.XX.XX-XX).
Type.apt-get install linux-tools-X.XX.XX-XX linux-cloud-tools-X.XX.XX-XXand press the key↵ Enter. Instead X.XX.XX-XX equal to the version number recorded in the previous step. Enter an administrator password if prompted.
Type.modprobe msrand press↵ Enter. This is the installation of the MSR module required to run the tool.
Open another terminal window and type.openssl speed. This is opening OpenSSL to check the speed, forcing the CPU to operate at full capacity.
Return to the first terminal window and type.turbostat. This command will display the screen for processor information recording.
Look at column .. Each category is the actual speed of each kernel. Columns are typically reported speeds. Thanks to this metric, you will see the difference between the normal speed and the speed when overclocking the CPU. The speed will be low if the CPU is not performing any task. advertisement
Method 4 of 4: Windows (overclocking CPU)
CPU overclocking is the process of modifying voltages to create more power. Overclocking is a process familiar to computer enthusiasts, offering a more profitable investment, but can also damage components. You can refer to the CPU overclocking tutorial articles for more details.
Download and install CPU-Z. This is a free utility for monitoring computer components. It is designed for overclocked machines and will report the exact speed of the processor at the moment. You can download it for free at the site.
- CPU-Z doesn't install any adware or toolbars during setup.
Open CPU-Z. By default, the computer creates the shortcut of booting CPU-Z on the desktop. You need to login as administrator or enter the password to open the program.
Open a task that uses multiple CPUs on the computer. The processor will automatically slow down when not in use, so the numbers you see on CPU-Z are not the maximum speed of the processor, you have to force the processor to work at full capacity.
- The fastest way to force the CPU to work at full capacity is to run the Prime95 program. This is a program designed to count primes, often used to test the speed of a computer. Download Prime95 from the location, extract the program file and select "Just Stress Testing" when opening the program.
Check the CPU speed. The current CPU speed will be displayed in the "Core Speed" field in the CPU tab. Wait and see small fluctuations as the computer processes the Prime95 program. advertisement
