Athlon 64 Performance Decline. Plz Help!

MattJones · Oct 28, 2005, 03:44 PM

I bought an Athlon 64 2800+ not too long ago. When I first installed it, it would idle at roughly 1000 MHz operating frequency, then rev up to 1800-2000 MHz when the system was under a load. Recently, I've been noticing a performance hit in many different applications (from CD-Ripping to City of Villains and anything else that's system intensive). I monitored the CPU under load and noticed that it never leaves its idling frequency of 1000 MHz. According to CPU-Z, the multiplier is at 5x. I've only recently started to learn a bit more about the A64, so I don't know if the multiplier was this low when things ran smoothly. A friend of mine has an A64 3200+ and his multiplier is at 10x. Also, his CPU is running on 1.47 Volts, whereas I'm running at 1.1V. He has a Clawhammer (non-FX), and mine is NewCastle, so I don't know if that could account for the discrepancy.

From the time of the CPU working properly until now I haven't installed any new drivers for MoBo or CPU, no new BIOS, changed the RAM configuration, or basically changed anything on the system. I installed the newest ATI Catalyst drivers and put in a Plextor DVD burner, but to my knowledge neither of those changes would affect CPU speed.

After searching through the forums for 15 mins or so it became clear that I was in over my head. If anyone has any information or ideas that could bring my system back up to where it should be operating, please help in any way possible.

Here is a ScreenCap of CPU-Z running on my system, if it helps: http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/100/untitled7rb1.jpg

Thank you so much!

ViRuS2k · Oct 28, 2005, 06:10 PM

you have cool and quiet enabled in your bios.
disable this as when your system is idle this can underclock your system and when under load it will speed back up again.

if your overclocking or genraly dont want your system to slowdown and want it at what you set it at.

then you have to disable that cool and quiet technology.

MattJones · Oct 28, 2005, 10:02 PM

Thanks so much! I disabled it in the bios and am running at 1800 (x9) again.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Oct 29, 2005, 07:33 AM

there a windows hot fix relkated to this , but yea turn off cool & quiet
solves the problem as well

jasonbourne · Oct 29, 2005, 12:04 PM

i dont have a cool and quiet option on my bios but i have a smart fan option instead, is it the same thing????

Sandok · Oct 29, 2005, 12:11 PM

Nope don't think so...

jasonbourne · Oct 30, 2005, 04:50 AM

mmm , is ther any program that i can check if cool and quiet is on??? im overclocking my cpu to 2400mhz so i really need to know and disabled it ,help guys!!

jasonbourne · Oct 30, 2005, 05:08 AM

i have another question is better to run mi processor with the voltage on 1.40 or 1.50, it is set by default to 1.40 is it ok??

jasonbourne · Oct 30, 2005, 10:55 AM

anyone??

dipstick · Oct 30, 2005, 11:12 AM

There should be an option to disable/enable in the bios. You also need the driver from AMD for it to work. Also if your cpu is stable(or you dont OC) leave it at 1.4v