Why is my CPU speed so slow?

Question

I recently bought a new laptop. While I mostly intend to use it for Uni-related stuff, I was planning on installing one or two oldish games on it.

I asked a question a day or two ago about system requirements, and was helpfully referred to a site called systemrequirementslab. This site told me that my laptop met the minimum system requirements for the game I want.

However, it also told me that my CPU speed is really quite slow. While I easily met the recommended requirements for everything else for the game, my CPU speed is around 2.508 GHz.

I don't understand why my CPU is so slow. I have a AMD Dual Core 2.1 GHz processor (I thought dual core processors were supposed to be better) and 3GB of RAM. There is very little software installed since I just got it. Despite all this, however, my CPU speed is slower than on the old family PC which is inferior in every aspect and filled with software (it's around 2.9GHz on the PC).

So why is the CPU speed so slow on my laptop? Is there any way I can increase it short of buying a new processor or laptop?

Johhny · Accepted Answer

This is confusing, now you state you got an AMD 2.1ghz dual core processor in your laptop, but you are stating that the laptop has a CPU speed of 2.5ghz, that is a major contradiction, either you got a 2.1ghz dual core, or a 2.5ghz dual core, which is it?

Laptops are renowned to be slow, there are many factors involved, processor, available memory, operating system, hard drive speed, amount of fragmentation of the hard disk, the graphics card has nothing to do with it when you are using standard 2D graphics.

Laptop gaming is never a good option unless you buy a laptop specifically for gaming, and they are around the £1500 mark off the shelves, and it is only Alienware laptops that are normally made for gaming.  If your laptop had onboard graphics, it will eat standard memory, about 512mb of it to say the least!  So your laptop memory is really only around 2.5gb.

Now a 2.1ghz dual core is effectively a 4.2ghz processor, but it doesn't work that way, it means that you can run two programs at the same time at 2.1ghz, so if you got a whole load of background processes running, that 2.1ghz drops significantly, to play this game, either your graphics aren't up to it, OR, too many processes are running in the background to make the game viable.  Online checks will never take into account a Laptop requirements fully, most "normal" laptops have a very basic intel graphics chipset, what is the make and model of the laptop, and I can check out your specification for you!

Also I noticed on the spec runs that I did on systemrequirementlabs, it always makes this disclaimer...

Laptop versions of these chipsets may work but are not supported. Integrated chipsets are not supported.

So I think it has answered your question well enough.. Sorry, didn't have any better news for you!

gameplayer_1706 · Answer

First check out the model no. of the processor and find out what speed it is...
after all a cpu with 2.1 ghz processing speed can give u that much only..

Also as for the gaming part... if u have a seperate graphics chip (on the MB) / addon card then video
processing is taken over by that gpu and so ur cpu will have less work to do.

Next the multi core part... even though u have a dual-core processor the s/w and the OS should support multi core tech for it to make a noticablke difference.

Scerbatiuc Stanislav · Answer

First of all, processor performance depends on different factors, such as FSB, L1 & L2 cache memory, not only on the clock speed. Multi-core processors are better for multi-tasking. For example you play a game and a video simultaneously: multi-core processor can distribute tasks on different cores and do them independently, while a single core CPU would have to do those things on its one core. Plus they have higher FSB and more L1 & L2 cache memory than a single core processors. Your CPU isn't slow.You just don't need more, especially if you have a laptop as higher CPU speed means more power consumption and believe me, it's not worth it. You would really feel the difference only if you do tasks such as HD video editing & 3D modeling, so due to fact that you use your laptop for common tasks, i suggest you to forget about overclocking (increasing CPU core clock speed) your laptop.
PS: most of laptops have lower clock speed than a desktop PC as they were designed to run for a long time without being recharged

? · Answer

If it doesnt meet the minimum utilization requirments possibility is it wont artwork. As mentioned above your substantial suggestions may be to purchase a sparkling CPU or overclock it (*word* overclocking has its disadvantages!) till now you proceed with this. If its a activity you already offered. there are here suggestions: a million. return it to the shop unopened. (offering the corporation has this coverage) 2. installation it besides and attempt placing all the configurations to minimum (some video games have a config application in the classes folder on the initiating bar) despite step you opt for I wish you the appropriate of success and want we helped =)

Anonymous · Answer

I found a free download of Ccleaner here http://bitly.com/UrAMf4

Ccleaner guarantees a full protection of your laptop.
Regards

Horikita Maki · Answer

I have the same specs as u but my laptopspd is faster... wht kind of old games? psx?

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Why is my CPU speed so slow?

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