Windows 7 "Experience Index" oddity....

[CaptainHaplo]

Running Win7 Ultimate and swapped mb and processor.

I am running a Phenom II 955 quad core - which I swapped out from a old AMD x64 dual core at 2.2Ghz. Running the numbers - and something isn't right...

My old processor scored a 3 something... so I ran the WEI on this box just to see...

CPU scores at 3.6! What the devil??? AMD doesn't make a quad core optimizer like it did for its early dual cores - Windows SEES all 4 cores and supposedly is using them - but the properties show the chip correctly - except its at 802 Mhz (which multiplied by 4 would make the 3.2Ghz).

In addition - I installed CoH Tales of Valor - its testing shows POOR performance for the CPU. Something isn't quite kosher in the neighborhood, and I am confuzzeled as to what it might be.

Ideas?

(BTW - my next lowest score is 5.5 - on memory, with 5.9 on HD access and 6.8 on graphics and aero both.)

[Arclight]

Grab CPU-Z and have a look at the actual numbers for the CPU.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

My guess is the CPU is locked to a low multiplier in the BIOS. :hmmm:

Maybe a power-saving option in the BIOS (ie. CPU doesn't ramp up to full power).

[FIREWALL]

Grab CPU-Z and have a look at the actual numbers for the CPU.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

My guess is the CPU is locked to a low multiplier in the BIOS. :hmmm:

Maybe a power-saving option in the BIOS (ie. CPU doesn't ramp up to full power).


:up: :up: :up:

[Arclight]

:up: :up: :up:
Let's hope so. :lol: :salute:

[AVGWarhawk]

I would go with that assessment. CPUID is a great program to check your stuff! BIOS setting is the first place I would go.

[Bubblehead Nuke]

I am a AMD nerd.....

I'll bet you are running an older AM2 socket or a motherboard that is limited to 95 watts. The BIOS might be old and not supporting the 955. If any of these is true the CPU defaults to 800 mhz. That is the failsafe CPU speed that it defaults to.

That would make the WEI score correct. The older CPU running at 2.2 ghz would FAR outperform the 955 quad running at 800 mhz in this case.

Lets start with the basics:

What motherboard do you have?

[CaptainHaplo]

Mainboard is an ECS GeForce6100PM-M2 rev3 - its a AM2+ board (rev 3 of this board does support quad cores)

As for CPUID - here is what it shows me....

Processor 1 ID = 0
Number of cores 4 (max 4)
Number of threads 4 (max 4)
Name AMD Phenom II X4 955
Codename Deneb
Specification AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 955 Processor
Package Socket AM3 (938)
CPUID F.4.2
Extended CPUID 10.4
Brand ID 13
Core Stepping RB-C2
Technology 45 nm
Core Speed 803.6 MHz
Multiplier x FSB 4.0 x 200.9 MHz
HT Link speed 200.9 MHz
Instructions sets MMX (+), 3DNow! (+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4A, x86-64, AMD-V
L1 Data cache 4 x 64 KBytes, 2-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L1 Instruction cache 4 x 64 KBytes, 2-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L2 cache 4 x 512 KBytes, 16-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L3 cache 6 MBytes, 48-way set associative, 64-byte line size

Everything I am seeing is that each core is simply running at 803Mhz and they are getting 3.2 Ghz purely on the number of cores. If that is the case, then I can understand the math, but not sure why the WEI doesn't show the total (as it did with my dual core) - as well as why the WEI score is not any higher than it used to be.

[Arclight]

No, you should really get the rated speed on each core, 3.2GHz in this case.

HT link speed should be 2GHz, not 200MHz. Bus speed should be at 200MHz, with a 16x multiplier. (200*16=3200) :hmmm:

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3551 (shows proper setup in CPU-Z)

If you can't set it up in the BIOS, BN probably is right in that it needs a BIOS flash. I never used AMD, so I'm not really sure; Intel, at least for Core2, simply has the front side bus and a multiplier to deal with. With AMD, I guess the hypertransport thing comes into play as well. :06:

[CaptainHaplo]

Ok will be digging into the bios here shortly.

For the record - whats really odd is that so far - and I haven't played every game yet - but what I have played seems to run great. That is what has me wondering. Will update soon - and thanks guys for the assistance.

Update - ok looks like the Bios flash is the answer - the last bios version added the support for the Phenom II chips...

Flashing - back in a bit.

ok - have tried 3 different bios versions - finally got the stepping settings available - auto defaults to the 800MHZ - I set manually my timings and voltage as it SHOULD be for a stock 955....

Core Voltage 1.350
Multi X16

Bugger won't boot if I do it.

[JSLTIGER]

Here's the reason for your problems: Your board does not support the 955...you are correct in asserting that your board supports the Phenom IIs...however, only up to the 945. The 955 is not supported. Probably because, as mentioned above...the only chips supported are those @ 95W. Your board can't handle the 125W power draw of your CPU. You'll need a different motherboard.

CPU Listings for your board:

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Support/CPU_Support_Model.aspx?detailid=988&CategoryID=1&MenuID=69&LanID=0

I nearly ran into the same problem with my board...it does not support the Phenom IIs or the 140W version of my processor, only the 125W. I had to be very careful when upgrading the processor on it.

[CaptainHaplo]

Thanks again guys. Really glad the parts order went thru TigerDirect. I made the mistake of trusting marketing! The board was listed as an AM3 board - once I got it I saw it was an AM2+. They are swapping it out with one that will work due to their error in claiming it was an AM3. I am happy. New board here either Friday or Monday - likely Monday.

[CaptainHaplo]

Bingo - new MB in and I am running great. Thanks for the assistance guys. My WEI score for the processor is now 7.3 on a scale that only runs to 7.9!

[Arclight]

HA! Same as me. :O:

Glad you got it sorted. :salute: