Four cores have reduced power levels
Four cores have reduced power levels
Using the Windows High Performance power plan with default settings causes the CPU to operate at full capacity regardless of workload. SpeedStep adjustment isn't effective for Intel processors. The processor's minimum and maximum states determine its speed, both of which should be at 100%.
Geez... Enabling SpeedStep have solved the problem directly O_o !! Now when launching OBS Studio I see the four cores at 2,83Ghz. Thanks to have taken the time to pass here @unclewebb . You can't know how you save my day, thank you so much. By the way, about SpeedStep : I think you're right, there's the possibility to manage the min and max of PCU in power management. About ThrottleStop : thank you again, because I could not use SetFSB to tweak the FSB given that it is already at max on the mobo (even if someone said it can be pushed to 400), and Intel Exteme Tuning Utility refused to work with my mobo (I'm not talking about the installation problem, but about some drivers absence). So I may be trying to increase the mutiplier of my Q9550 to see if I can overclock it. But I'll need a monitoring of my PSU, and I don't have anything for now (neither HWmonitor nor HWinfo detect it). Thanks you all guys for your time ! Long life to LinusTech forum.
The Q9550 has a fixed multiplier setting. But if you locate a board that allows FSB adjustment, you can significantly boost performance—often increasing speeds from 333 to 400 or more, reaching over 3.40GHz. Alternatively, you can apply the 771 Xeon tweak to achieve an X5470 with a tenfold boost, pushing frequencies up to 4.0GHz or higher.
Several motherboards are available in the (GX)760 series, with some offering support and most lacking it. The referenced details were tailored to a particular model.
The specifications vary based on the model, with mine being a "Desktop" design and the motherboard differing from a Mini-Tower version.
Given the CPU multiplier of 8.5, using 400Hz will yield around 3.4GHz. Most 45nm processors typically run at about 3.4GHz on roughly 1.2V. Quad-core processors are extremely challenging to exceed 500Hz, with the highest I've seen a quad go is around 580Hz. Dual-core chips usually reach about 600Hz, though some models hit 700Hz. The current best record on hwbot stands at 766Hz with an EP450U3 and an E8600, but overall it's hard to say what the average maximum is. My own setup reaches 542Hz, but it varies a lot and pushing the PCIe clock to 195MHz in setfsb is risky. If you're looking for a P45 board, go for it—especially a Gigabyte G31/P31. The G31s can handle around 440Hz (voltage limited), though I'm not sure about the typical maximum. For higher speeds, consider a Gigabyte or Biostar P45 board. ASUS generally doesn't perform well here; my P5Q maxes out at 530Hz with a BIOS mod. If you have a P45 board, it's worth trying, particularly if it's a Gigabyte or Biostar model. If you're using generic RAM, expect limited performance—Nanya dies are rare, and Micron D9 sticks are common but not ideal. If you're aiming for 775OC, check forums like Warp9 or Extreme Systems, which focus on overclocking older hardware. A 2G module like Zepplin (around 1086MHz) could work, but most people treat it as generic. Consider RAM that supports voltage scaling, as higher voltages allow more performance gains. If you're interested in subzero cooling, it might help improve results.
I'm curious about overclocking and whether it affects RAM speed. Changing the motherboard's FSB might impact both the CPU and RAM, possibly restricting you to DDR2. It seems likely, but I'm not sure. If your RAM bars can be overclocked, you might need to check further research.
It usually adjusts automatically to 800MHz, so no issues. Consider examining the PL chip (long rectangular type) and try OC with setfsb after 400fSB.