The i7-8700 maintains a stable speed of 4.29GHz consistently.
The i7-8700 maintains a stable speed of 4.29GHz consistently.
The main point is a customer brought in their PC, which was making a lot of noise and seemed to be running slowly. After checking, Task Manager and HWMonitor showed the processor always running at 4.29GHz without any changes, even when idle. Various steps were tried—reinstalling Windows, using a better cooler, updating BIOS, changing RAM type, switching power supplies, and more—but the speed remained unchanged. Only adjusting BIOS settings like disabling Intel Turbo Boost or modifying power plan settings made a difference. I also looked at background app usage and CPU load in Task Manager. The system was still stuck at 4.29GHz. Possible causes included a faulty board, incorrect BIOS configuration, or hardware issues. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.
Reinstalling a new version of Windows 11
Where did you obtain the installer for the operating system?
Choosing a more powerful cooler with increased fan speed
Would be the correct option?
Then restore everything to its default settings
Please explain in detail how you carried out this process.
You didn’t specify the case’s make and model.
Gigabyte P550B PSU (brand new)
Even if it’s brand new or used, the unit should go in a dumpster. What was the previous PSU’s model and age, along with the system?
A customer left their PC behind
Any suggestions? Is the CPU damaged? Do I need to disable or reconfigure BIOS settings? Could there be a faulty board? Try reseating the CPU and retrying?
As a shop owner, you likely have more hardware available to troubleshoot this issue.
I don't notice it running in the area where the CPU is under 25%, which means it won't lower its speed. Additionally, it's possible your CPU is grouped and can't exceed 4.3 GHz.
Downloaded Win 11 through Microsoft site
Noctua NH D15
Load Optimized Defaults AND reset BIOS via CMOS
Case is important? I’m using an open bench and testing without a case. It’s just a simple open-air test setup.
Previous power supply was a generic 500W unit; the customer replaced it because the old one failed. A Gigabyte PSU has been installed for two months now. I also tried a Corsair CX750, but the results remain the same.
My shop is just beginning, and I’m truly sorry if my answers aren’t perfect. I don’t have the budget to buy more parts yet. I’m doing my best with what I have. Posting on forums might help me find better ideas.
Adjusting the BIOS and reverting to default configurations might have produced some results, yet clearly nothing changed.
It appears unusual that your i7-8700 remains at more than 25% CPU usage within Task Manager. Compared to the even older i5-3570K I see, its Task Manager activity stays at just 0.5%.
Perhaps using SysInternals "Process Explorer" could provide a clearer picture of what's happening inside Task Manager.
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/sysintern...-to-use-it
It might be wise to disconnect the PC from the internet while investigating, to prevent Windows from checking for updates. On a clean Windows installation or one that isn't fully updated, the update process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours on older systems. Once you cut off the internet connection, most devices stabilize within a few minutes.
To eliminate any suspicion about Windows involvement, try booting from a Linux distribution and observe if the issue persists. You don’t need to install Linux on a hard drive or SSD—just run it from USB.
https://www.linuxmint.com/
It seems the customer’s generic 500W unit could have been the source of the problem, possibly damaging the motherboard or CPU.
If I had compatible parts available, I’d consider swapping the CPU. The same applies to the motherboard; at this stage, replacing the system would be the most practical solution.
My previous i5-4670K stopped working recently. The CPU and RAM were fine, but the motherboard wouldn’t boot. I upgraded it with a newer i7-9700/mobo/RAM. I kept the GPU, hard drives, SSD, power supply, SAS controller, 10G NIC, case, fans, etc.
My updated system is still functioning properly as a file backup server, even though it uses an older Intel Generation 9 CPU. It performs better than the Generation 4 CPU it replaced. Modern hardware isn’t always necessary if your needs are simple.
The Windows 11 setup experienced problems with CPU speed during the initial installation due to high utilization and in-between states. However, when upgrading from Windows 10 using the same Windows 11 installation USB, the system operated smoothly without such issues. This might be because the upgrade process bypassed certain startup configurations or resolved compatibility factors that affected the first boot.
Great update. I'm happy the Windows 10 upgrade to 11 went smoothly, but the Windows 11 installation issue remains unclear. It might be a strange Registry problem—just part of the complex process.
P.S. Appreciate using Google for your screenshots; now you can view them on any device. I can't access Imgur links unless I use a VPN to hide my location.