How to find out the processor frequency on a laptop. How to View the Current CPU Frequency in Linux

The performance and speed of the system greatly depends on the clock frequency of the processor. This indicator is not constant and may change slightly during computer operation. If desired, the processor can also be “overclocked,” thereby increasing the frequency.

You can find out the clock frequency as follows: using standard methods, and using third-party software (the latter gives a more accurate result).

It's worth remembering that clock frequency The processor speed is measured in hertz, but is usually specified in either megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).

It is also worth remembering that if you use standard methods of checking frequency, you will not see such a word as “frequency” anywhere. You will most likely see the following (example) – « Intel Core i5-6400 3.2 GHz". Let's take it in order:

1. "Intel"- these are the names of the manufacturer. Instead there may be "AMD".
2. "Core i5" is the name of the processor line. Instead, you may have written something completely different, however, this is not so important.
3. "6400"— model of a specific processor. Yours may also differ.
4. "3.2 GHz" is the frequency.

The frequency can be found in the documentation for the device. But the data there may differ slightly from the real ones, because... The documents say the average value. And if any manipulations have been performed with the processor before, the data may differ dramatically, so it is recommended to obtain information only by software.

Method 1: AIDA64

– functional program for working with computer components. The software is paid, but there is a demo period. In order to view data about the processor in real time, it will be quite enough. The interface has been completely translated into Russian.

The instructions look like this:

Method 2: CPU-Z

– a program with easy and clear interface, which allows you to view in more detail all the characteristics of the computer (including the processor). Distributed free of charge.

To see the frequency, just open the program and in the main window pay attention to the line "Specification". The name of the processor will be written there and at the very end the current frequency in GHz will be indicated.

Method 3: BIOS

If you have never seen the BIOS interface and do not know how to work there, then it is better to leave this method. The instructions look like this:

Method 4: Standard system tools

Most easy way of all, because does not require installation of additional software or entering BIOS. Find out the frequency standard means Windows:

Finding out the current frequency is very easy. In modern processors, this indicator is no longer the most important factor in terms of performance.

If you came across this article, then most likely you are having difficulty this issue. If so, you've come to the right place. In this article we will look in detail at how to find out the processor frequency and tell you how to do this in various ways.

According to the documentation

Initially, we will analyze the simplest and most common option - according to the documentation received when purchasing the processor. If you bought a computer in a store and took all the components at once, it will include many items. But don’t rush to despair, everything is very simple.

Let's look at it with an example. Let's say you have written:

INTEL i5-6600 3.5 GHz.

• 1 Gb GeForce GTX 420.

Remember, there are two types of processors: Intel and AMD. These are the companies that produce it. As we see, in this list present Intel processor i5-6600 3.5 GHz. This means we discard the remaining components and figure out the encryption of the remaining ones. We have already found out that Intel is the name of the company, i5-6600 is the model of the processor itself, we are also not interested in it, but 3.5 GHz is the clock frequency.

Remember, frequency is always measured in Hertz, abbreviated Hz or Hz in English. The prefix G stands for giga, which in turn means 1000 hertz. From this it follows that the processor frequency is 3,500 Hertz.

So we figured out how to find out, but this is just the first way. Let's move on to the rest.

Properties of the system

In the event that you do not have the nomenclature for the purchased product, you can use next way, which works properly on all operating systems Windows systems. Now let’s look at how to find out the processor frequency using the “System Properties” window.

There are several options you can use. The first one implies next algorithm actions:

Go to the Start menu.

From the sidebar, select Control Panel.

In the window that appears, click on the “System Properties” section.

You can also use the search in the same Start menu by entering search bar"Properties of the system".

On some OSes you can avoid all these manipulations by simply right-clicking on the “My Computer” shortcut and selecting context menu"Properties".

So, we figured out how to get to “System Properties”. Now find the “Processor” line; opposite it will be the full name of your system unit. And at the end it is written in gigahertz.

We have given another way to find out the processor frequency using operating system. But it’s still not exactly full list, so let's move on.

CPU-Z

Now we will look at how to find out using the CPU-Z utility.

This utility is intended for only one thing: it tells in detail about the processor installed on the computer. And the main advantage this software- it is completely free.

First of all, you need to download the program, so go to the official website and feel free to download without fear of viruses. Once the download is complete, run the installer and complete the installation. Once you have done this, a program shortcut should appear on your desktop - double-click on it.

Once the program has opened, find the “CPU” tab and select it. will appear in front of you detailed information about your processor. If you study it carefully, you can find the “Specification” line. Opposite it will be the frequency in gigahertz.

This is the third way to find out the processor frequency on Windows 7. However, if for some reason all of the above methods did not help you do this, then there is only one left. It is not the simplest, but it absolutely guarantees that you will receive necessary information, so let's move on to it.

BIOS

We don’t think it’s worth telling what a BIOS is. Let's take a look at frequency.

So, restart the computer, and during its startup, when the inscriptions flash on a black background, press the Pause key to stop the startup process. In one of the lines, find “Main Processor”, and at the end of it you will find the frequency value, which is also indicated in gigahertz.

If for some reason you do not have this line, then instead of the Pause key, press Del or F2 to go to the BIOS itself. There, on the first page, find the line “Processor Type”, and opposite it you will see the frequency.

That's basically it. All were presented above possible ways How to find out what processor frequency is on your computer.

Then the clock frequency is the most well-known parameter. Therefore, it is necessary to specifically understand this concept. Also, within the framework of this article, we will discuss understanding clock speed multi-core processors , because there are interesting nuances that not everyone knows and takes into account.

Enough long time the developers relied specifically on increasing the clock frequency, but over time, the “fashion” has changed and most of the developments go towards creating a more advanced architecture, increasing cache memory and developing multi-cores, but no one forgets about the frequency.

What is processor clock speed?

First you need to understand the definition of “clock frequency”. The clock speed tells us how many calculations the processor can perform per unit time. Accordingly, the higher the frequency, the more operations the processor can perform per unit time. Clock frequency modern processors, generally ranges from 1.0-4GHz. It is determined by multiplying the external or base frequency, by a certain coefficient. For example, the Intel Core i7 920 processor uses a bus speed of 133 MHz and a multiplier of 20, resulting in a clock speed of 2660 MHz.

The processor frequency can be increased at home by overclocking the processor. There are special processor models from AMD and Intel, which are aimed at overclocking by the manufacturer itself, for example, the Black Edition from AMD and the K-series line from Intel.

I would like to note that when buying a processor, frequency should not be the decisive factor in your choice, because only part of the processor’s performance depends on it.

Understanding clock speed (multi-core processors)

Now, in almost all market segments there are no longer single-core processors left. Well, it’s logical, because the IT industry does not stand still, but is constantly moving forward by leaps and bounds. Therefore, you need to clearly understand how the frequency is calculated for processors that have two or more cores.

While visiting many computer forums, I noticed that there is a common misconception about understanding (calculating) the frequencies of multi-core processors. I’ll immediately give an example of this incorrect reasoning: “There are 4 nuclear processor with a clock frequency of 3 GHz, so its total clock frequency will be equal to: 4 x 3 GHz = 12 GHz, right?” - No, not so.

I will try to explain why the total processor frequency cannot be understood as: “number of cores X specified frequency."

Let me give you an example: “A pedestrian is walking along the road, his speed is 4 km/h. This is similar to a single-core processor on N GHz. But if 4 pedestrians are walking along the road at a speed of 4 km/h, then this is similar to a 4-core processor on N GHz. In the case of pedestrians, we do not assume that their speed will be 4x4 = 16 km/h, we simply say: "4 pedestrians walk at a speed of 4 km/h". For the same reason, we do not perform any mathematical operations with the frequencies of the processor cores, but simply remember that a 4-core processor is N GHz has four cores, each of which operates at a frequency N GHz".

Processor clock speed - this is the number of oscillations over a certain period of time(V in this case- in a second). If we talk about a personal computer, then for it this is an indicator of the number of operations that the processor can perform in 1 second. Remember: the higher the clock speed, the higher the performance of the computer.

What varieties are there?

This is interesting! The unit of measurement of frequency is called the “hertz,” and it is named after the legendary German physicist Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, who in 1885 conducted a unique experiment to confirm the correctness of the electromagnetic theory. The scientist proved that light is a type electromagnetic radiation, which propagates in the form of special waves.

Experts distinguish 2 types of clock frequencies.

1. External (affects data exchange between the board random access memory and processor).
2. Internal (affects the correctness and speed of operation inside the processor).

Another interesting fact is that until 1992, these two indicators, as a rule, coincided, and only as a result of the introduction of new technologies by specialists famous company Intel's internal frequency has been increased by 2 times compared to the external one. An example of such an achievement was the 80486DX2 processor, unique at that time. The manufacturer presented to the public 2 types of such a processor: one is less powerful (25/50 MHz), the other is with higher performance (33/66 MHz). This invention gave a serious impetus, including to other manufacturers, and they began to actively develop and produce processors with noticeably more power.

It is worth paying attention to this important point: The processor clock speed is not the only criterion for assessing the speed and performance of a computer. You also need to take into account the size of the cache memory and . On some processors latest generation used special system responsible for automatic increase clock speed of the processor cores. So, if you are an active gamer and cannot imagine your life without daily immersion in the fascinating world of complex games, both in plot and graphics, then you need. But for the classic office work A modern PC will do as well.

How is the clock frequency determined?

As is known, clock oscillations are formed as a result of the action of a quartz crystal located in a special container. This device is called a “clock resonator”. The crystal begins to work only after voltage is applied and an electric current oscillates. Next, these oscillations are fed to a clock generator, as a result of which the electric current oscillations are converted into pulses, and they are already transmitted to the data buses.

Remember that it is the clock generator that is responsible for the required operating cycle of all PC components, including buses, RAM and, of course, CPU. If the clock generator is working correctly, all components will also function as synchronously and smoothly as possible.
There is also such a thing as a clock period.

The clock period is minimum unit, which measures the operating time of the processor.

Increasing frequency by overclocking

When interacting with the RAM board, the processor usually spends more than one clock cycle. This indicator can be increased artificially, that is, as a result of the so-called “", but having chosen this path, you need to know about some restrictions:

• processor starts consume noticeably large quantity energy, and the installed and operated power supply may not be able to cope with this point, so it is worth purchasing a more efficient model;
• as a result of “overclocking,” the amount of energy emitted by the crystal increases, that is, both it and other components will heat up faster(only the efficient system cooling);
• If the volume of supplied electricity increases, problems will certainly arise. electromagnetic interference, in particular, in the operation of data buses (this can lead to a decrease in the amount of data transferred).

How to find out the processor frequency of your computer?

There are four main ways to find out the clock speed and thus determine the performance of a PC:

1. View the documentation provided by the manufacturer along with your computer or laptop. The technical data sheet must indicate the type of processor and its clock frequency. If there is no inscription regarding the clock frequency next to the specified processor model, you can find it out by entering any search engine processor name, laptop model, etc.
2. You can find out the clock frequency by reading the properties of your PC system. What do I need to do? First, go to the “Control Panel”; secondly, go to the “System Properties” section. IN this section Displays computer performance metrics, including clock speed.
3. You can take advantage of the opportunities, which you can access by following some simple rules (for personal computers they are the same, for laptops they are different). The main thing is to press one “magic” button (for example, Del, Esc or F12) before the system starts booting.
4. Install on your computer CPU-Z utility, which is absolutely free, and its main purpose is to help the user find out everything he needs Contains information about the processor, including its performance and clock speed.

So, you already know what clock speed is personal computer or laptop, what significance these indicators have for the speed of the equipment, you know how to determine the frequency, and we hope that this information will help you become an even more professional and successful PC user.