Intel i5-4300U displays as 2.5 GHz in Windows system control panel

[Subsurf]

Hello everybody,

I recently bought a used Surface Pro 3, i5 Version with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD (running Windows 10).

The data sheet of the i5-4300U processor says its normal clock was 1.9 GHz, and a maximum of 2.9 GHz with Turboboost. However, the system control panel shows "Intel Core i5-4300U CPU @ 1.90 GHz 2.50 GHz", as shown in my screenshot. Where do the 2.50 GHz come from? Is something wrong with the system settings or in the BIOS? Or is this normal for the i5-4300U?

Thanks in advance!

 

[MickeyLittle]

I don't know about the 2.9 max I read it as 2.5 max and mine reads just like yours.

 

[Subsurf]

This datasheet Intel® Core™ i5-4300U Processor (3M Cache, up to 2.90 GHz) Specifications says the 4300U had a maximum of 2.9 GHz. Nothing about 2.5 GHz on that page. Thats why I wonder about the 2.5 GHz in the system control panel.

 

[ZorMi]

From another message: "Intel i5 4300U has a max turbo frequency of 2900 MHz, top non turbo frequency is 2500 MHz."

 

[bluegrass]

I didn't get a data sheet with my Surface but it is running at 2.5 MHZ.

 

[leeshor]

I didn't get a data sheet with my Surface but it is running at 2.5 MHZ.

Now that's what I call slow.

 

[Subsurf]

After some more googling I found out that Microsoft apparently modified the i5 in the SP3, so that it runs at 2.5 GHz instead of Intel's intended clock of 1.9 GHz.

 

[bluegrass]

Now that's what I call slow.

But when you get as old as I am leeshor, it seems fine. Oh is this 2016, I was thinking of 1978 and my Radio Shack Model 1 with cassette I/O.

 

[bluegrass]

After some more googling I found out that Microsoft apparently modified the i5 in the SP3, so that it runs at 2.5 GHz instead of Intel's intended clock of 1.9 GHz.

So much for taking spec sheets for their word.

 

[ZorMi]

It seems, it runs 1.9-2.6GHz with both cores, but one core can go up to 2.9GHz using Turbo-Boost. No idea if we could take control of this...

Intel Core i5 4300U Notebook Processor
Intel Core i5-4300U Mobile processor - CL8064701477400

 

[Haldi]

If you want to modify anything...

Download Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel® XTU)

 

[GreyFox7]

Intel CPUs have various modes they can operate in.
LFM is the lowest frequency,
HFM is the high frequency
Turbo or Turbo Boost is the ultimate short burst max frequency.

For an i5-4300U these are
LFM 800MHZ - .8GHZ
HFM 2500 MHZ - 2.5GHZ
TURBO 2900MHZ - 2.9GHZ

It seems they are just reporting HFM on the system properties page. now, that's solved... where does 1.9ghz come from