Legit Reviews

In my HTPC, I have my E5300 running at 3.458 GHz on a PK5 at stock voltages and cooling. I simply bumped the FSB to 266 MHz from 200 MHz and confirmed max temp and stability using IntelBurnTest & Core Temp 0.99.5.

Anyway, I have Speedstep/EIST enabled, so when the CPU load is low (90% of the time) the multiplier drops to 6 and the CPU runs at 1.6 GHz (28 degrees idle). As I understand it, if I wanted to manually set the multiplier, I would need to disable Speedstep. Is this the only reason to disable it? I often see posts recommending that the user disable Speedstep when attempting to overclock, but it seems to me that unless you want to manually set the multiplier there doesn't seem be to another reason to disable it. Why not have it enabled so that your CPU runs cool and at lower voltages when not being stressed, but has the ability to run at max speed when needed?

for an HTPC i'd definitely say ENABLE, unless you plan to run it at the lowest multiplier 24/7

i disable it personally because my pc is 100% stressed(CPU and GPU usually) 95% of the time so theres no reason to have it

edit: because i'm retarded and said disable when i meant enable

Speedstep just lowers the voltages and clocks of your computer. If you are overclocking then it is worthless to enable it. It is basically negating the overclock that you just set.

Major_A wrote:Speedstep just lowers the voltages and clocks of your computer. If you are overclocking then it is worthless to enable it. It is basically negating the overclock that you just set.

Not quite, when I am playing a game/using cpu intensive program, I got full speed. And when I go cut the grass, etc. my computer slows down to sip energy while not being used. How is that worthless?

GI-JOE wrote:Not quite, when I am playing a game/using cpu intensive program, I got full speed. And when I go cut the grass, etc. my computer slows down to sip energy while not being used. How is that worthless?

this may be true, but it is worthless WHILE you are overclocking(while you are getting stability in check) and if you use 3D apps 24/7 ie, Folding @ Home

as i said earlier, for HTPC use, i'd strongly recommend USING speedstep

GI-JOE wrote:

Major_A wrote:Speedstep just lowers the voltages and clocks of your computer. If you are overclocking then it is worthless to enable it. It is basically negating the overclock that you just set.

Not quite, when I am playing a game/using cpu intensive program, I got full speed. And when I go cut the grass, etc. my computer slows down to sip energy while not being used. How is that worthless?

Example: I find my max overclock after days/weeks of playing with clocks and voltages. Speedstep decides to kick and bam there goes the stability. Speedstep is designed with stock clocks and voltages. If you are overclocking then your overclocked stability may be compromised.

I agree about disabling it when using non-standard voltages. Speedstep drops my voltage as well as the multiplier when idling. I imagine it does not work well if you are manually increasing your voltage.

It does not effect bus speed. So if you overclock using the stock multiplier and voltage then there is no reason to disable it, it only benefits you. You won't notice it if you are constantly stressing your CPU, but assuming you are not Folding@Home 24/7 then you can save electricity and heat with it enabled. I was just wondering if there was anything else to worry about when overclocking, but it seems the two things about overclocking that don't work well with Speedstep is manually configuring the multiplier and increasing the voltage.

I know a lot of folks like to play with both the multiplier and voltage, so I would have to agree that for them they should disable it.

If on the other hand you want to save power and keep your system cool and quiet, stick with bus speed overclocking and enable Speedstep.

Major_A wrote:

GI-JOE wrote:

Major_A wrote:Speedstep just lowers the voltages and clocks of your computer. If you are overclocking then it is worthless to enable it. It is basically negating the overclock that you just set.

Not quite, when I am playing a game/using cpu intensive program, I got full speed. And when I go cut the grass, etc. my computer slows down to sip energy while not being used. How is that worthless?

Example: I find my max overclock after days/weeks of playing with clocks and voltages. Speedstep decides to kick and bam there goes the stability. Speedstep is designed with stock clocks and voltages. If you are overclocking then your overclocked stability may be compromised.

Ok, I see. It works well with my overclock since I find the max speed on stock voltages. I understand on how it would mess with your overclock if you tweaked your voltage.

so are you guys saying that having speedstep enabled will basically make my pc use less energy when idle but give you full power when you need it in 3d apps like games and that!

DJ Tucker wrote:so are you guys saying that having speedstep enabled will basically make my pc use less energy when idle but give you full power when you need it in 3d apps like games and that!

Exactly. As long as you are not depending on increasing your voltage for your OC and you haven't manually set the multiplier. In my case, I bumped the FSB to 266 from 200 and left everything else as default. While idling it runs at 1.6 GHz [6x266MHz] (instead of 1.2 GHz with a 200MHz FSB) and then as the load increases the multiplier increases up to the max which is 13 for the E5300 [13x266=3458MHz). If the load is only at 50% it will usually run with a 10x multiplier (2.66GHz). While watching H.264 videos, my GPU does all of the work so my CPU usually just runs at 1.6GHz.

rightio speed step is now enabled. i have my CPU overclocked from 3.16ghz to 3.562ghz and vcore was 1.68 and now 1.14. using CPU-Z, i still get my CPU running at 3562mhz even when idle so has speed step really done anything on my pc.

Your default VID is 1.68v or you had manually increased it to 1.68v?

You may also need to change your power plan profile in Vista. If you have it set to High performance, it may ignore speed step. (I've never used Vista, I jumped from XP 32-bit to 7 64-bit, so I can only guess on the profile name).

DJ Tucker wrote:rightio speed step is now enabled. i have my CPU overclocked from 3.16ghz to 3.562ghz and vcore was 1.68 and now 1.14. using CPU-Z, i still get my CPU running at 3562mhz even when idle so has speed step really done anything on my pc.

im not gonna lie, 1.68v is WAY WAY WAY too high, and 1.14v is a bit low, but hey if its stable, no complaints

and ISS is dependent on how much the CPU is stressed, if the CPU is at say 10% Util. or lower it kicks in and forces the multiplier to go from max(~9.5x) to low( ~6x), but if your CPU uses more than 10% say opening a program(any program) or watching a movie likely, or even opening my documents sometimes it'll turn off and jump back to 9.5x, it isnt JUST 3D apps or 100% utilization that makes it kick in or turn off, it's a broad range.

so if you're looking at CPUz and it says ~3562 then let it sit for a while not having other apps running, and you should see the multi change back and forth as you do stuff

1.68v? Not a chance! Even on dry ice that would probably just be too much. Is that a misprint?

Probabaly 1.168V, I hope.

sorry guys. yeah i meant 1.168 i would be worried if at that vcore i was getting 50c max load should be more like 500c lol BOOOOM! i have noticed the cpu fluctuate from 3562.5 to 2250.1 so the speed step is working great thx guys!