Quad Core Processor Acting a Bit Strange? Or Not?

[DarkSK]

Hi I'm kind of new to multi-core processors and I was wondering: When you right click on my computer and check properties is it normal for the processor speed to change? Because my CPU is an AMD Phenom II X4 970 and it says it is a 3.5GHz processor. Yet whenever I check those properties I've seen it volly between 2.18GHz and 773MHz. Is this normal for it to fluxuate like that? Or am I just getting an innacurate reading from that particular properties sheet? Because I checked with Speccy and it says: Core 0
Core Speed 2210.1 MHz
Multiplier x 11.0
Bus Speed 200.9 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 1004.6 MHz
Temperature 91 °F
Thread 1
APIC ID 0
Core 1
Core Speed 803.7 MHz
Multiplier x 4.0
Bus Speed 200.9 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 1004.6 MHz
Temperature 91 °F
Thread 1
APIC ID 1
Core 2
Core Speed 803.7 MHz
Multiplier x 4.0
Bus Speed 200.9 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 1004.6 MHz
Temperature 91 °F
Thread 1
APIC ID 2
Core 3
Core Speed 803.7 MHz
Multiplier x 4.0
Bus Speed 200.9 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 1004.6 MHz
Temperature 91 °F
And also those readings tend to fluxuate as well, just not as much.

So I was just wondering if the properties sheet from My computer is just not accurate, or is it merely using only what it needs at the given time? Things along that line, I'm sorry if I'm a bother and anyone feels I should go to a different place or if it was already posted, I just feel like I have nowhere else to turn so please be kind.

[ShyguyXPC]

you probably have AMD's Cool'n'Quiet Enabled in the motherboard Bios.

When the CPU is not being taxed heavily, it basically throttles down the CPU speed so less power consumption is needed, less heat output, and fan runs slower.

when CPU demand goes up, the speed increases, etc.

Disable that in your Motherboards Bios, apply/save settings and Reboot and see if that changes things.

[DarkSK]

Yup that did the trick alright. However, considering I don't have many fans installed inside the case yet I think it would be safer to just leave it on and let it do its thing. I mean after all it will raise the speed depending on the threshold so as long as it does I see no real harm in it. Thank you very much kind sir and I'm sorry if this seemed like a stupid question =\

[ShyguyXPC]

no problem.

No harm really in leaving it off either, but if you want to save a minute amount of money from the power bill, it will help a bit.