How to tell CPU speed

[RogueIce]

I need help on this. On my old computer, it was in the startup where I could see it. But on my new one, the startup goes too fast to catch it. So how can I find it on my own? I also need to know the RAM.

I've seen "CPU Clock: 900 MHz" on the tail end of that stats box. Is that my speed or something else?

[phongn]

That indeed is your CPU speed. If you want to see it in more detail, look at WCPUID

[Coaan]

I suggest you dig around on the net for a benchmarking program...where most chips say they are a specific speed...most these days are not what they say on the tin...unless you happen to want to keep your room/study/whereverthehellyouputyourcomputer in a permenant state of artic cold like you would have to with an amd processor.

[Slartibartfast]

I think what DXDIAG.EXE tells you is relatively correct.

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

I need help on this. On my old computer, it was in the startup where I could see it. But on my new one, the startup goes too fast to catch it. So how can I find it on my own? I also need to know the RAM.

I've seen "CPU Clock: 900 MHz" on the tail end of that stats box. Is that my speed or something else? :?

Try Windows' "System Information" tool. (Accessible usually by going to Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools --> System Information)

Running it a minute ago gives me the following:

[System Summary]

Item Value
OS Name Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Version 5.0.2195 Service Pack 2 Build 2195
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name EXCELSIOR
System Manufacturer IBM
System Model 264535U
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 5 Stepping 2 GenuineIntel ~300 Mhz
BIOS Version 09/18/99
Windows Directory C:\WINNT
System Directory C:\WINNT\System32
Boot Device \Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
Locale United States
User Name EXCELSIOR\Administrator
Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 294,256 KB
Available Physical Memory 154,880 KB
Total Virtual Memory 860,280 KB
Available Virtual Memory 585,212 KB
Page File Space 566,024 KB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

I've added the emphasis showing that it does give you the information you'd be looking for.

[Faram]

An other way for ya:

In XP Pro open a command prompt.

Start-->Run-->Cmd

Type systeminfo

C:\>systeminfo

Host Name: NULL
OS Name: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Version: 5.1.2600 Service Pack 1 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation
OS Configuration: Standalone Workstation
OS Build Type: Uniprocessor Free
Registered Owner:
Registered Organization:
Product ID:
Original Install Date: 2002-03-28, 21:46:34
System Up Time: 4 Days, 3 Hours, 35 Minutes, 50 Seconds
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: Dimension 8200
System type: X86-based PC
Processor(s): 1 Processor(s) Installed.
[01]: x86 Family 15 Model 1 Stepping 2 GenuineIntel ~1794 Mhz
BIOS Version: DELL - 8
Windows Directory: C:\WINDOWS
System Directory: C:\WINDOWS\System32
Boot Device: \Device\HarddiskVolume1
System Locale: sv;Swedish
Input Locale: sv;Swedish
Time Zone: (GMT+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna
Total Physical Memory: 511 MB
Available Physical Memory: 317 MB
Virtual Memory: Max Size: 1 757 MB
Virtual Memory: Available: 1 420 MB
Virtual Memory: In Use: 337 MB
Page File Location(s): D:\pagefile.sys

[Rye]

As an aside...a friend told me once that an AMD 1800 was equivalent to a 1.8 ghz pentium, and the same applies to 1700, 2000, despite being listed as 1.4 ghz or whatever.

Is this true?

[Shadowhawk]

As an aside...a friend told me once that an AMD 1800 was equivalent to a 1.8 ghz pentium, and the same applies to 1700, 2000, despite being listed as 1.4 ghz or whatever.

Is this true?

Pretty much. The XP chips, while having a slower clock speed than most new Pentiums, do more in a given cycle than Intel chips. This makes their 'effective' speed equivalent to a higher-clocked Intel.

[Faram]

As an aside...a friend told me once that an AMD 1800 was equivalent to a 1.8 ghz pentium, and the same applies to 1700, 2000, despite being listed as 1.4 ghz or whatever.

Is this true?

Marketing hype from AMD...

When I did a lot of crunching for SETI the consensus was more or less that Intel is faster but more expensive.

I.e. a PIV 1800mhz beats a Amd 1800.

But then again, an AMD is easier to overclock

[RogueIce]

Microsoft Windows 98 4.10.2222 A
Upgrade using Full OEM CD /SrcDir=D:\WIN98 /IQ /U:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
IE 5 6.0.2800.1106
Uptime: 0:00:38:33
Normal mode
[Censored to protect the innocent, as this machine came as a gift]

AuthenticAMD AMD Duron(tm) Processor
120MB RAM
41% system resources free
Windows-managed swap file on drive C (15079MB free)
Available space on drive C: 15079MB of 19114MB (FAT32)

That's what it gave me. I know I have 120MB RAM and I've also got 41% of my system memory free. Yay!

But no information on speed aside from my AuthenticAMD AMD Duron (tm) Processor. Whatever that means...

[phongn]

That's what it gave me. I know I have 120MB RAM and I've also got 41% of my system memory free. Yay!

That is misleading when you run the 9X operating systems due to the method of which it allocates memory.

But no information on speed aside from my AuthenticAMD AMD Duron (tm) Processor. Whatever that means...

You have an AMD Duron processor, which is an Athlon with less cache. Use WCPUIP to get more details.

[phongn]

Marketing hype from AMD...

Marketing, yes, but not neccessarily incorrect.

When I did a lot of crunching for SETI the consensus was more or less that Intel is faster but more expensive.

I.e. a PIV 1800mhz beats a Amd 1800.

For SETI@home. For other applications, the K7's FPU strength allows it to stomp all over the SMID-optimized P4.

[RogueIce]

You have an AMD Duron processor, which is an Athlon with less cache. Use WCPUIP to get more details.

Ok, well, it's all in Japanese and I haven't the slightest idea where to go to find anything.

[phongn]

Click the "Download" image link.

[RogueIce]

Click the "Download" image link.

That makes an astonishing amount of sense...