Received my x51 with a Core i7 2600. I've updated the BIOS to A02, Turboboost is enabled in the BIOS, but it appears not to be working. Speedstep is working, idles at 1596Mhz. All drivers up to date.

The most I see maxing out one or all cores is 3492Mhz. I used 7-zip set to 1 core to test and I never see the CPU hit 3.8Gh? Using CPU-Z to monitor core speed.

so why do you even want turboboost? unless you're playing WoW you won't want to use it

You're asking why I wouldn't want the cpu to clock up to 3.8 for single thread tasks? Why wouldn't I?

Just throwing out some ideas:
Have you tried monitoring via 'Intel Turbo Boost Technology Monitor'

the below presumes the monitor is installed:

Why turbo boost is not working?
Under these situations, you cannot see the green check mark and turbo boost is not working properly.

a), Your computer is working in the dock station, with external monitor, keyboard and mice, the lid is closed.

The closed lid blocks the heat coming out from the keyboard. Turbo boost is disabled automatically to prevent overheat.

b), Make sure you have the latest Intel chipset and display driver. (intel HD graphics driver is a combo driver, contains 3 modules: intel HD graphics,intel display audio, and "intel turbo boost technology driver")

you'll find a new device called "Intel(R) Turbo Boost Technology Driver"


c), 3 Power Manager settings affect turbo boost.

Maximum CPU speed: "Highest" and "Adaptive" enable turbo boost, "Low" and "Lowest" disable turbo boost.

Optimize Fan control: Only Maximum performance enables turbo boost. "Balanced" and "Reduce noise dynamically" disables turbo boost.
The reason is, turbo boost generates extra heat, thus the fan will be more noisy.

System cooling policy: you have to set it to "Active" not "Passive" to enable turbo boost.

At last, I want to clear a misunderstood point:
Turbo boost CAN work in battery mode, though in practice we don't want it in battery mode in order to increase battery life. If you set CPU to "adaptive" or "highest", fan control to "maximum performance", cooling policy to "active", turbo boost will work in both AC mode and battery mode.

^^ I REALLY wish the forum supported formatting. Would make walls of text easier to read!!

Yeti575 said:Why turbo boost is not working?
Under these situations, you cannot see the green check mark and turbo boost is not working properly.

a), Your computer is working in the dock station, with external monitor, keyboard and mice, the lid is closed.

Not that this applies to my x51 but that's interesting to read as my Dell Latitude E6410 i7 M620, docked with the lid closed, "boosts" to 3.1Ghz and 3.3Ghz all day.

Anywho, it seems, what I knew, 3.5Ghz is the max. Dell must of restricted it. Annoying. I was also expecting being an Alienware (my first personal name brand desktop) some options to change the FSB, turns out the BIOS is as locked down as any Dell computer.



And damnit, enabling and disabling Turboboost, in the A02 BIOS, is not an option! WTF Dell?

Venlaw said:

Yeti575 said:Why turbo boost is not working?
Under these situations, you cannot see the green check mark and turbo boost is not working properly.

a), Your computer is working in the dock station, with external monitor, keyboard and mice, the lid is closed.

Not that this applies to my x51 but that's interesting to read as my Dell Latitude E6410 i7 M620, docked with the lid closed, "boosts" to 3.1Ghz and 3.3Ghz all day.

Anywho, it seems, what I knew, 3.5Ghz is the max. Dell must of restricted it. Annoying. I was also expecting being an Alienware (my first personal name brand desktop) some options to change the FSB, turns out the BIOS is as locked down as any Dell computer.



And damnit, enabling and disabling Turboboost, in the A02 BIOS, is not an option! WTF Dell?

What software do you use to check your CPU frequency? Try using CPU-Z, perhaps it'll read different output since it is more accurate...

Halgray said: What software do you use to check your CPU frequency? Try using CPU-Z, perhaps it'll read different output since it is more accurate...

Said in my first post I was using CPU-Z.

As you can see, using CPU Burn-In to max out one core/thread is only giving me 3.5Ghz. Turboboost _is_ working but not to 3.8Ghz.

So I called Dell and they confirmed.

They have restricted TurboBoost to 3.5Ghz. WHY?! The CPU will not boost if its getting hot! Let it go to 3.8Ghz Dell!!!

isn't it supposed to be an unlocked cpu for it to go past the advertised speed?

i'm new at this, but i think its the 2600k that allows overclocking

It's not a 2600k. Just a 2600 and Dell provides no cpu control in the bios. Also if you wanted to you could up the bus speed of both. The k allows you to change the multiplier.

Venlaw said: So I called Dell and they confirmed.

They have restricted TurboBoost to 3.5Ghz. WHY?! The CPU will not boost if its getting hot! Let it go to 3.8Ghz Dell!!!

Are you saying that they've putted a volt/temp check for restricting turbo boost feature for 2600 but isn't that going "against" current and potential alienware users from Hardcore usage perspective.

I don't understand why would they do that esp when TDP is under x51 PSU specifications for 2600 , are you sure about this , have you confirmed or checked with other x51 user?

No other user has confirmed this. Only from my testing and calling Dell/Alienware support. Over the phone they confirmed the CPU is restricted to 3.5Ghz and will not reach 3.8Ghz.

Could another x51 user please test this? With an i7 for sure but I wonder about the i5 as well.

Venlaw said: No other user has confirmed this. Only from my testing and calling Dell/Alienware support. Over the phone they confirmed the CPU is restricted to 3.5Ghz and will not reach 3.8Ghz.

Could another x51 user please test this? With an i7 for sure but I wonder about the i5 as well.

You cannot overclock an i7 2600, it would need to be the 2600k. Dell and Alienware don't lock processors anymore, it has more to do with the processor itself. Plus, due to cooling in the x51 and possible overheating issues, they put in the 2600 so you can't overclock. it's by design. Plus, overclocking requires more PSU, which the x51 isn't sufficient enough for. You are getting what you are supposed to get.

MisterNivek said:You are getting what you are supposed to get.

'Sept TurboBoost to 3.8Ghz. I'm not asking to overclock my x51. I'm asking for the advertised specs of the CPU to be used.