OT Speed of Processor

[Adrian]

Bod gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Well, yes, but is it information, or just data? Why should I care?

[Bod]

Handy to identify not only your CPU info, but type of memory installed/Graphics card etc, all in one place. Obviously wasted on you.

[Adrian]

Bod gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Yes, it clearly is. That's why I'm asking - because I would like to know whether there's something I'm missing.

Unless you're producing some benchmarking, to produce quantifiable performance stats for comparison purposes, I can think of no reason you would need to know - other than purely for interest's sake.

[Bod]

I often upgrade other peoples computers, the prog is very handy for that info.

[Adrian]

Bod gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Right...?

Again - BUT WHY? What do you need to know all of that info for?

If you're replacing the CPU or graphics, then all you need is the socket/ slot spec, which a quick look will tell you. If you're increasing the memory, then all you need is the brand/model of the machine or mobo - and that can all be got from either the sticker on the front or (at the outside) the BIOS.

[Steve Firth]

I had, in fact still have, a similar dual Celeron motherboard. It was in use a file and print server until recently. It was happily running Ubuntu at a reasonable speed.

[John Williamson]

If you're upgrading, it helps to know what's there, and that in turn can tell you whether it's worth upgrading and how far the upgrade can go. CPU-Z can also tell you this in a minute or so after booting from a CD without opening the case, which can be an issue at times.

[Bod]

Saves having to go into the Bios. It also tells you the Mobo Number and version/date/PCI Express or AGP of Mobo etc. Also the Dram timings etc(in real time)...handy if you are overclocking a computer. In short, it gives all the info in one place, in seconds.

[JW]

Why go to the effort of undoing everything, fighting your way through dust and cobwebs, delving through wiring looms, when something like CPU-Z will tell you everything you need to know? Socket alone does not tell you what CPU you can use. That is up to the mobo/BIOS combination. Often, a quick look isn't possible to check the socket, as the HSF will obscure the actual socket plate.

It's also handy as a simple check that everything is running at the correct speeds. Some old machines that I built defaulted to a lower bus speed. Yes

- the BIOS would tell me that on POST, but if already running, why reboot when you can find out immediately? The BIOS generally doesn't give detailed information regarding the CPU, such as the stepping etc.

[Bob Eager]

You can identify the socket or slot type easily enough (although you'll have to open the case). In the event that the machine isn't fast enough, it's quick to tell if there is a faster CPU you can put in, or whether more is needed.

[JW]

So if there was a big heatsink obscuring the socket area, you could determine if you were looking at a Socket 1155 or Socket 1156 machine by sight? ;-)

[Tabby]

putting xp on a 98 machine is a poor idea, its simply too heavy an operating system. 98 has many issues, but most are resolvable, whereas xp on such old kit would make it imitate a slug.

I dont know any task barring video software that wont run on a 466 celery. Lots of programs wont, but for pretty well everything there's a leaner designed bit of software that will go fast on such old hardware, given the right OS etc.

Most new software has no business running on a P2. You need a distro designed for an old PC, and for apps either bundled light apps, as linux generally does, or else hand picked light apps for win, if for some reason you msut run win.

Yes - though again for most stuff its easy to get used hadrware even now that will run fine

Not normally needed, nusb3.1 solves all that. Dont use win98 without nusb, its out of the box handling of usb is painful.

max it out, it makes all the difference. Freecycle is handy for old ram.

A lot of people make the mistake of picking obese software, it really is optional.

On a 466 I'd probably run Antix or perhaps Puppy for a general purpose desktop.

NT

[Andy]

Which version of SME Server are you using as a matter of interest?

[Tim Downie]

Not ever felt the need to try it but does it do more than the system info available in Microsoft Office software? (Open Word/Excel or other program, go to "Help/About/system info".

Tim

[JW]

Yes. A bit more technical - and shows actual speeds etc.

[Dave Liquorice]

7.5.1 fully updated as of 16 days 16 hrs ago. It just works. B-)

v8 is at beta 6 but I don't want to play with that on a live system.

[Cash]

It certainly did when I last used Windows 98SE Harry.

Cash

[Mr Pounder]

Do you indeed?

>

[JW]

Having the speed the same as the stated speed simply means that your clock is running very accurately. However, I would generally expect to see the actual speed at perhaps a few megahertz higher or lower.

Not sure I understand the CPUZ figures you've posted. Unless your CPU has ramped down to a very slow speed as sitting idle.

HT is Hypertransport. Basically just another bus within the system, which is used to shuttle data between the CPU, memory and a few other devices at high speed.

Obviously AMD, but what processor do you have?

Just ran CPU-Z on mine, and my bus speed varies from 399.9 MHz to 400.1 MHz. The multiplier changes from 6.0x to 8.0x times when more CPU power is required.

The CPUspeed program simply tells me that my CPU is running at 3200.3 MHz. In other words, only half of the story.

[BartC]

I suppose I got the idea that cpuspeed would give me some sort of comparative performance figure.

Just telling me the clock speed (something that Control Panel->System tells me anyway) at first doesn't sound so impressive (until you to think about how exactly it might achieve it, unless it is somehow making use of the real time clock or something).

Did you work that out from my post? Yes, it's an AMD Athlon II I believe.