Why is my CPU's frequency lower than my actual CPU?
Updated
Windows may indicate your Intel® CPU's frequency is lower than the actual CPU included with your Shadow subscription. Because your CPU uses Intel's® Turbo Boost, which increases the maximum frequency of your CPU, Windows will only display the "base frequency".
In this article, we'll explain the difference between base frequency and Turbo Boost and provide examples.
Base Frequency vs Turbo Boost
A CPU's base frequency is the speed at which a task can be performed, such as loading an application or a game.
💬 Note: This frequency is measured in Gigahertz (GHz), or billions of cycles per second. It is also referred to as clock speed.
Turbo Boost is an Intel® technology that increases the frequency of the CPU. For example, if a CPU runs at a base frequency of 2.5GHz, Intel® Turbo Boost can increase this frequency to 3.3GHz.
More information about Intel Turbo Boost technology
Does this affect my Shadow's performance?
Your Shadow uses the technology provided by Intel® Turbo Boost, which increases your CPU's maximum frequency. Windows still only display base frequencies, but this will have no effect on Shadow's performance.
For example, if we open Task Manager on Shadow, Windows will display a 2.5GHz CPU. This is the base frequency, and not the actual frequency of your CPU.
We also have a range of different CPUs in our datacenters. Respectively, Turbo Boost CPUs range from 3.3 to 3.6GHz. We run these CPUs in a cooling/power environment that allows them to reach these clocks.
Can we look at a concrete example?
We ran a benchmark test for the video game Final Fantasy XIV on Shadow, which has a base CPU of 2.5GHz. This benchmark has a high-graphic configuration, meaning it's running a full HD resolution, with the maximum graphic presets.
We chose this game for three reasons:
It's an MMORPG, and a game notorious for having high CPU usage.
It has a minimum CPU requirement of 2.66GHz (source).
It has a sufficiently complete benchmark test, allowing us to measure in-game performance.
The benchmark results: (translated from French)
"Rating: Excellent. Your hardware configuration will allow you to run the game optimally with excellent graphics performance in every respect. You'll be able to use all kinds of settings without any problems."
If you have any questions about this article, contact Support.