The Rule

Computer speed check downloads are available on the Internet which allow you to test the speed of your computer CPU. You could also utilize one of the free versions to check your CPU speed, and there are several which offer web-based computer speed check tools. There are two kinds of speed checks that are performed on computers, one being your CPU and related hardware speed, and the other is the bandwidth speed of your Internet service as related to your PC.

Computer speed check tools measure the actual performance speed of the CPU in your computer. Typical computer speed check software would indicate various aspects of your CPU speed parameters, such as, whether the CPU in your PC is over-clocked with your CPU clock speed running at a higher rate than specified. It would also indicate if the CPU is running faster than what it is rated, and whether the CPU is operating in its usual normal range.

Generally, the speed at which your CPU runs is available in your computer, especially that of Pentium 4 or later versions. Your computer should be performing at this speed or below the speed as specified by the manufacturer. A detailed description of the three levels of caches, as supported by the CPU in your PC, is also made available by the computer speed check tool. The larger the cache size, the computer becomes that much faster. Some of the speed check tools feature memory speed checks which provide information about the speed at which your data transfers take place between the CPU and the memory. This information is usually given in megabytes per second. The speed of data transfer is measured by execution of large memory to memory transfer. The transfer rate determines how fast your computer is.

Computer speed check utilities do more than just check the speed of your PC. They have the feature to check your entire computer system, including network speed and your Internet access speed. Sophisticated computer speed check software provides you with a main control panel. There could be a separate window with graphical display showing your CPU speed and other parameters. The control panel is typically used to vary the testing parameters, the results of which are reflected on the graph.

CPU and memory timings depend on the BIOS setting of your computer. There could be several reasons why you notice your PC getting slow; your CPU speed has somehow become low or there is something wrong with your memory timings. Computer speed check software measures the actual speed of your computer and provides you with other functioning details of your PC which are related to your computer speed. The report generated by the software could be utilized to find out if your CPU is running slow.

The BIOS found in the present computer system can automatically detect the type of CPU being used in your computer. The CPU clock rate is also set by your BIOS through a multiplier factor. The speed related functioning of your PC depends upon the clock speed of the CPU in your PC and the data transfer rate between the CPU and memory. The “bus” system is responsible for transporting data, and the rate of transfer determines the overall speed of your computer. If the data transport rate is low, your PC will have a slower operating speed. Computer speed check tools, available on the Internet, have various features from just a basic utility to check CPU speed to providing extensive details relating to the other parameters in your computer which affects speed.

The BIOS settings in your computer set the CPU speed. This is basically done by setting the multiplier factor in the BIOS which sets the clock speed of the CPU. For instance, a computer which has a processor of 550 MHz speed and a front side bus speed of 100 MHz, must be having a multiplier factor of 5.5 for the processor to work at 550 MHz. Before you change the settings in the BIOS, you should always find out the speed component that is affecting your PC performance. This can be done by using computer speed check software which provides you with detailed information regarding the speed related components in your PC.

Filed under: Computers