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Author Topic: Difference between processor speed and "rated" speed.  (Read 1623 times)

Cthulhu

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Difference between processor speed and "rated" speed.
« on: October 23, 2009, 05:43:31 pm »

So I've been using Systemrequirementslab to see if my computer can run games before I buy them.  My processor is 2.2ghz, and it says that, but also says that it's rated at 3.96 ghz, and counts it as 3.96 for the purpose of meeting system requirements.  What does it mean by rated at?  Did the processor come overclocked by the factory or something?

I'm worried because I'm thinking about getting Borderlands, and I'm not sure if my computer can run it.  It says it needs 2.4ghz, but my computer is 2.2ghz, but it's "rated" as 3.96.  It's very confusing.
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A_Fey_Dwarf

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Re: Difference between processor speed and "rated" speed.
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2009, 08:02:37 pm »

A lot of the older AMD CPU's were greater in performance then an Intel processor of equivalent clock speed. To show this the AMD would advertise a product of low clock speed to have the same performance of an Intel CPU of greater speed. Like my old computer ran an AMD 2000+ meaning it was equivalent to an intel CPU of 2.0GHz even though it only had a clock speed of 1.67 GHz.

Your AMD 2.2GHz processor should run borderlands, as it the equivalent to an Intel of greater clock speed.
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Cthulhu

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Re: Difference between processor speed and "rated" speed.
« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2009, 08:21:38 pm »

Good, good.  I just wish I hadn't left my debit card at home, I don't remember how much is on it, and I'd hate to lose out on the five dollar savings.
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sneakey pete

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Re: Difference between processor speed and "rated" speed.
« Reply #3 on: October 24, 2009, 06:20:02 pm »

Clock cycles has nothing to do with speed, nor is it really a "speed" in the way that your describing it (performence). its just the number of processing cycles that happen per second. Your actual performence will be dependant on the characteristics of your actual processer, which do include clock rate, amoung other things.

An example of how it doesn't collerate to performence would be this: i have a CPU before that ran at 2.0GHZ/core. my current runs at 2.8GHZ/core. DF runs 3 times faster on my new CPU, however. Basically, it gets more stuff done per cycle.
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Magma is overrated.