4 Ways to Check Your Computer's Speed: Guide to CPU Clocks

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Step-by-step tutorial for seeing your processor's real speed
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Trying to figure out your CPU's clock speed? This can be done easily in your computer's system information menu. CPU speed determines how fast your computer can perform tasks, and it's especially useful to know how to check the CPU's true speed when you're overclocking for better performance. This wikiHow guide will show you how to check the CPU speed on your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer. We've also included some expert tips from computer specialist Yaffet Meshesha.

Checking a Computer’s Processor Speed

Your CPU’s clock speed influences how fast it can process instructions and perform tasks. On Windows, open the System page to view the CPU clock speed. On Mac, open the System Report page to see the CPU speed. On Linux, use Intel's turbostat tool through the Terminal to check the CPU speed.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Windows

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  1. This method uses Windows' system information to check the processor speed. You can check your clock speed before downloading new programs and purchasing parts for building a new computer with better performance. [1] There are several ways you can open this menu:
    • On any version of Windows, press Windows key + Pause / Break on your keyboard at the same time to quickly open the System menu. If you don't have this button on your keyboard, you can also do one of the following:
    • On Windows 10, 11, and 8, right-click the Windows Start button at the bottom of the screen and select System .
    • On Windows 7, Vista, or XP, you can also right-click Computer or My Computer in the Start menu and select Properties .
      • On Windows XP, you may need to click the General tab after selecting Properties .
  2. This is under "Device specifications" on Windows 11, and in the "System" section in earlier versions. Your processor model and speed will be displayed. The speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz), according to Meshesha. [2] The number listed is the speed of a single core of your processor. If your processor has multiple cores (most modern processors do), each core will be this speed.
    • If your processor is overclocked, the actual speed may not be shown here. See the overclocking section for details on finding your actual overclocked speed.
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  3. If you have a multi-core processor, the number of cores will not be displayed in this window. Multiple cores do not necessarily mean the programs will run faster, but it can be a big boost for programs designed for it.
    • Press Windows key + R .
    • Type dxdiag , press Enter , and then click Yes if prompted to check your drivers. [3]
    • Find the "Processor" entry in the "System" tab. If your computer has multiple cores, you'll see the number in parentheses after the speed (e.g., "4 CPUs"). This will let you know how many cores you have. Each core runs at approximately the same speed (there will always be very minor variations).
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Mac

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  1. The steps to open this tool are a little different depending on your version of macOS:
    • macOS Ventura and later: Press and hold the Option key as you click the Apple menu at the top-left corner, then click System Information in the menu. [4]
    • macOS Monterey and earlier: Click the Apple menu at the top-left corner, click About this Mac , and then click the System Report… button. [5]
  2. You'll see one of these options in the "Hardware" section. Depending on your CPU, you may see a "Processor Speed" section here—for example, 2.7 GHz.
  3. For some Apple chips, you will only see a name, not a processor speed. For example, "Apple M1" or "Apple M2." For most Apple Silicon processors, you won't see the speed in gigahertz.
    • All M1 chips are 3.2 GHz, but with different numbers of cores. The more cores, the faster the M1 processor.
      • M1: 8 Cores
      • M1 Pro: 8 or 10 Cores, depending on the model
      • M1 Max: 10 Cores
      • M1 Ultra: 20 Cores
    • Standard M2 chips have 8 cores and are 3.49 GHz. Other M2 CPUs:
      • M2 Pro: 3.49 GHz, with 10 or 12 cores, depending on the model
      • M2 Max: 3.68 GHz, with 12 cores
      • M2 Ultra: 3.68 GHz, with 24 cores
    • All M3 chips are 4.05 GHz, but with varying numbers of cores. The more cores, the faster the processor.
      • M3: 8 cores
      • M3 Pro: 11 or 12 cores, depending on the model
      • M3 Max: 14 or 16 cores, depending on the model
    • For M4 CPUs, here are the specs:
      • M4: 4.4 GHz, with 8 or 10 cores, depending on the model
      • M4 Max: 4.5 GHz, with 14 or 16 cores, depending on the model
    • For other CPUs without speeds listed, check the list on EveryMac.com .
  4. Meshesha says that if you want to see how much processing speed your computer is using in real time, you can use Activity Monitor . [6] To open Activity Monitor, press Command + Spacebar at the same time, type activity monitor , then double-click Activity Monitor .
    • Click the Window menu and select CPU Usage to view current CPU activity. [7]
    • The "System" column displays which system apps are using your CPU, and what percentage of your processor they're using.
    • The "User" column displays CPU usage for non-system apps, such as your web browser and other programs you start manually.
    • The "Idle" column displays the percentage of your CPU that is not currently in use.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Ubuntu Linux

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  1. If you just want to know the speed and type of processor you have, this command will display that information on any version of Linux. [8]
    • Open a Terminal window.
    • Type lscpu and press Enter . [9]
    • Find the CPU name and speed next to "Model name."
  2. 2
    Install turbostat. If you have an overclocked CPU, lscpu won't show the correct CPU speed. To view the correct CPU speed, you must install a tool called turbostat that Intel created. To install it, run the following two commands:
    • sudo apt-get update
    • sudo apt-get install linux-tools-common linux-tools-generic
  3. This will start the OpenSSL speed test, which will push your CPU to the maximum.
  4. 4
    Return to the first terminal window and type . sudo turbostat . Running this will display a variety of readouts about your processor. [10]
  5. Each entry is the actual speed of each core. The "TSC" column is the speed reported normally. This allows you to see the difference your overclock is making. The speeds will look low if you aren't pushing your CPU with a process.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Windows (Overclocked CPU)

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  1. This is a freeware utility that monitors the components in your computer. It is designed for overclockers and will report the exact speed at which your processors are operating. You can download it here .
    • CPU-Z will not install any adware or toolbars during the setup process.
    • Overclocked CPUs are processors that have had their voltages modified to produce more power. Overclocking is popular among computer enthusiasts, as it allows you to get more bang for your buck, but it can potentially damage your components. You can check out our guide to overclocking your PC for more detailed instructions.
  2. By default, there will be a shortcut on your desktop to start CPU-Z. You will need to be logged in as an administrator or have the administrator password to run it.
  3. Your processor will automatically slow down when it isn't being used, so the speeds you see in CPU-Z will not show the full speed unless your processor is working hard.
    • A quick way to get your CPU maxed out is to run the Prime95 program. This is a program designed to calculate prime numbers and is used by many to perform stress tests on a computer. Download Prime95 from prime95.net , unzip the program files, and select "Just Stress Testing" when you run the program.
    • You can also open a resource-intensive task like editing a large Photoshop file or rendering a 3D model.
  4. Your current CPU speed will be displayed in the "Core Speed" field of the "CPU" tab. Expect to see minor fluctuations as your computer processes the Prime95 program.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    My processor speed is 2.2 Ghz, and I have 4 cores. What is the total processor speed?
    Community Answer
    2.2 Ghz, that can do 4 instructions at one time. Each core represents a cpu or processor.
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    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 56
  • Question
    I want to purchase a computer. Is an all-in-one, an assembled computer, or a branded computer best?
    Community Answer
    Get a good brand if you don't know about computing, but if you do have a fair bit of knowledge about how computers work, it's always best to build your own. That means you'll be able to customise it however you like.
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  • Question
    Is a higher number on a processor speed mean it's faster?
    Community Answer
    A higher GHz number means it's faster. If you are talking about the model number, then it depends on your GHz number.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-information-about-your-device-a66d52c8-3323-44fd-8f34-a9497bb935e1
      2. ↑ Yaffet Meshesha. Computer Specialist. Expert Interview
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/open-and-run-dxdiag-exe-dad7792c-2ad5-f6cd-5a37-bf92228dfd85
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-kw/guide/mac-help/syspr35536/mac
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/system-information/get-system-information-syspr35536/11.0/mac/12.0
      6. ↑ Yaffet Meshesha. Computer Specialist. Expert Interview
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/activity-monitor/view-cpu-activity-actmntr43452/mac
      8. ↑ https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/lscpu.1.html
      9. ↑ https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/command-line-for-beginners#3-opening-a-terminal
      1. ↑ https://www.linuxoperatingsystem.net/mastering-turbostat-command-line-in-linux/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Click the Start menu.
      2. Click Settings .
      3. Click System .
      4. Click About .
      5. Find the CPU speed next to "Processor."

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