My computer should zoom, but...

[Senkusha]

I have a problem.  It's been ongoing, but it's getting to the point of upsetting me.  I have an Alienware R13, maxed out specs:

CPU

12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-12900KF

Base speed: 3.19 GHz
Sockets: 1
Cores: 16
Logical processors: 24
Virtualization: Enabled
L1 cache: 1.4 MB
L2 cache: 14.0 MB
L3 cache: 30.0 MB

Utilization 8%
Speed 0.38 GHz
Up time 0:00:05:24
Processes 255
Threads 4572
Handles 137040

As you can see, I should be running at over 3 GHz, but for some reason, I'm only operating at like 10%??  I already did some Googling, and set my Power Managment to Best Perforance, everything is manually set to 100%.  I also went into my BIOS and checked there.  All Power settings are sert to maximum.  I should be able to suck New York City dry of electricity with as much power as I should be consuming, yet, my system is ... sluggish is an outstanding understatement.

My problem has gotta be something in Windows 11 Pro is doing.  Most of what I see on the internet is about laptops and such, but this is a Powerhouse floor tower PC that weights like 50 pounds!  I checked the case, and everything appears tightly secured (I'm not even really sure how I'm supposed to open the case if needed).

Please help!  I'm an old-school geek with 90's and 2000's PC knowledge.  This new stuff, I don't understand.  Oh, and this is my first liquid cooled PC, temps all seem fine at like 27C, so I don't think that it's overheating at all.  Do you have any suggestions?

[Senkusha]

Okay, so an update: I've gone into my BIOS and tried disabling Intel Speed Step and Intel Speed Boost (I think that's what it's called), independently. Neither one of those were the problem. I've read some more online, that apparently this may be related to the Alienware Brand, so buyer beware... LOL. I saw that somebody uninstalled all the Alienware Apps and that resolved the problem, but other people had to return thier PCs for new ones, as they were probably sold defective units.

I don't see how Dell could have gone downhill so badly as a company. I've trusted Dell computers for years, especially since they used the ASUS brand motherboards, another product I've trusted for years. I really hope that I don't have a lemon, because I really don't have the money to replace computer components (as my warranty has recently just expired (Murphy's Law, anyone?). I'll keep you updated if uninstalling the Alienware Suite of apps is the resolution.

[NerdiestKen]

Senkusha I'm no computer expert, but what were you trying to do?

[Senkusha]

I'm just trying to get my CPU to work beyond an arbitrary 10% bottleneck/cap. I think my old PC an Optiplex 5100 (I think) would be faster that what I've currently got. My computer is so crippling slow, I can barely surf the web let alone do anything productive.

[Senkusha]

Update: I got it fixed! YAY! Turns out that the BIOS needed to be updated. I'm grateful that it was indeed a software issue and nothing hardware related. Software is MUCH cheaper to fix.

CPU

12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-12900KF

Base speed: 3.19 GHz
Sockets: 1
Cores: 16
Logical processors: 24
Virtualization: Enabled
L1 cache: 1.4 MB
L2 cache: 14.0 MB
L3 cache: 30.0 MB

Utilization 3%
Speed 4.22 GHz
Up time 0:04:34:04
Processes 251
Threads 4249
Handles 152603

[NerdiestKen]

Senkusha The BIOS has to be updated every once in awhile, because that's what I do through Windows Update. Great to know that you got it fixed.

[Senkusha]

I'm always quick to blame Windows Update, I never really give the BIOS much of a thought after the chips leave the factory. I'm super glad it's fixed now. You have no idea how painful it is to use your computer when it takes five seconds just to switch browser tabs.