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Current Processor speed is less than the maximum possible speed

[This topic is intended to address a specific issue called out by the Exchange Server Analyzer Tool. You should apply it only to systems that have had the Exchange Server Analyzer Tool run against them and are experiencing that specific issue. The Exchange Server Analyzer Tool, available as a free download, remotely collects configuration data from each server in the topology and automatically analyzes the data. The resulting report details important configuration issues, potential problems, and nondefault product settings. By following these recommendations, you can achieve better performance, scalability, reliability, and uptime. For more information about the tool or to download the latest versions, see "Microsoft Exchange Analyzers" at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=34707.]  

Topic Last Modified: 2009-05-15

The Microsoft® Exchange Server Analyzer Tool queries the Win32_Processor Microsoft Windows® Management Instrumentation (WMI) class to determine the current values for MaxClockSpeed and CurrentClockSpeed. If the Exchange Server Analyzer finds that the value for CurrentClockSpeed is less than the value for MaxClockSpeed, a warning is displayed.

The CurrentClockSpeed value is the current speed of each processor in megahertz (MHz). The MaxClockSpeed is the maximum speed of each processor in megahertz. If this warning message is displayed, it indicates that one or more processors on your Exchange server are not operating at full speed. There are a few known causes for this:

  1. Exchange Server is installed on a computer running Microsoft Windows® 2000 Server or Windows 2000 Advanced Server that does not have a minimum of Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 3 installed. Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 3 corrected a problem where WMI was not returning the correct values for MaxClockSpeed or CurrentClockSpeed.

  2. An incorrect power-saving setting in the Exchange server's BIOS may be forcing the processor to run at a reduced speed in a power-saving mode.

  3. The computer has a processor that supports Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology allows a computer program to dynamically change the processor clock speed. This lets a processor meet the performance requirements of an operation, while reducing power consumption and heat dissipation.

To correct this warning

  1. If Exchange Server is installed on a computer running Windows 2000 Server or Windows 2000 Advanced Server that does not have a minimum of Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 3 installed, you should install the latest service pack. For more information about the latest Windows 2000 service packs, see the Microsoft Windows 2000 Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=18353).

  2. If Exchange Server is installed on a computer running Windows 2000 Server or Windows 2000 Advanced Server that does have Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 3 or a later version installed, check your Exchange server's BIOS settings. You should also check power management settings in the BIOS and in Control Panel or Device Manager.

  3. If Exchange is installed on a computer that has an Intel SpeedStep Technology-capable processor, you can safely ignore this warning. However, you can also turn off processor power management by using the Power Options item in Control Panel.

Refer to your hardware manufacturer for information about how to view and configure system BIOS, processor, and power management settings.

For more information about the power management features of Windows 2000 Server, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 244806, "Overview of Power Management in Windows 2000" (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=244806).

For more information about the power management features in Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003, search on "Power Management" and "Power Options" in the Windows Server 2003 Help and Support Center, which can be run from the Start menu on a computer running Windows Server 2003.

For more information about the power management features in Windows 2000 Server, see the "Power Management" and "Power Options" topics in the Windows 2000 Server Help, which can be run from the Start menu on a computer running Windows 2000 Server.