Troubleshooting Guide: CPU Stuck at 0.55GHz – Need Your Insights!

Hello everyone,

I hope this post finds you well. I’m reaching out to seek your expertise regarding an ongoing issue I’ve been experiencing with my PC, which has gradually escalated to an unmanageable state. Here are my system specifications:

  • CPU: Ryzen 5 3600X
  • Motherboard: B450M PRO VDH MAX
  • GPU: ZOTAC 2070 Super
  • PSU: CoolerMaster MWE V2 650W
  • Operating System: Windows 11 Pro

Initially, I noticed my CPU would sporadically lock to a low speed, but a simple restart offered a temporary fix. Over time, however, this issue has become increasingly problematic, culminating in the CPU now being stuck at a mere 0.55GHz during startup in normal mode. Interestingly, the base speed appears to return to 3.6GHz when I boot into safe mode. Additionally, I’ve observed that the BIOS interface seems to operate sluggishly, which is quite concerning.

Solutions Attempted

To address this issue, I have already tried several troubleshooting steps:

  • Adjusting Power Plan settings
  • Reinstalling the operating system
  • Updating the BIOS

Despite these efforts, the problem persists, leaving me at a crossroads regarding my next steps.

Seeking Your Advice

I’m starting to wonder if this could be attributed to a motherboard or CPU malfunction. While I suspect the power supply unit (PSU) is unlikely to be the culprit—given that power failures usually exhibit clear symptoms—I plan to test the CPU in a friend’s setup to see if it functions correctly there.

Should it turn out that the CPU is operational in their system, would motherboard replacement be the logical move forward? Additionally, I’m open to any other software solutions you may suggest.

I am genuinely feeling frustrated and would deeply appreciate any guidance or insights you can provide. Thank you for your support!

P.S. I apologize for any formatting issues; I’m posting this from my mobile device.

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One Comment

  1. Hello,

    It sounds like you’ve already taken some solid troubleshooting steps. The fact that your CPU operates at normal speed in safe mode suggests that the issue may be related to software conflicts, driver issues, or power management settings within Windows. Here are some additional suggestions you could try:

    • Verify in the Device Manager that your CPU is recognized correctly and no devices are showing errors.
    • Check your Power Options and ensure that the
      Maximum Processor State is set to 100% in your active power plan.
    • Test your system with Clean Boot to rule out third-party software conflicts:
      1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
      2. Navigate to the Services tab, check “Hide all Microsoft services,” then disable remaining services.
      3. Go to the Startup tab and open Task Manager to disable startup programs.
      4. Restart and see if the CPU speed issue persists.
    • Since BIOS appears sluggish, consider resetting BIOS to default settings or re-flashing the BIOS firmware if the issue persists even after updating.
    • Monitor your system temperatures and CPU usage in Task

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