"Windows Performance" cpu score went down, from E8400 to i5 2500k

[Morgan19]

Based on previous conversations here, this weekend I upgraded from an old Gigabyte board and an E8400 to a new Gigabyte LGA 1155 board, an i5 2500k, 8 gigs of DDR3, etc.

Everything seems to be running fine. But when I run Win7's "windows performance" application, it shows that my CPU score actually went down-- from 6.6 (the E8400) to 5.6 (the i5). What's going on here?? The i5 is listed correctly in the My Computer info in model number, frequency, etc.; is there any other way to make sure it's running as it should?

Now, I understand that the Performance index shouldn't be the end-all... But it's more than a little concerning that the score for the i5 dropped so much from an older cpu. I'd like to diagnose why it's giving me that result, and fix it.

This is my current system now, for reference:

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z68AP-D3
CPU: Intel i5 2500k @ 3.3 Ghz
RAM: Corsair XMS3 DDR3 8 GB total (2 x 4gb)
Video: EVGA GeForce 560 Ti (1 GB)
PSU: Silencer 750EPS12V
Case: CoolerMaster Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW
OS: Windows 7 x64
Visuals: Dell flatscreen @ 1280x1024

Thanks,
m19

[LochLomonder]

To be honest, I wouldn't worry too much about the Windows Experience Index. As long as there's a discernible improvement in the overall operations of your PC, I would ignore it.

[Morgan19]

^ I was expecting that type of reply at some point, but it turns out my investigation was spot-on. Somehow the settings in msconfig's Boot section were set to "Number of processors: 1"; removing that limitation has bumped the score up to 7.5 and, thus, put my system where it should be.

See, WEI isn't completely useless.

m19

[mjc]

So Windows needs a fresh install after a processor swap, these days?

[rond36]

I would say yes Windows needs a fresh install after a processor swap if it included a motherboard swap too.

If he had just swaped an E8400 for say a Q9650 I would say no he would not need to reinstall Windows.

He changed from a socket LGA775 E8400 and Intel P45 chipset to a socket LGA1155 i5 2500k and Z68 chipset.

[mjc]

He changed from a socket LGA775 E8400 and Intel P45 chipset to a socket LGA1155 i5 2500k and Z68 chipset.

True...which leads me to wonder...are there other problems in the wings without a fresh install.

A clean install should have detected to correct number of processors/cores.

[Morgan19]

A fresh install because of one screwy setting? You guys must have a lot more spare time than I do... Everything else is working fine after I caught that, so I don't think it warrants a "reinstall every time you upgrade" conclusion, no.

m19

[mjc]

Your time is yours to do with what you will...but, since at least Win95, a fresh reinstall, after an upgrade (especially chipset/motherboard change) has been the best time saver, in the long run.

[hackerballs]

fresh install everytime you change anything (almost)............but extremely for sure with CPU's/HDD's/MB..................don't want to screw the BIOS up

to easy to do...........