How to Check CPU Frequency Linux? [8 Easy Ways]

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Ojash

Reviewed by

Akshat

Last updated: July 12, 2024

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If your Linux system feels slow, checking your CPU frequency can help. In this post, I’ll show you how to find out your CPU speed, optimize performance, and troubleshoot issues. You’ll get step-by-step instructions for eight different methods and tips on addressing common errors. By the end, you’ll have the knowledge to keep your system running smoothly and efficiently. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this guide will help you get the most out of your Linux setup.

Linux Get CPU Frequency: Why Is It Necessary?

Understanding your CPU speed in Linux is key to optimizing system performance, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring your setup meets necessary software requirements. Here’s why regularly checking your CPU speed is crucial for maintaining and enhancing the efficiency of your Linux environment:

• Performance Optimization: Knowing the CPU speed helps in assessing whether a system meets the software requirements for optimal performance. It helps users and system administrators decide if a CPU upgrade is necessary or if they need to adjust software settings for better performance.
• System Troubleshooting: CPU speed can be a crucial factor when diagnosing issues related to system slowdowns or when performance is not meeting expectations. By checking the CPU speed, users can determine if the CPU is throttling under heavy loads or overheating, which may cause it to underperform.
• System Monitoring: Regularly checking the CPU speed allows for ongoing monitoring of the system’s health and performance. It’s especially useful in server environments and critical systems where maintaining a certain performance level is mandatory.
• Benchmarking: For those involved in system testing and benchmarking, knowing the CPU speed is essential to establish baselines and compare the performance of different hardware setups. This information is vital for performance tuning and making informed decisions about hardware purchases.
• Configuration and Compatibility: When installing new software or upgrades, it’s important to know the CPU speed to ensure compatibility and that the system specifications match the software requirements. This helps avoid installing software that is too resource-intensive for the current hardware.

How to Check CPU Frequency Linux?

Here is the step-by-step guide for eight different methods to check CPU frequency Linux:

1. lscpu Command

The lscpu command is a popular and versatile method used to gather detailed information about the CPU, including clock speed. It provides a comprehensive overview of the CPU architecture, core count, and clock speed, allowing users to assess their system’s performance and compatibility with various software. Here are the steps to do it:

1. Open the Terminal on your Linux system.

2. Type the following command: 

lscpu -e=CPU,MHZ

3. It displays the clock speed of your CPU in megahertz (MHz).

2. cpufreq-info Command

The cpufreq-info command is specifically designed to retrieve CPU frequency-related information. It not only displays the current CPU clock speed on Linux but also provides details about available CPU frequency scaling governors and available clock frequencies. This method allows users to analyze and manage CPU performance, optimize power consumption, and maximize efficiency based on their specific requirements. Follow these steps:

1. Access the Terminal window and install cpufrequtils package if not already installed. To install it on Ubuntu, you can use the command: 

sudo apt-get install cpufrequtils

2. The output will be:

3. Once installed, type the following command: 

cpufreq-info

4. The output will provide you with various information, including the current CPU clock speed, maximum clock speed, and more.

3. /proc File System

The /proc file system is a virtual file system in Linux that provides information about various system resources. This method offers a simple and direct way to check the CPU clock speed, allowing you to obtain the information you need without the need for additional tools or applications. Here are steps to do it:

1. Launch the command window and type the following command: 

cat /proc/cpuinfo

2. The output will display the CPU speed in MHz.

4. CPU-X Utility

CPU-X is a powerful and user-friendly utility that provides extensive information about the CPU, including clock speed, core count, cache details, and more. It offers an intuitive graphical interface, making it easy to understand and monitor CPU parameters. Here are the steps to do it:

1. Open a Terminal and run the following command to install CPU-X on Ubuntu or Debian-based systems:

sudo apt install cpu-x

2. The command will install CPU-X on Ubuntu.

3. Once the installation is complete, launch CPU-X from the application menu.

4. CPU-X will display detailed information about your CPU. Look for the Clocks section, which provides information about the current CPU speed. 

5. GNOME System Monitor

The GNOME System Monitor is a graphical utility that provides a comprehensive overview of system resources.This method offers a visually appealing and user-friendly interface to monitor the CPU speed, making it convenient to keep track of system performance and identify any fluctuations or abnormalities. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Applications menu and search for System Monitor. Click on the System Monitor application to launch it.

2. In GNOME System Monitor, click on the Resources tab at the top of the window. Under the Resources tab, you’ll find various system resource information. Look for the CPU History section, which displays a real-time graph of CPU usage.

6. Using hwinfo

hwinfo is a versatile tool that provides exhaustive hardware information, including CPU speed. It’s particularly useful for users who need a comprehensive overview of their system’s hardware capabilities.

1. Open your Terminal and to install hwinfo, run the command:

sudo apt install hwinfo

This command installs the hwinfo package from the repository.

2. To extract detailed information about your CPU, including the speed, enter: 

hwinfo --cpu

This command displays extensive CPU details, including model, architecture, and speed.

3. Look for lines that specify CPU clock speed to find the current CPU speed. hwinfo also provides details on capabilities like virtualization and cache sizes.

7. Checking with dmesg

dmesg is a command used to examine kernel messages, helpful for retrieving system boot-time data, including CPU speed information.

1. Access your command line interface and enter the following command to filter out CPU speed information:

sudo dmesg | grep MHz

This command sifts through kernel messages to find mentions of CPU clock speeds.

The output will typically mention the CPU’s operating frequency in MHz, useful for confirming if the CPU is running at the expected speed.

8. Using i7z for Intel CPUs

i7z is a real-time CPU monitoring tool designed specifically for Intel processors. It reports on CPU cores’ clock speeds and other vital statistics, offering a real-time look at how a CPU is performing.

1. To install i7z on Ubuntu or Debian, execute the command: 

sudo apt-get install i7z

This installs the i7z tool from the repository using APT.

2. Simply type the following command in the Terminal:

sudo i7z

This tool runs in a terminal window and provides a continuously updating display of CPU performance metrics.

3. Observe the real-time clock speed for each core. Additional details include the utilization percentage and temperature readings, giving a holistic view of how your Intel CPU is performing under various loads.

3 Common Errors and Solutions When Checking CPU Speed Linux

Encountering errors while attempting to get CPU frequency Linux can be frustrating. By addressing these errors, you can ensure accurate CPU clock speed readings and gain valuable insights into your system’s performance. I will explore three common errors and provide practical solutions to overcome them:

🔍 “Unable to Find lscpu Command” Error

If you encounter the error message “lscpu: command not found” while trying to check CPU clock speed on Linux, it indicates that the lscpu utility is not installed on your system. You can install the utility by running the appropriate command based on your Linux distribution to resolve this issue.

• For Ubuntu and Debian-based systems, you can use sudo apt-get install util-linux, while Fedora and CentOS systems can use sudo dnf install util-linux. Once installed, running the lscpu command again will give you the CPU clock speed and other valuable information.

⏰ “Inaccurate CPU Clock Speed Readings” Error

Inaccurate readings of CPU clock speed on Linux can occur due to CPU throttling or incorrect system configurations. To address this issue, you can take a few steps.

1. First, ensure your system is not experiencing thermal throttling caused by excessive heat. Clean the CPU heatsink and fan, and ensure proper airflow for efficient cooling.
2. Secondly, update your system’s BIOS to the latest version, as it may contain bug fixes or improved compatibility with the CPU.
3. Lastly, check your system’s power settings and ensure it is not set to a power-saving mode that may reduce the CPU clock speed.

⚙️  “Missing Real-time Monitoring Tools” Error

If your Linux system lacks real-time monitoring tools to track CPU clock speed, you can address this by installing popular utilities such as htop or top.

• To install htop, you can use sudo apt-get install htop for Ubuntu and Debian-based systems, or sudo dnf install htop for Fedora and CentOS systems.

• For the top, this utility is usually pre-installed on most Linux distributions. Once installed, running htop or top will allow you to monitor CPU clock speed and other system metrics in real-time. 

Linux Get CPU Frequency: Wrapping Up

In conclusion, knowing how to check CPU frequency on Linux is crucial for optimizing performance, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring software compatibility. I have covered methods like lscpu, cpufreq-info, /proc, CPU-X, GNOME System Monitor, hwinfo, dmesg, and i7z to check CPU clock speed.

If you’re looking to learn more, here are some additional topics you might find useful:

• Explore methods to get detailed CPU information, enhancing your understanding of your CPU’s capabilities and specifications.
• Discover how to kill processes effectively, which is essential for managing system resources and handling unresponsive applications.
• Learn how to install and use Htop, a powerful tool for real-time system monitoring and performance analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions