I like to use CPU-z. Also, make sure you have Speedstep and C1E shut off in the BIOS. If you leave it on, your CPU ill downclock itself when it's under a light load to save energy.

everst only reports the core info on the chip not the actual value so 2.7 is the normal speed of the chip

If you're only after the clock speed, then just go to Control Panel --> System (in Vista) and that should show you.

Or alternativly download and install nTune, this should tell you. This would be my preferred choice becaue it allows you all sorts of oppertunities to 'play'!

_TK_

it should be take it up in steps if it allows that..but since it was there before should go back again..

Well, after checking and seeing it was reported as 2.66 everywhere, I looked in the BIOS, and there it has the clock speed set to 2.66 as well.  Somewhere along the way the clock speed got set back to the default speed.  I assume that happened due to bios updates.

 

Not having any overclocking experience, is it safe for me to just go into the cpu clock speed setting in the bios and up it back to 3.2?

I upped my cpu speed in the bios back to 3.2, and now Everest also reports 3.2 so all is well.