A method of performing cell measurements in a telecommunications system. The method includes the steps of receiving a signal by a user equipment (UE) operating within the telecommunications system and served by a serving cell, storing the received signal in a buffer, and determining a first portion of the signal related to the serving cell and a second portion related to neighbor (NB) cells. The first portion of the signal is decoded by the Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) and the signal strength is estimated by a measurement unit coupled to the FFT. Next, any approximately synchronized NB cell signals in the second portion of the signal are then decoded and a signal strength is estimated. It is then determined if sufficient time remains to process unsynchronized NB cell signals of the second portion of the signal. If it is determined that sufficient time remains, the second portion of the signal is played back and decoded using the FFT and a signal strength of any unsynchronized NB cell signals of the second portion of the received signal is estimated.