I doubt my computer is running at its full potential [help?]

[dudester28]

Nowadays, I feel as though my computer is running slower than it used to (and it probably is). I am not really an expert at computer maintenance so I need your help.

Specs:

Windows Vista x64 based

Processor- AMD Phenom 8450 Triple-Core Processor, 2100 Mhz, 3 Core(s), 3 Logical Processor(s)

RAM- 4 GB total

Graphics Card- ATI Radeon HD 3200 Grahpics

Ask me if any more information is necessary.

Here are the problems I am observing:

I can hear the fan running inside the console. It sounds like its working hard.

Something seems to be eating up RAM in the background:

You can see that nearly half of the ram is being used for some reason. I have all windows closed out. The task manager is the only one running.

Calling all people knowledgeable in this matter to comment on why you think my computer may be running slowly.

Edited August 10, 2013 by dudester28

[Galacticruler]

It is Vista,

I recomend you go buy Windows 7 Ulitimate 64x

also, notice the bottom of the task manager, you haev 96 processes running.

[dudester28]

How do I know which processes I am allowed to close out without screwing up the computer temporarily? (it has happened)

Oh and it's 93 processes

[m4v]

is normal, is cached memory, is not being "used" but keep around for faster access.

[TwoHedWlf]

is normal, is cached memory, is not being "used" but keep around for faster access.

Yeah, going by how much ram is being used/available isn't really that meaningful. It will keep things in ram that might be needed, because there's no point having heaps of unused ram. If it needs more free than is available it will just automatically dump something into your swap file to free up space.

Mine is sitting at 87% used at the moment, with just a couple programs open.

Best thing you can do, install win 7 and get rid of Norton/symantec AV if you have them. Install something that doesn't slow everything down.

[thermobaric]

You got a pretty old pc right there, but a clean install of windows 7 will make your pc run as good as new. Wouldn't you like to upgrade it?

[Mr. Scruffy]

The memory used for caching is not counted in the 1.72 GByte used, as can be deduced from the lines right below the graph, which show only 268MByte as free, when the cache (1987 MB) is being accounted for.

At OP: You can try to tell which processes are unneeded by simply doing an internet research on their names. Simply copy and paste the ones you have no idea what they are doing from the task manager´s process tab into your prefered search mask and see what the web has to say.

[dudester28]

I suspect my fan needs to be replaced because it always is making a sound even when I am not running anything. Am I correct in saying this?

[cesarcurado]

I suspect my fan needs to be replaced because it always is making a sound even when I am not running anything. Am I correct in saying this?

It is normal (for me) to make sound when you are not running anything because the computer is still running and needs to stay powered all the time, so the fan keeps cooling the PSU which provides power to the rest of the computer.

[TwoHedWlf]

I suspect my fan needs to be replaced because it always is making a sound even when I am not running anything. Am I correct in saying this?

Maybe. Depends on if the fan is temperature controlled or not and which fan. But generally, fans should always be spinning at a low speed if it's temperature controlled regardless of temp. I'd expect it to be almost silent if the computer is cool though.

[Diche Bach]

Good thread. Thanks for the comments guys; helpful to many of us.

A related question: if you think your rig is running pretty good, any suggestions on 'souping it up?' I can generally run most games on relatively high settings. Even Skyrim not a problem. But sometimes some games seem to have slowish functions (load times in KSP for example).

[Mr. Scruffy]

solid state drives are the hallmark of the season.

Going from ~100MByte/s to ~500MByte during disc-access is notable.

128 GByte should suffice for most people, 256 GByte for almost everyone (keeping non-programs - read:media - on a normal HD).

Edited August 12, 2013 by Mr. Scruffy

[segaprophet]

To the OP:

The cheapest ways to get vastly better performance -

Your CPU is just fine - don't change it.

Upgrade to at least 8GB (in matched pairs) of the fastest DDR memory your mobo can handle, immediately.

SSDs are overrated and still very expensive. Keep the HDD you have. To increase disk performance, manually back up your entire HDD to another HDD, then clean install at least Windows 7 Home Premium (x64), and copy back your files and folders manually, copying only what you need. Windows Vista is worse than cancer for system performance, if I'm being honest - it SUCKS HARDCORE. Get rid of it ASAP. Also, install and run good antivirus software from the get go - my suggestion is Microsoft Security Essentials.

The Radeon HD 3000 series is crazy weak sauce against modern apps and games. You should be looking to replace it with at least a higher end Radeon HD 6000 series. For example, the Radeon HD 6870 chipset is quite formidable and can easily be found for well under $100 these days..

I hope you take these tips to heart . .

P.S. - Changing out your fans and adding a nice new CPU cooler, along with a severe dust-busting can't hurt, and shouldn't break the bank either.

Edited August 12, 2013 by segaprophet

[Mr. Scruffy]

1. I was replying to the post above mine, which does not refer to the OPs system.

2. One can think of SSD as one likes, but getting a 120GByte for under €80 will net you a lot more performance, even on Vista, than transfering to W7, which costs more than €80 (at least here in germany). Of course, doing both would be best (in which case you also have the second disc to save your data). I dont know who overrates SSD, but i know the difference from personal experience. To me HDs are like CRTs, now, and SSD are like flatscreens, if you know what i mean. That´s how i rate them. And since the post i replied to specifically mentioned loadtimes as a bottleneck in system performance, i thought, the advice for a SSD was proper.

SSDs do have one pre-requisite though: Your MoBo should at least feature SATA3. Connected to a SATA2-port, they wont make much of a difference.

[Leonov]

OP, give your computer a nice cleaning, specificly the Powersupplys fan. Process count is not a good way to judge your computers performance.

As far as an upgrade, dont upgrade anything, if you really want a faster computer, build a newer system.

And here is why.

Your CPU socket is AM2+, Far behind in AMD sockets.

Your Mobo will only support DDR2 Ram, which is Slow, Expensive, and not worth investing in.

Why not join us on the Computerbuilding Megathread?

Edited August 12, 2013 by Leonov