CPU Slowdown

[DKlein]

Not my problem, but someone I know. He says he used to be getting a 3DMark05 score of about 4500, but now a month later he's only getting 3660. His CPU score has dropped by the same amount as well. He has tried different video card drivers, defragged, ran ad-aware, anti-virus, etc. He has only 20 programs running in task manager, all Windows-related. I asked him to check what percent his processor is running at when idle, but haven't gotten that info back yet.

His system:
AMD 64 bit 3200+
1024mb PC3200 Kingston
ATI X800 Pro 256mb

I'll try to get the rest from him today. So does anyone have any ideas as to what's causing this slowdown?

 

[montag451]

Does he notice the rest of the progs running slowly, or is he glued to 3dMark watching his figures falling?

 

[DKlein]

Have to ask him that also. He didn't say at first, and it's not clear from his posts.

 

[DKlein]

He says all his programs are running equally slowly. Still no word on full specs, though. Anyone? Ideas here?

 

[Googer]

He has only 20 programs running in task manager, all Windows-related. I asked him to check what percent his processor is running at when idle, but haven't gotten that info back yet.

I have only 13. But i can get that down to 12 with out a problem.

I recomend disableing some services and shutting down the AV software when playing games

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

 

[DKlein]

I'll mention that, but that still doesn't account for the slowdown itself. It will be the equivalent of a blood trasfusion while his wounds are still hemmorhaging, and we've got to figure out where all that blood is coming out of, if you get my point.

Also I really need to get around to configuring Windows, I've got 26 processes loaded all the time.

And bump for some more help!!!

P.S. Rest of setup: Abit he doesn't know the model somehow, 2 WD 160GB HDDs, 350W PSU. That's as detailed as he got. Love working with people that don't even know what they have...

 

[DKlein]

More specs:

the PSU is a antec Model: SL350
the MOBO is a ASUS (K8N8X-LA PES) model: diablo
HD's are western digitial Model: WD1600JBRTL

 

[DKlein]

Oh yeah, and he says he's running 0% CPU usage at idle.

 

[Googer]

Sounds like he has a lot of extra services running; disableing some will make his machine noticeably faster, just don't disable the wrong ones.

Also does the HDD Light on the case come on and off frequently when the PC is at IDLE? And has he been messing with His BIOS Settings lately? It could be a lot of things.

Here are Two Refrences for Optimizing Windows Services and The PC BIOS


[*]Adrian's Rojak Pot: The Definitive BIOS Optimization Guide

[*]Black Viper: Use his Windows optimization guides

 

[DKlein]

Well I asked him if he had done anything right around when it started (and emphasized anything), and he said no. I'll take your advice and give him the guides, but I'm not exactly sure how they could make a difference if he didn't add any new programs or change any settings before the slowdown. Then again, I don't know a lot of things, so that's not anything new.

 

[Slikkster]

Does his computer support AMD's "Cool n'Quiet" technology? That slows the cpu down when not in use. He could disable it.

 

[DKlein]

This is happening when it's primarily in use, though. He notices the slowdown most in FPS games and in benchmarking, although it is noticed all the time as well. Not to mention this is a new development, it was not always this way, and only just recently slowed down.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: DKlein
This is happening when it's primarily in use, though. He notices the slowdown most in FPS games and in benchmarking, although it is noticed all the time as well. Not to mention this is a new development, it was not always this way, and only just recently slowed down.

By Default Windows has way too many services running, I know It may sound odd or strange but Please try disableing some of them. But Never Disable RPC (Remote Procedure Call) Service, Unless you want the computer to freeze on boot. My Windows 2k system has 28+ Services and process running after a fresh clean install; but after optimizing them and disableing some I get a 15-30% boost in CPU and Memory performance using Real world Applications and Games like Battlefield 1942 and Vietnam.