How do you define a 'Fast' computer and a 'slow' computer

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Konigin

Platinum Member
Jan 21, 2003
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Fast=I don't have to wait for it to do stuff.
Slow=I could go eat lunch while it opens a browser window.

:)
 

PoPPeR

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 2002
6,993
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its fast if when your doing something you don't get annoyed. Well that's "fast enough". I guess fast would be, "wow that finished/opened quicker then I thought it would." Slow is just bleh
 

Electrode

Diamond Member
May 4, 2001
6,063
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"Normal" applications, like a web browser of spreadsheet, never take more than 20% of total CPU time during "normal" use (i.e. not rendering a rediculously huge web page or running a long and hightly complex script).

If true: Fast
If false: Slow
 

TheBoyBlunder

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2003
5,742
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fast - it just feels fast...it's just "fast enough" to handle most everything.
slow - it has trouble doing anything more complex than solitare.

I could be more specific, but I'm too lazy...
 

Xenon14

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,065
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As of now, fast = whatever can compress a full 2 hour movie into divx in a few seconds. I think the 38 teraflop China Supercomputer can handle that.

For gamers 1.5 ghz is minimum.

For everyone else (non power users) - at least 700mhz... so they can at least run Divx, mp3, and word at same time...and aol.
 

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
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Fast: Athlon 1GHz+ w/ 256MB+ RAM and a reasonably clean OS install.
...pretty much any P4 w/ on a 850E or 865/875 board.
Middle: All Durons. Celerons on 850E or 865/875, or P4 on 845PE/GE.
Slow: PII 500- w/ 128MB- RAM, or any variation of a Celeron.
...or a P4 on a 845 board.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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Christ, people.

I just upgraded from a K6-3/400 @ 450 to a Duron 850 @ 1GHz.. :D It's pretty damn fast.. and you all consider it slow.. LOL....
 

Zugzwang152

Lifer
Oct 30, 2001
12,134
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Originally posted by: Eli
Christ, people.

I just upgraded from a K6-3/400 @ 450 to a Duron 850 @ 1GHz.. :D It's pretty damn fast.. and you all consider it slow.. LOL....

oh the humanity! :(






:D;)


I'm going from a 1.3ghz duron to a 2400+@2.0ghz, and I thought I was behind the times :p
 

dman

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
9,110
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Fast computers cost far too much.
.
.
.
My Computer (Usually @ bellcurve of bang for buck level, currently XP 2600 w/ 1GB RAM)
.
.
.
Slow(er) Computers (anything you can still buy)
.
.
.
G@D D@MN PIECE OF F$RK1N CHIT, UPGRADE THIS THING WOULD 'YA! :D

 

cavemanmoron

Lifer
Mar 13, 2001
13,683
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Originally posted by: Mltsao
It also depends on what hardware/software is out.


ALso,if you are using dialup vs dsl/cable,thats SLOW. :) , :(

slow i would say,is old K6-2 or older cpu,

medium,prob what i am using,on this system, AMD XP 1700+

fast,i can not afford,a system,or even just the,
motherboard cpu,faster memory like the stuff near 2800+;
or 3.0+ pentium 4 :(
 

Acts837

Golden Member
Mar 11, 2001
1,072
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Originally posted by: Eli

I just upgraded from a K6-3/400 @ 450 to a Duron 850 @ 1GHz.. :D It's pretty damn fast.. and you all consider it slow.. LOL....

Eli's not vain like the rest of us :D
 

Haden

Senior member
Nov 21, 2001
578
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fast => nearly any basic operation is instant (<=0.2sec), unless user expects it to take longer for logical reasons.
middle => operations are quick, but user can see it takes some minor time
slow => finger taping while waiting

It of course depends of software being used, and what user expects to take time.
 

Zedtom

Platinum Member
Nov 23, 2001
2,146
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Most of here in these forums probably have overpowered computers. The hard core gamers among us want the cutting edge for obvious reasons.

In daily use, a "fast" computer is essential if you have broadband internet. If you use image editing software like Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, it's nice to see your work updated instantaneously instead of waiting for several seconds.
 

Woodchuck2000

Golden Member
Jan 20, 2002
1,632
1
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Originally posted by: touchmyichi
My friends who know nothing about computers say either a computer is fast or slow and thats it. How exactly do you draw that fine line between a fast and slow computer? Its pretty damn stupid if u ask me.
Simple Answer: You don't. Just tell your friend that he's being a fool and leave it at that...

 

Regs

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
16,666
21
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I wouldn't compare fast and slow computers just on CPU clock speeds.

If the Hard drive is some dino ATA33 running at 5200 RPM that is fragmented to hell, your computer is going to be slow with a 3.0 Ghz p4.

Or old integrated graphics on a old 33 Mhz bus motherboard using up all its PCI slots creating major bottlenecks and taking up resources the CPU has to process with.

Now the computer I have at work I would consider slow. Its a p1 133 mhz with 64 MBs of 33 Mhz ram. Multi-tasking is almost impossible. Having 2 browsers open could make one task lag for more than 15 seconds when a link is clicked.
 

secretanchitman

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2001
9,353
23
91
fast is 2 ghz p4 with or without HT for me

Slow is anything below 1ghz.

also, the hard drive RPM speed matters, if its 7200RPM, its fast enough already, but if you're getting one of those cheetah HD's which have like, I think 10,000 RPMs, then my god, that's lightning fast!