amd 64 +3200 performance issue

[Influx]

Hi, I just built a system and the performance is less than what I
expected.

Specs:

Asus a8v motherboard
AMD 64 +3200
512 mb ram
nvidia geforce 6200

I haven't had a chance to test it on some high end games yet, but it
runs counterstrike and mechwarrior 4 perfect.

Where the problem lies is when I am using the computer for regular work
it seems to be painfully slow. sometimes the start menu takes 10
seconds to load up, windows will lag a bit, and seemingly light
processes appear to slow the system to a crawl. There's no conflicts in
the device manager, and the cool n' quiet driver doesn't seem to work,
but the cpu clock is set at 2mhz like it should be. Could anyone offer
any suggestions to look into to speed this puppy up? Thanks in advance.

 

[Influx]

scratch that. it doesn't play counterstrike well either. and the cpu
never seems to get above 50%, and the heat doesn't seem change at all
it stays at 39c/102f that isn't normal, games are supposed to heat up
the cpu. GRR

 

[Chris Hill]

scratch that. it doesn't play counterstrike well either. and the cpu
never seems to get above 50%, and the heat doesn't seem change at all
it stays at 39c/102f that isn't normal, games are supposed to heat up

the cpu. GRR

No, cpu's don't have to heat up, cool and quiet keeps the fan spinning
slow, then increases the speed under load; my machine runs like a
scalded cat but I've never seen it over about 40c with similar spec to
yours. Sounds to me like something is screwy with your os install.

 

[Charlie Wilkes]

Hi, I just built a system and the performance is less than what I
expected.

Specs:

Asus a8v motherboard
AMD 64 +3200
512 mb ram
nvidia geforce 6200

I haven't had a chance to test it on some high end games yet, but it
runs counterstrike and mechwarrior 4 perfect.

Where the problem lies is when I am using the computer for regular work
it seems to be painfully slow. sometimes the start menu takes 10
seconds to load up, windows will lag a bit, and seemingly light
processes appear to slow the system to a crawl. There's no conflicts in
the device manager, and the cool n' quiet driver doesn't seem to work,
but the cpu clock is set at 2mhz like it should be. Could anyone offer
any suggestions to look into to speed this puppy up? Thanks in advance.

Mismatched memory sticks can cause symptoms like what you describe,
but I think you'd see it in games too. I'll bet it's software,
possibly spyware. Have you looked at task manager to see what
processes are running? Hit ctl+alt+del to bring it up.

Charlie

 

[Charlie Wilkes]

scratch that. it doesn't play counterstrike well either. and the cpu
never seems to get above 50%, and the heat doesn't seem change at all
it stays at 39c/102f that isn't normal, games are supposed to heat up
the cpu. GRR

Did you install your motherboard drivers???

Charlie

 

[WooHoo2You]

Mismatched memory sticks can cause symptoms like what you describe,
but I think you'd see it in games too. I'll bet it's software,
possibly spyware. Have you looked at task manager to see what
processes are running? Hit ctl+alt+del to bring it up.

More on that, try
http://www.download.com/Security-Task-Manager/3000-2094_4-10408960.html?tag=lst-0-1
this is a great program to see what is running, and stop them from starting.
And if you don't know what the file is, right click on it, and it connects
to the web and gives you great descriptions. Only downside is that it has a
30 day limit, after that it will only run for a few minutes. However, that
is more then enough time to solve any background conflicts that you may be
having. It is the only shareware program I have every conceded buying.

 

[Influx]

My first intuition was to look for spyware and I am pretty good about
that stuff, I downloaded that program and everything checked out, I
know every process running and nothing looks fishy. I only have one
memory stick and it's where it should be in the b1 slot position. I
installed the motherboard drivers as well. The only suggestion that
stuck out here is a bad os install. How would I know if that's the case?

 

[GrahamH]

Hi, I just built a system and the performance is less than what I
expected.

Specs:

Asus a8v motherboard
AMD 64 +3200
512 mb ram
nvidia geforce 6200

I haven't had a chance to test it on some high end games yet, but it
runs counterstrike and mechwarrior 4 perfect.

Where the problem lies is when I am using the computer for regular work
it seems to be painfully slow. sometimes the start menu takes 10
seconds to load up, windows will lag a bit, and seemingly light
processes appear to slow the system to a crawl. There's no conflicts in
the device manager, and the cool n' quiet driver doesn't seem to work,
but the cpu clock is set at 2mhz like it should be. Could anyone offer
any suggestions to look into to speed this puppy up? Thanks in advance.

Have you checked your bios,
the default settings may need tweaking.
Make sure you hard drive controllers are setup for the correct tranfer speed
in hardware manager.
Make sure your chipset drivers and graphics drivers are the latest.
Defrag the hard drive, deleting all files in windows prefetch folder may
help startup as it will renew the list.
In task manager processes the system idle should be showing 90+ if the
computers not doing much.
Try disabling programs one at a time to see any change.
AFAIK cool and quiet works by setting your power management to minimal, goto
control panel/performance and maintenance/power options and set power
schemes to minimal power management.
You should see a reduction in cpu temp at idle.
Just a few ideas.
Graham.....

 

[Charlie Wilkes]

My first intuition was to look for spyware and I am pretty good about
that stuff, I downloaded that program and everything checked out, I
know every process running and nothing looks fishy. I only have one
memory stick and it's where it should be in the b1 slot position. I
installed the motherboard drivers as well. The only suggestion that
stuck out here is a bad os install. How would I know if that's the case?

Wipe and reinstall, I guess. My further thought would be to take out
the video card, uninstall the drivers, and swap in an old PCI video
card. If that takes care of the problem with office apps, it would
point to the video card as the culprit.

Charlie

 

[Peasant]

No, cpu's don't have to heat up, cool and quiet keeps the fan spinning
slow, then increases the speed under load; my machine runs like a
scalded cat but I've never seen it over about 40c with similar spec to
yours. Sounds to me like something is screwy with your os install.

That isn't how "cool and quiet" works. The fan is actually controlled by
a thermistor on the AMD supplied HSF. Cool and Quiet works by slowing
down the cpu and applying less voltage when you are just running less
intensive apps and speeds up the cpu to full throttle when it detects
intensive apps and games running.

To the OP. To make cool and quiet work you enable it in the bios,
install the cool and quiet driver from AMD, go to Power Schemes and set
it to Minimal Power Management. Cool and Quiet will now work. Be advised
that I have read of a couple of games where CnQ doesn't always throttle
up the cpu when the game starts. Personally, on a desktop PC I would
rather not use CnQ. I didn't buy a 3500+ (2.2ghz) cpu for it to run at 1ghz.

 

[Squigmont]

Hi, I just built a system and the performance is less than what I
expected.

Specs:

Asus a8v motherboard
AMD 64 +3200
512 mb ram
nvidia geforce 6200

I haven't had a chance to test it on some high end games yet, but it
runs counterstrike and mechwarrior 4 perfect.

Where the problem lies is when I am using the computer for regular work
it seems to be painfully slow. sometimes the start menu takes 10
seconds to load up, windows will lag a bit, and seemingly light
processes appear to slow the system to a crawl. There's no conflicts in
the device manager, and the cool n' quiet driver doesn't seem to work,
but the cpu clock is set at 2mhz like it should be. Could anyone offer
any suggestions to look into to speed this puppy up? Thanks in advance.

Honestly, it sounds as though you didn't properly install your motherboard
drivers. Did you run the install disk that came with your motherboard? I
know that sounds stupidly obvious, but over the years I've learned to do
everything possible to rule out the obvious stuff first.