Topic: Memory/cpu capacity

[Andyeilio]

Sometimes, when I use my PC, programmes become intermittent, ie, music or videos get jumpy.

The CPU monitor is up and down like a yo-yo.

Having looked at the applications and processes running, the only one that seems strange is the system idle process jumps in ranges varying from 35 through to 90/95, and back and forth.

It doesnt alway happen, but cannot pin point it to one issue either??

Closing down all applications doesnt sort it?

I have a 3 year old advent, running windows XP, and with a Pentium(r) 4 2.93GHz

Can anyone shed some light on this please.

[JimmyTheHoover]

Well the first thing is - don't worry about the idle process if its greater than zero andy - it show sthe "spare" cPU on your system.

Next what is the "spec" or model of your PC ? (CPU type/speed - memory size - disk size (how much free) system page/swapfile size - graphics card type  etc.

If you need help on how to get this info. just post.

Jim

[Andyeilio]

Well the first thing is - don't worry about the idle process if its greater than zero andy - it show sthe "spare" cPU on your system.

Next what is the "spec" or model of your PC ? (CPU type/speed - memory size - disk size (how much free) system page/swapfile size - graphics card type  etc.

If you need help on how to get this info. just post.

Jim

Hi Jimmy,

This is the spec that I can retrieve, please instruct where to go to find any other details I might need.

Thanks

Advent MC3040
Using Windows XP
Media centre edition, version 2002, service pack 2.
Hard drive: 147 GB
Spare: 102 GB
Intel (R) 4 CPU 2.93GHz (ACPI\genuineintel_._x86_FAMILY_15_MODEL_3\_0 
Graphis card: Nvidia GeForce FX 5200
RAM: 512MB

Virtual memory, custom size selected
Initial 768mb
Maximum 1536

[JimmyTheHoover]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the info. - the spec. should be fine for most things and your virtual memory config. is o.k. as well although I'd personally not allow it to expand but fix it at the 768 Mb upper limit as well - however  I don't think this is likely to be your problem unless you are running several memory intensive apps. at the same time.

First thing to try is a serious defrag. of your hard disk - although there are better defrag tools available than the one supplied with XP it should be o.k. to sse if thi is your issue although you may need to run it several times to get a well defragged disk.

Right click on your disk drive from the "my computer" screen and select "sisk cleanup" first and run that.

Next select the "tools" tab and use the "check for errors" option - following this use the "defragment now" option and let that run - when it's finished repeat the exercise about 5 times as it's not a very thorough defrag.

After this it's just a case of seeing if it's helped in any way.

As it's "lumpy video" playback that you seem to notice mostly it's always worthwhile making sure your video drivers are at the most recent version - go to www.nvidia.com and brows the support section for your drivers rather than letting windows search.

Does the problem happen all the time or only at some times of day ?

Let me know how it goes.

Jim

[Mitch]

Thanks for that Jimmy.  I am off to run this on my daughters laptop now.  The fan on the machine is running ninetly to the dozen so needs some work on it. 

[Andyeilio]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the info. - the spec. should be fine for most things and your virtual memory config. is o.k. as well although I'd personally not allow it to expand but fix it at the 768 Mb upper limit as well - however  I don't think this is likely to be your problem unless you are running several memory intensive apps. at the same time.

First thing to try is a serious defrag. of your hard disk - although there are better defrag tools available than the one supplied with XP it should be o.k. to sse if thi is your issue although you may need to run it several times to get a well defragged disk.

Right click on your disk drive from the "my computer" screen and select "sisk cleanup" first and run that.

Next select the "tools" tab and use the "check for errors" option - following this use the "defragment now" option and let that run - when it's finished repeat the exercise about 5 times as it's not a very thorough defrag.

After this it's just a case of seeing if it's helped in any way.

As it's "lumpy video" playback that you seem to notice mostly it's always worthwhile making sure your video drivers are at the most recent version - go to www.nvidia.com and brows the support section for your drivers rather than letting windows search.

Does the problem happen all the time or only at some times of day ?

Let me know how it goes.

Jim

Thanks Jimmy, have started and will let you know how it goes.

[Andyeilio]

Well,

I have de-fragged twice, no problems with slow down / jumpy programmes as yet, but then it would often be fine for days, and then kick in.

Going to do a couple more de-frags

Thanks Jimmy, will see how it goes.

[JimmyTheHoover]

Good news Andy - so far - I'll dig up the linkies for a better free defrag tool and post it here.

Have you checked out your video drivers yet ?

Jim

[Rhys]

Good news Andy - so far - I'll dig up the linkies for a better free defrag tool and post it here.

Have you checked out your video drivers yet ?

Jim

'Defraggler' is a good defrag tool - its much more efficient that one built into windows. You can get it here:

http://www.filehippo.com/download_defraggler/

Another handy tool is 'CCleaner', it gets cleans your system of unused and temporary files, and generally frees up a lot of disk space and makes windows run faster.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

The tool I make the most use of when sorting out someones computer is 'Autoruns'. One of the first places I start with a pc which has performance issues is to get rid of unecessary and pain in the arse windows startup entries, which are often added when a new program is installed. Just be careful not to deactivate any system critical items though!  You can get this here:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

These three programs should help keep your pc in tip top condition. 

[Andyeilio]

Good news Andy - so far - I'll dig up the linkies for a better free defrag tool and post it here.

Have you checked out your video drivers yet ?

Jim

Hi Jimmy,

I downloaded a complete codex package, not sure if I have downloaded drivers at the same time?

[Andyeilio]

Good news Andy - so far - I'll dig up the linkies for a better free defrag tool and post it here.

Have you checked out your video drivers yet ?

Jim

'Defraggler' is a good defrag tool - its much more efficient that one built into windows. You can get it here:

http://www.filehippo.com/download_defraggler/

Another handy tool is 'CCleaner', it gets cleans your system of unused and temporary files, and generally frees up a lot of disk space and makes windows run faster.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

The tool I make the most use of when sorting out someones computer is 'Autoruns'. One of the first places I start with a pc which has performance issues is to get rid of unecessary and pain in the arse windows startup entries, which are often added when a new program is installed. Just be careful not to deactivate any system critical items though!  You can get this here:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

These three programs should help keep your pc in tip top condition. 

Thanks for your post Rhys, I downloaded and ran autoruns  how do I know whihc ones to delete etc? there are so many listings?

[JimmyTheHoover]

Good news Andy - so far - I'll dig up the linkies for a better free defrag tool and post it here.

Have you checked out your video drivers yet ?

Jim

Hi Jimmy,

I downloaded a complete codex package, not sure if I have downloaded drivers at the same time?

Nope - codec and drivers are totally different things - head off to your graphics adapter manufacturer (chipset) website and download them or PM me the card info. and I'll get the link for you.

Jim

[Andyeilio]

windows defrag nil points, defraggler - ippon.

Defraggler listed 5000 fragments over 1000 files!

[JimmyTheHoover]

Defragler is good and I really like using it to defrag specific files - but for general use I prefer this

http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/index.html

I like the flexibility of the command line options and the screensaver option is nice too and I like it's "spacehog" options....

Love ccleaner as well and ALL the Sysinternals tool - now acquired by Microsoft of course but still free.

Jim

[Andyeilio]

Well, thanks guys, I have downloaded and ran all of the programmes suggested, cclean removed 130mb's plus, again, after windows clean up !!

Am running de-fragler now, and will look at the other one next.