Jump to content


Can My PC Be the Reason for Slow Performance?


15 replies to this topic

#1 OFFLINE   tommyk

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 176 posts

Posted 13 December 2007 - 04:26 PM

My computer has been operating very slowly. I've done all the virus/spyware scans, hijackthis, tweaking, etc. and no problems were found.

My PC, however may be the culprit. I've noticed a loud "whirring" sound from the PC occasionally, almost like a jet taking off. I don't think that's a good thing.

Could my PC be the problem for slow performance and not some virus/spyware?

Thanks

#2 OFFLINE   New_Age

    Power Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Spring Lake, North Carolina
  • Interests:Computers, hangin with friends, watching TV, swimming, hiking, listening to music, spending time with my GF.

Posted 13 December 2007 - 07:20 PM

we need specs.

CPU
OS
Amount of RAM
Etc.
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit Edition | COOLER MASTER Centurion 590 with 4 120mm Blue LED FANS 1 Regular 120MM FAN and a Custom Window Side Panel | AMD Athlon II x4 2.6GHZ Stock| XIGMATEK HDT-S963 92mm | ASRock A780GXE/128 | G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) @800MHZ | CF 2 XFX 4850 1GB @GPU940/MEM1005 | 320GB/OS 160GB/Storage HDDs | LG CD/DVD SATA | Rosewill 600W 2 12v Rail@44 | Ccleaner, Defraggler | Malwarebytes', SUPERAnti-Spyware | Avira AntiVir Personal | Google Chrome v3/4, IE8

#3 OFFLINE   Andavari

    Captain Spectacular

  • Moderators
  • 13,330 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Shadow Moses

Posted 14 December 2007 - 01:21 AM

...also what's the resident ("running") software. If you've installed some new software or media player, etc., that can cause some dismal performance issues, etc.
Complexity of incoherent design.

#4 OFFLINE   JDPower

    Cydonian Knight

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,952 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:England

Posted 14 December 2007 - 02:20 AM

View Posttommyk, on Dec 13 2007, 04:26 PM, said:

I've noticed a loud "whirring" sound from the PC occasionally, almost like a jet taking off. I don't think that's a good thing.
Have you checked the fan vents are clear lately?

#5 OFFLINE   JAGO

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 363 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Michigan

Posted 14 December 2007 - 06:03 AM

How about a screenshot of your task manager with CCleaner open as well? That can give us lots of details (CCleaner shows the hardware information, the task manager will let us know if you have too many services/programs going on in the background).
IPB Image

#6 OFFLINE   DennisD

    Just another volunteer

  • Moderators
  • 7,931 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:England: NE Coast

Posted 14 December 2007 - 03:48 PM

I'll second what Jago says. (as well as the other suggestions)

A shot of your Task Manager when the whirring starts, and if you're not quick enough, try to see in Task Manager if any particular service is using max cpu resources.

I recently had a problem with an HP service, KBD.exe, reacting with one of the svchost.exe's, and maxing out the cpu. It happened too often and had to disable KBD.exe. (not needed, so no loss)

The whirring noise was the fans coming on to cool the cpu down.

Just in case you aren't aware, you can launch Task Manager very quickly by hitting Ctrl-Alt-Delete.

#7 OFFLINE   tommyk

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 176 posts

Posted 17 December 2007 - 04:44 PM

View PostJAGO, on Dec 14 2007, 06:03 AM, said:

How about a screenshot of your task manager with CCleaner open as well? That can give us lots of details (CCleaner shows the hardware information, the task manager will let us know if you have too many services/programs going on in the background).

How do I go about getting a screenshot of my task manager?

I did open it up but there is very little running on it.

Specs on CPU:

Windows XP Pro Service pack 2
Pentium 4 CPU, 3 GHz
2.99 GHz
504MB of ram

#8 OFFLINE   hazelnut

    try to stay calm

  • Moderators
  • 9,460 posts
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:Huddersfield uk

Posted 17 December 2007 - 05:55 PM

See here on how to take one, the Prt Scrn (print screen)button is usually to the right of your F12 button


http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/s...screenshot.mspx


and then see here on how to post it

http://forum.pirifor...showtopic=13668
CCLEANER, RECUVA, DEFRAGGLER AND SPECCY DOCUMENTATION CAN BE FOUND HERE

http://www.piriform.com/docs

#9 OFFLINE   tommyk

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 176 posts

Posted 19 December 2007 - 03:37 PM

View PostJDPower, on Dec 14 2007, 02:20 AM, said:

Have you checked the fan vents are clear lately?

I just had tech support at my office check out my CPU. He said I have some "bloated capacitators" which could cause my system to crash and may be the reason for the slowness.

He is checking into Dell for any recall or may have to order new parts.

Does this sound like it could be the reason for the slowness?

Thanks

#10 OFFLINE   YoKenny

    Super Power User

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,874 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Oshawa, Ont. Canada
  • Interests:Helping people get rid of malware on their systems then showing them how not to get re-infected again

Posted 19 December 2007 - 03:42 PM

Please read:
http://en.wikipedia....apacitor_plague

Google is your friend.
"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school." - Albert Einstein
IE7Pro user

#11 OFFLINE   JAGO

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 363 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Michigan

Posted 19 December 2007 - 06:19 PM

View Posttommyk, on Dec 19 2007, 10:37 AM, said:

I just had tech support at my office check out my CPU. He said I have some "bloated capacitators" which could cause my system to crash and may be the reason for the slowness.

He is checking into Dell for any recall or may have to order new parts.

Does this sound like it could be the reason for the slowness?

Thanks
If the capacitors look like they have convex heads, then you should consider replacing your motherboard.
IPB Image

#12 OFFLINE   New_Age

    Power Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Spring Lake, North Carolina
  • Interests:Computers, hangin with friends, watching TV, swimming, hiking, listening to music, spending time with my GF.

Posted 20 December 2007 - 06:42 AM

tommy you have a Dell? ha, remember that saying? "Dude! your getting a Dell"? Well, for me it's "Dude! your getting a piss of crap"

no hard feelings though. Dells aren't built to last.
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit Edition | COOLER MASTER Centurion 590 with 4 120mm Blue LED FANS 1 Regular 120MM FAN and a Custom Window Side Panel | AMD Athlon II x4 2.6GHZ Stock| XIGMATEK HDT-S963 92mm | ASRock A780GXE/128 | G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) @800MHZ | CF 2 XFX 4850 1GB @GPU940/MEM1005 | 320GB/OS 160GB/Storage HDDs | LG CD/DVD SATA | Rosewill 600W 2 12v Rail@44 | Ccleaner, Defraggler | Malwarebytes', SUPERAnti-Spyware | Avira AntiVir Personal | Google Chrome v3/4, IE8

#13 OFFLINE   tommyk

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 176 posts

Posted 20 December 2007 - 05:37 PM

View PostNew_Age, on Dec 20 2007, 06:42 AM, said:

tommy you have a Dell? ha, remember that saying? "Dude! your getting a Dell"? Well, for me it's "Dude! your getting a piss of crap"

no hard feelings though. Dells aren't built to last.

It's not my at-home computer, but the one at work. We are a state agency which probably bought the lowest bid computers. And yes, Dell is a dud, dude!

My home computer is a custom one and has served me well for quite a while, especially with using Mozilla, Thunderbird, all the anti-spyware and virus recommendations given here by many knowledgeable people.

My motherboard was replaced today due to "bloated capacitors", but the computer is still running slow. Now what?

#14 OFFLINE   hotdoge3

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 303 posts

Posted 17 January 2008 - 08:56 AM

View Posttommyk, on Dec 20 2007, 05:37 PM, said:

It's not my at-home computer, but the one at work. We are a state agency which probably bought the lowest bid computers. And yes, Dell is a dud, dude!

My home computer is a custom one and has served me well for quite a while, especially with using Mozilla, Thunderbird, all the anti-spyware and virus recommendations given here by many knowledgeable people.

My motherboard was replaced today due to "bloated capacitors", but the computer is still running slow. Now what?


#15 OFFLINE   hotdoge3

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 303 posts

Posted 17 January 2008 - 09:18 AM

You can check fan speed in the BIOS all so Clean & CHKDSK C: /F [or do with on the drive] then defrag if you got the disk do the sfc /scannow [ that will see dills are ok and fix ] if XP in Computer Management > Disk Management Status Dose it say Healthy? need more info like do you have it set for Best Performanc or let Windows Pick 3GB CPU & 500MB RAM be ok

#16 OFFLINE   CTskifreak

    Power Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 1,413 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:CT, USA

Posted 17 January 2008 - 01:21 PM

512 MB of RAM could be the problem. I upgraded to 2 GB's and it is a lot faster than it used to be.

AJ
Unofficial Ambassador to the Maximum PC Forums and Moderator of the Piriform Facebook page