New computer is slowing down

Millertime · 23rd Oct 2006, 04:46 AM

I just completed a new system build and everything went together pretty good (except for the defective psu) but after running my system for a few hours almost everything slows down. It almost acts like it's running out of memory but the Task Manager still shows that I'm only using about 50% of my memory and the CPU usage is right around 50%. When I try to open new programs it takes anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes to open but once most programs are open they seem to operate normally. Windows programs seem to take the biggest hit on speed. Explorer and the file search are really slow to respond. Once I reboot everything runs normally for a few hours and then slow down again. I tried an ATI Radeon x1600 pro video card and I have the same problems. Here's the system specs.

Thermaltake Aguila case
Thermaltake Toughpower 700W ps
Asus P5N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard
Intel 3.6Ghz Dual Core processor
Corsair 2GB DDR-675 memory
Asus EN7600GTSILENT2DHT256M video card
Creative X-Fi sound card
Logitech Z-5300e 5.1 speakers
Plextor sata dvd burner
Asus dvd-rom
Hitachi Deskstar 250GB hard drive
Samsung 20" LCD
Logitech MX3000 Laser

Microsoft Windows XP Pro

Here's an example I just tried. My system has been running for about 3 hours and windows explorer took about 2:15 to open. CPU Usage was at about 15%, PF Usage 665 MB and available physical memory was about 1.3 mb. I have XP firewall enabled, McAfee virus scan, spysweeper, iTunes, Firefox, Thunderbird, Microsoft Excel and Windows Live Messenger running. In the 2 minutes waiting for explorer to open I was able to alt-tab to firefox or excel and use those programs normally without any delays or problems. The taskbar was slow to respond.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Millertime

doraemon · 24th Oct 2006, 02:35 PM

1. Check CPU heatsink, does it attach properly to the CPU?
2. Check grapic card heatsink, does it attach properly to the GPU?
3. Ventilation of the casing?

Max_87 · 24th Oct 2006, 03:38 PM

Could it be that your processor is throttling due to overheating?

Millertime · 24th Oct 2006, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doraemon

1. Check CPU heatsink, does it attach properly to the CPU?
2. Check grapic card heatsink, does it attach properly to the GPU?
3. Ventilation of the casing?

1. I thought it was secure but I'll check again. I have a Thermaltake fan on the cpu. When I installed the stock intel fan I didn't have it seated properly and my system would shut down when I botted up.

2. Here's the link to the graphic card. I don't think that's an issue. http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=2&l2=6&l3=271&model=1097&modelme nu=1

3. The case has a mesh front with a 120mm front and back. The side window has a mesh guard where one 80mm fan could go. The case is very roomy and uncluttered inside so I think I'm ok there.

Can I check my CPU temp from windows or only when I go into BIOS?

Thanks,
Millertime

Max_87 · 24th Oct 2006, 09:49 PM

Yes, you can check your CPU temp from windows. You need to install the hardware monitoring software provided in your mainboard driver CD.

Millertime · 25th Oct 2006, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max_87

Yes, you can check your CPU temp from windows. You need to install the hardware monitoring software provided in your mainboard driver CD.

I installed the Asus PC Probe II software to monitor temps. The CPU temp ranged from 21 deg C to a peak of 32 deg C, the MB ranged from 28 deg C to 31 deg C. What temps are normal?

Thanks,
Millertime

Max_87 · 25th Oct 2006, 04:59 PM

As long as your temperature don't go over 70c, there shouldn't be any problem since you are not overclocking.

Wait.... I just noticed this in your 1st post.

Quote:

physical memory was about 1.3 mb.

I think there must be a software eating up the system memory a lot. Does your HDD starts to get really busy swapping files when you try to open new programs?

Also, did you try checking the processes list in task manager? If possible I hope you can take screenshot the task manager (the processes and performance tab) and post them here.

Millertime · 29th Oct 2006, 06:50 AM

Here's a couple of screenshots of the processes and performance tabs. This is after my system has been running for about 2 1/2 hours after a restart. Windows explorer took about 15 sec to start and an Excel file took about 2 min to open. Firefox and Thunderbird seem to be fine and iTunes is playing along just fine. If I were to start "NFS: Most Wanted" right now it might take a minute or two to start but then I could play it for hours without any problems.

Thanks for any help,
Millertime

Millertime · 29th Oct 2006, 07:10 AM

Here's a few programs or tasks that seem to cause me the most grief after I've been running for a few hours:

AutoCAD 2007 (this could be a driver issue)
Windows Explorer
File search task
Excel (only when I double-click a file, opening Excel from the start menu is very fast)

When Explorer is acting up the taksbar won't respond but I can alt-tab to my programs and they'll be performing normally.

Is there any chance this could be a bad install of Windows XP? I bought a new copy so there's no bootlegging and it seemed to install just fine.

zy · 29th Oct 2006, 11:26 AM

i think you have too many background applications running

23rd Oct 2006, 04:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
Millertime Newbie Join Date: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 18 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	New computer is slowing down I just completed a new system build and everything went together pretty good (except for the defective psu) but after running my system for a few hours almost everything slows down. It almost acts like it's running out of memory but the Task Manager still shows that I'm only using about 50% of my memory and the CPU usage is right around 50%. When I try to open new programs it takes anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes to open but once most programs are open they seem to operate normally. Windows programs seem to take the biggest hit on speed. Explorer and the file search are really slow to respond. Once I reboot everything runs normally for a few hours and then slow down again. I tried an ATI Radeon x1600 pro video card and I have the same problems. Here's the system specs. Thermaltake Aguila case Thermaltake Toughpower 700W ps Asus P5N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard Intel 3.6Ghz Dual Core processor Corsair 2GB DDR-675 memory Asus EN7600GTSILENT2DHT256M video card Creative X-Fi sound card Logitech Z-5300e 5.1 speakers Plextor sata dvd burner Asus dvd-rom Hitachi Deskstar 250GB hard drive Samsung 20" LCD Logitech MX3000 Laser Microsoft Windows XP Pro Here's an example I just tried. My system has been running for about 3 hours and windows explorer took about 2:15 to open. CPU Usage was at about 15%, PF Usage 665 MB and available physical memory was about 1.3 mb. I have XP firewall enabled, McAfee virus scan, spysweeper, iTunes, Firefox, Thunderbird, Microsoft Excel and Windows Live Messenger running. In the 2 minutes waiting for explorer to open I was able to alt-tab to firefox or excel and use those programs normally without any delays or problems. The taskbar was slow to respond. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Millertime

24th Oct 2006, 02:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
doraemon Hyperactive Join Date: 18 Jun 2004 Location: 22ndCentury Posts: 3,087 Reputation: 724 Rep Power: 16	1. Check CPU heatsink, does it attach properly to the CPU? 2. Check grapic card heatsink, does it attach properly to the GPU? 3. Ventilation of the casing? __________________

24th Oct 2006, 03:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
Max_87 h@x! Join Date: 11 Aug 2003 Location: the land of bandwidth cap Posts: 11,446 Reputation: 2090 Rep Power: 38	Could it be that your processor is throttling due to overheating? __________________ Max_87 Tech ARP http://www.techarp.com Dell Studio 15 / P7350 / 3GB DDR2 / Radeon HD 3450 / 250GB 7200RPM / 15" @ 1920x1200 E8600 @ 4.4GHz 1.36v / Asus P5E3 Deluxe / 2x2GB DDR3 / Radeon X1800 / Barracuda 7200.9 120GB / 7200.10 320GB x2 / Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS / WD6400AAKS x2 / Dell 2007FP x2 / Silverstone ST56F

24th Oct 2006, 09:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Max_87 h@x! Join Date: 11 Aug 2003 Location: the land of bandwidth cap Posts: 11,446 Reputation: 2090 Rep Power: 38	Yes, you can check your CPU temp from windows. You need to install the hardware monitoring software provided in your mainboard driver CD. __________________ Max_87 Tech ARP http://www.techarp.com Dell Studio 15 / P7350 / 3GB DDR2 / Radeon HD 3450 / 250GB 7200RPM / 15" @ 1920x1200 E8600 @ 4.4GHz 1.36v / Asus P5E3 Deluxe / 2x2GB DDR3 / Radeon X1800 / Barracuda 7200.9 120GB / 7200.10 320GB x2 / Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS / WD6400AAKS x2 / Dell 2007FP x2 / Silverstone ST56F

29th Oct 2006, 11:26 AM	#10 (permalink)
zy zynine.com Join Date: 16 Dec 2002 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 13,495 Reputation: 2276 Rep Power: 43	i think you have too many background applications running __________________

29th Oct 2006, 06:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
Millertime Newbie Join Date: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 18 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Here's a couple of screenshots of the processes and performance tabs. This is after my system has been running for about 2 1/2 hours after a restart. Windows explorer took about 15 sec to start and an Excel file took about 2 min to open. Firefox and Thunderbird seem to be fine and iTunes is playing along just fine. If I were to start "NFS: Most Wanted" right now it might take a minute or two to start but then I could play it for hours without any problems. Thanks for any help, Millertime

29th Oct 2006, 07:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
Millertime Newbie Join Date: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 18 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Here's a few programs or tasks that seem to cause me the most grief after I've been running for a few hours: AutoCAD 2007 (this could be a driver issue) Windows Explorer File search task Excel (only when I double-click a file, opening Excel from the start menu is very fast) When Explorer is acting up the taksbar won't respond but I can alt-tab to my programs and they'll be performing normally. Is there any chance this could be a bad install of Windows XP? I bought a new copy so there's no bootlegging and it seemed to install just fine.

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