Compaq p4-1.7g seems sluggish, advice?

[grant2]

At work I have a snazzy 1.7g p4 w/ 256m of ram at work, win2k, but it still doens't respond as well as my duron-750 at home, which doesn't make sense.

The most annoying thing:
- Usually when scrolling web pages in IE, it will scroll MUUUUCH slower than i'm spinning my mouse wheel, if i get impatient and spin it quickly I have to wait a few seconds for the scrolling to finish before I can do anything else with the web page (scrolling works fine in MS Word, i guess it's a software thing)

less annoying things:
- sometimes when minimizing or closing windows, the "ghost" of the window will remain on screen for 1/2 a second during which I can't do anything
- sometimes when minimizing or closing windows, my mouse's acceleration will change so it either goes super fast or super slow and i can't target it until 1/2 second after the close/minimize is finished.

I've played with the mouse settings to no avail.

Anyone know what's going on? Anandtech members have told me p4's are very responsive on the desktop so this is puzzling me.

-g

 

[4824guy]

Check the speed and type of HD's in both PC's. There may be a slower HD in that Compaq that is slowing down your performance.

 

[PlatinumGold]

sounds like a video card problem to me.

 

[Passions]

I will tell you why your comp is so slow:

1. Compaq
2. P4

 

[lastig21]

Let me know if you figure out that scrolling problem. All of the computer on campus have the same problem, while I've never had the problem at home.

 

[steelthorn]

Bobby where do you get off calling a p4 slow? I have a p4 1.8 and it screams! I'm very happy with
it and IT IS VERY STABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Passions]

 

[Dink]

I know that you can go into Tools, Internet Options, Advanced, and UNCHECK "Use Smooth Scrolling" , That will speed up web page scrolling. Some pages with Java or animated graphics can be slow when you are using smooth scrolling. Try that and see if it improves. Other than that, you might just be in need to a good old fashion reinstall. Also, what kinda Vid card you using in the 2 machines? Yes, P4s ARE very responsive on the desktop. Loading, scrolling, booting...Should all be very quick and snappy.

 

[acejj26]

probably the combination of:

compaq building the system using PC133 memory, which cripples the shiznit out of the P4;
a pisspoor slow-azz hard drive;
probably a TNT2 M64 video card

just cuz it has a fast processor doesn't mean shiznit.....it's like putting a ferrari engine in a pinto

 

[dude8604]

Well first of all it's a compaq, so it has a POS mobo most likely, and probably not very good parts. Does the computer have enough RAM (256MB+)? I'd also recommend reformatting the HDD to get rid of all of the compaq software, etc. that comes with the comp and reinstall Windows from a windows install CD, not from the recovery disc that comes with the computer. If that doesn't work, then I don't know. Good luck!!!

 

[jcmkk]

I have had that scrolling problem before. Like others have said, it's most likely your video card. Go try some different drivers for it. Also as has been said before, that PC133 is really screwing you.

 

[cjsketchy]

I'd say a slow video card... I had slow scrolling with my old gf2mx, but my new r8500 does it instantly.

 

[grant2]

Dink, you are THE MAN that smooth scrolling thing fixed it RIGHT UP!! Thanks!!!!

 

[grant2]

I just cranked open the case (i should have done that before) ... and lo & behold it *IS* pc133 memory...

stupid company, they give me a 17" LCD but then cheap out and get pc133 ram... i dunno where their priorities are, maybe when i have more clout they'll do something about that..

As for the video, ya it's a tnt2 m64, but so what, it's not like i'm playing quake here...

 

[Dengar]

Was the Compaq computer reformatted after it was purchased? If not it probably has a ton of junk software that is slowing down your computer.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Grant

it's ur LCD monitor. I have an xp1700+ w/ 512 MB of DDR Ram and an ATI Radeon 8500 using the DVI and it still scrolls slower than a regular CRT monitor.

 

[ToBeMe]

<< I will tell you why your comp is so slow:

1. Compaq
2. P4 >>


I agree................."Compaq".................as for the P4 comment...............prove that!

 

[Priit]

Yap, only thing that might be slow is M$Windows. Even thought (IMO) P4 isn't fastest kid on the block, it should be fast enough to redraw the screen. Hell, IE scrolls pages with perfect speed even on my brother's P166.

 

[grant2]

it's ur LCD monitor. I have an xp1700+ w/ 512 MB of DDR Ram and an ATI Radeon 8500 using the DVI and it still scrolls slower than a regular CRT monitor.

Hi platinumgold, it wasn't the monitor it was the software setting dink mentioned. It always scrolled fine in word, etc.