New build reeeeeally slow!! :(

[Dieb11]

Hey guys, here is my new rig:

Case- COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer
Mobo-DFI BLOOD IRON P35-T2RL LGA 775
PSU- Update CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX
CPU- Update Intel Core 2 Duo E6550
RAM- ST- PC-6400 800 4GB (2 x 2GB)
Western Digital Caviar RE WD3200YS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb
SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black
Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home
BFG 8800GT OC

Before I begin, let me start of by saying that the RAM I ordered is taking forever to get here, so I am running the new rig with a single DIMM of 1GB of PC2-5300.

So yesterday I put everything together, turn it on without a single glitch (first time it goes 100% smooth), install windows, do the updates, get new drivers, ect, ect, ect. Now all this time my computer is going pretty slow, and the meter shows that the ram is pretty much being used at 90% all the time. Nothing unexpected. So I install Call Of duty 4, and not only does it take about one hour to install, but I cant even run it. I mean, it goes into the game and takes about 15 minutes to load the first mission, and when im in, it becomes an extremely slow slideshow. I know the RAM is not sufficient, but my old rig only had 1 GB and a 6800GT and it ran COD4 better than this!

What do you guys think? is it def. the RAM? does windows vista 64 hog up that many resources? Is there any test I can run to see where the bottleneck is happening?

 

[AmberClad]

So, just for clarification, you're trying to run Vista x64 with...1GB of DDR-667?

Let us know if it's still slow after the 4GB arrives .

 

[Dieb11]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
So, just for clarification, you're trying to run Vista x64 with...1GB of DDR-667?

Let us know if it's still slow after the 4GB arrives .

hahaha ok, so I guess you answered my question. The RAM it is!

 

[AmberClad]

Just an FYI, I was running Oblivion (with 2GB of RAM), and the memory usage was close to 94%. Dangerously close to the point where the system would start to hit the page file for additional memory. 1GB is pretty unthinkable.

 

[MarcVenice]

Nah man, even Vista should run pretty smooth with 1gb of ram, not when opening dozens of different applications, but your usual office stuff, IE/FF and such should work just fine. It might still be the ram, coz it's bad or something, I don't know. But the problems you are describing are rather weird.

 

[Dieb11]

Ugh... Well, it runs alright when surfing the internet and going through normal aps. I did notice that the harddrive is always runbling. Im coming from a system that had dual raptors, so maybe im a bit spoiled, but the thing is really slow. Installing windows took over an hour, and at some points, I was close to resetting comp because I thought it had gotten stuck. Does RAM have anythign to do with how fast things install? What could be happening? either way, I should get the 4 gb tomorrow, (after 12 days of shipping....) but I really hope its just the RAM

 

[MarcVenice]

What kind of HD are you using ? Perhaps you should run something like speedfan, and use the S.M.A.R.T. tool to diagnose your HD, and see if it's working correctly. Maybe you should disable indexing in windows as well, and make your swapfile larger. I suppose you could wait till tomorrow and see if the 4gb will solve your 'slowness', but tbh, I doubt it will ...

 

[Dieb11]

im using a Western Digital Caviar RE WD3200YS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb. Can you give be a bit more specific on your suggestions? whats is the "swapfile"? Ive never tried speedfan but im gonna look into it now and let you know the results. Thanks for the help!

 

[Dieb11]

Ok, cheked out speedfan. Under the SMART tab, it doesnt show any hard drives for me to run the test on!. Could this be the ptoblem? How can I fix this?

 

[betasub]

I would guess that you have the indexing and caching options switched on in Vista. On any new build Vista will take some time to index all the files on the harddrive and improve the efficiency of its caching structure to your usage profile. The extra RAM will help, although only time & you will tell.

 

[tigersty1e]

Run SuperPi 1M and report your score.

Also, try setting your power options to Performance.

 

[elmer92413]

Originally posted by: Dieb11
Ok, cheked out speedfan. Under the SMART tab, it doesnt show any hard drives for me to run the test on!. Could this be the ptoblem? How can I fix this?

You may need to turn SMART reporting on under the BIOS settings of your mobo.

 

[Dieb11]

Originally posted by: elmer92413

Originally posted by: Dieb11
Ok, cheked out speedfan. Under the SMART tab, it doesnt show any hard drives for me to run the test on!. Could this be the ptoblem? How can I fix this?

You may need to turn SMART reporting on under the BIOS settings of your mobo.

Just turned smart reporting ON in BIOS, and SMART is still not seeing my HD.


I also ran Super PI , 1M 4 times, and im not sure if I did it right but the results are:

000h 00M 27.352s
000h 00M 26.510s
000h 00M 25.932s
000h 00M 25.992s
000h 00M 25.982s

Where would I set the power option? Sorry, im not at all experienced with BIOS settings.

 

[Dieb11]

Dot hose readings tell you anything? I should be recieveing my new RAM any minute now. It's out for delivery