Windows XP lag after leaving computer on overnight

[octop8]

Hello all, I recently built a new system with AM2, Asus M2N32 SLI mobo, X2 4600+ CPU, 2GB RAM (corsair), 550W PSU, Geforce 7950 GX2. This is my first rig and after much help from others, I managed to get it working. Everything is fine - I built it for gaming and games work perfectly. The only problem I have is that whenever I leave the computer on overnight, after I come back to use it, there is a lag in XP, for example, when I open or close windows and the whole system seems a little slower. Using CPU-Z, the CPU is still working at the same speed - I have disabled Cool N Quiet. Temps seem normal hovering around 40C or so. I checked to make sure the cooling for the CPU is properly set up (fans, thermal paste etc). I never suspend or hibernate my system when leaving it on overnight. All my BIOs power settings are at default and I never changed it. In XP, I set up my power settings to never switch off, only the monitor. I am at a complete loss here - is this Windows related or hardware related? Many thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[xtknight]

If you leave lots of applications open overnight, Windows could be swapping stuff out and as a result various things may become slow.

 

[IceBreakerG]

My guess would be that most of the stuff that was in memory (doesn't really matter how much memory you have at this point) was paged out. So its swapping it back like xtknight said. Does it speed up after a few minutes? Or does it continue to do it?

 

[Aluvus]

Does this only occur in programs that were left running? And if so, were they minimized?

The alternate explanation might be memory leaks. Try opening Task Manager and looking at the memory-related statistics.

 

[corkyg]

Do you have an active Firewall working? An active anti-spyware program working? Not having those defenses can allow all sorts of garbage to infiltrate your system

 

[octop8]

Thanks all for the replies. The lag stays and doesn't go away. It's like when you close a window, the window 'sticks' on the screen for an extra 2-3 seconds before going away. I have a pretty big page file. Also have ZoneAlarm and NOD32 running all the time. I don't typically have any other programs running (occasionally some downloading) - the only thing I noticed is that when I shut down after leaving on a long time, a Creative file will sometimes show a shutdown error. Could it be caused by my X-Fi XtremeMusic drivers/services? There are lots of Creative services running in Task Manager - could causing some memory leak?

 

[Geiser34]

If you dont use the creative services a lot, just go:
Start-->Run-->MsConfig-->Start up
and dissable creative services, and as many unneeded programs as you want.


:thumbsup:

 

[Spinne]

Originally posted by: octop8
Thanks all for the replies. The lag stays and doesn't go away. It's like when you close a window, the window 'sticks' on the screen for an extra 2-3 seconds before going away. I have a pretty big page file. Also have ZoneAlarm and NOD32 running all the time. I don't typically have any other programs running (occasionally some downloading) - the only thing I noticed is that when I shut down after leaving on a long time, a Creative file will sometimes show a shutdown error. Could it be caused by my X-Fi XtremeMusic drivers/services? There are lots of Creative services running in Task Manager - could causing some memory leak?

Disabling the Creative stuff won't make that dllml.exe error at shutdown go away (I'm trying to figure out how to make it stop though), though it's a good thing to do anyway. Try decreasing the size of your page file. Also, run msconfig.exe and disable all the Startup Crap and all the stuff under Services that's not made by MS.

 

[octop8]

Looks like I found the offending program(s). It is the Creative software - lots of stuff installed when you install from the CD. I have uninstalled everything and installed just the bare Creative drivers from their website. The lag seems to have gone (for now). The shutdown error used to happen only after I left the computer on a long time - so I figured it must be some memory leak from the Creative stuff. No more DLLML now.

 

[jazzboy]

I agree on the creative stuff. Theres usally a CTHELPER.EXE programme running in the background which used to crash itself on my computer but I have it disabled now on startup

 

[Smilin]

Hey, I have an almost identical setup. (M2N32 SLI, x2 4600, 2gig, 7950gx2, 2xraptors)

My memory is giving me fits! (currently running with something else while waiting on 2nd RMA for my real memory).

What type of Corsair are you running? Any problems?

Thanks!

 

[octop8]

Wow, that's almost identical to mine. For RAM, I'm running DDR2 800, 2x1GB. Got the C4 version (6400C4) with the Nvidia SLI-Ready logo (don't know what use it is). No problems on memory at all - also enabled SLI memory in BIOs at "High Performance" setting (i.e. 800MHz, no RAM overclocking). Seems to be working fine. Actually, I kind of regret jumping into AM2 seeing the Conroe performance (esp the E6600)! Looks like I may just pick up an X2 5000 if it really is going to drop below $300 and then sit on this system for 9 months or so and see what AMD comes out with. At least, according to reports, AM2 is supposed to be forward compatible to K8L when that comes out in 2007.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: octop8
Wow, that's almost identical to mine. For RAM, I'm running DDR2 800, 2x1GB. Got the C4 version (6400C4) with the Nvidia SLI-Ready logo (don't know what use it is). No problems on memory at all - also enabled SLI memory in BIOs at "High Performance" setting (i.e. 800MHz, no RAM overclocking). Seems to be working fine. Actually, I kind of regret jumping into AM2 seeing the Conroe performance (esp the E6600)! Looks like I may just pick up an X2 5000 if it really is going to drop below $300 and then sit on this system for 9 months or so and see what AMD comes out with. At least, according to reports, AM2 is supposed to be forward compatible to K8L when that comes out in 2007.

heheh

I happen to know your sh1t is FAST!!!!!!

If my memory gives me any further trouble when it arrives I'll just send it back and snag some of what you're running.

I'm using OCZ gold (trying to anyway). First set of sticks wouldn't post. No beep codes even when video was removed. Post was locking up while checking the memory! OCZ sent out a set of sticks with a bios update on them and now I get memory beep codes. Last time I talked with them, guy was upgrading me to platinum and taking the sticks into the back to check on a M2N32 board before sending it out. We'll see.

Running with a gig of 533mhz stuff right now (crappy P4 memory) until my real stuff arrives.