Windows 7 - CPU and memory performance suddenly drastically reduced

Hi,

This problem has me completely baffeled. I'm not even sure if this is the right forum to be posting in. (If you can suggest a forum better related to topic please do).

Recently I noticed my whole system being slower and more sluggish. Especially playing games. I checked my windows experience index and it had changed from 6.5 to 2.9.

The only scores in the list that have changed signifigantly are my cpu (now at 2.3) and my memory access(2.9).

This happend to me once before about 6 months ago. In the end I updated my dell bios from a10 to a11 and my score went up to 6.5 and my performance was percieveably improved.

Now I dont understand why (what seems like the same problem) has happened again.

I'd be very grateful if somebody could help me figure out why my system has suddenly slowed down so drastically.

Thanks,

dub

Take a look at Task Manager when it is running slow. Look at processes to see what is taking up RAM and CPU cycles.

Does it boot as quickly as before?

I wouldn't expect a BIOS change to improve things.

Look at Resource Monitor to see how much RAM you are using at any particular time.

Have you done any tests of your RAM or hard drive to confirm they are OK?

How confident are you that you have no viruses or malware?

The machine seems to boot at the same rate but it's difficult to be sure.

If I have no applications open the cpu bounces around 1 - 3 percent.

I havnt tested the ram, prehaps theres a tool available in windows 7?

I dont use the web very often, I mainly just use my machine for gaming. I do have avg installed and it hasnt alerted me to any problems in the virus / malware area.

Also I came across this post

Dell XPS M1730 Performance Issues - Page 2

A person had what seems like a similar problem. He replaced his power supply. I'm desperate for a solution so I've ordered a new one to see if it does any good.

Type ram into the start button box and it will lead you to a RAM tester, although the preferred method is to use Memtest86 from a bootable disc.

I'd be very surprised if a new power supply helps.

AVG is mediocre. I'd at least run Malwarebytes to check on malware.

But it sounds like a processes/RAM issue, so I'd look around in Task Manager and Resource Monitor.

Make sure all of your CPU cores are seen and operating in Resource Monitor.

Have you looked at msconfig?

Thanks for the reply again. Im in work at the moments. Im going to try what you have suggested when I get home. I'll let you know how I get on. What do you propose I keep an eye out for in msconfig? On the matter of the power supply. If the power supply is less than what the system expects to run is it concievable that this could somehow be slowing the processor?

In msconfig:

On the services tab, check "hide all Microsoft services". What's left on the list? You may not need all of what's left running.

On the startup tab: What is checked? You may not need all of that stuff checked.

On the boot tab, check Advanced Options: make sure the "number of processors" and "maximum memory" boxes are unchecked.

If you had an inadequate power supply, I wouldn't expect that to reveal itself in this way.

Do you have an app such as HWInfo32 running that can take a look at power supply voltages and temperatures??

My first idea would be to look at processes, RAM, and CPU usage in Task Manager and Resource Monitor.

The problem is I believe Windows performance index runs it's tests after suspending most other activities, so if the index went down so much, I would suspect your CPU and memory runs that much slower, if there were other programs running in the background, they should not affect the index that much. There are programs (actually too many to list all, but just to name few: HWmonitor, CPUz etc) to show you what voltages, frequency, temp. etc your computer is running at. Those could indicate a problem: for example if CPU was throttling down due to overheating. You do need some understanding of what the numbers should be, so some extra reading would be required.

I would also go back into the BIOS and make sure that for some weird reason your CPU wasn't set to be running at some way underclocked value. Try resetting all BIOS settings too their default and see if that fixes it.

guys thanks alot, a lot of really good advice and avenues to pursue here.
I'll carry on with the tests suggested and let you know what I discover.

Here is information I have gathered froma few tools that are relevant.

I'm sure if the temperatures look right. I dont dont what they generally should be.

My core and processor speeds dont look right, but Im no expert.

What do you reckon?

CPUZ

Core speed : 598.4 MHz

Memory DRAm Freq : 332 MHz


CPUID

Core Temperatures

core 1 24 degrees C | max 25
core 2 28 degrees C | max 28

CPU temperature 33 degrees C

Processor Freq
2500MHz (current 1595 MHz)


Battery 12 v (supposed to be 19 v I think according to my power supply label)



I also took a look at my bios. 2 items noticed.

The first is my clock speed is showing 1.8 out of a maximum 2.5.

Secondly power warnings were turned off. When I turned them on and rebooted I got a warning saying.

The AC adapter and wattage cannot be determined. The system will adjust performance to match the power available. Try to reset the power adapter.


Could this be responsible for my slow processor speed?