A lot of ram "free" but still huge performance deficit - super laggy!!

[hambuggah]

A lot of ram "free" but still huge performance deficit - super laggy!!

I'm running a quad core Q6600 processor with 8GB of ram, on Windows 7 x64.

So I realized that when I'm running certain applications, such as StarCraft II for example, my FPS would dwell below 8FPS and can drop to 0 FPS at times for about 5 seconds. I played around with the in-game graphics settings and it did not worsen / better the FPS.

I ran a Windows Experience Index and got a subscore of 2.7 on processing & memory (RAM), everything else is fine. Graphics is at a 6.1 ...

I ran SC2 in windowed mode and opened the resource monitor and noticed that my CPU usage was at in the high zone, but only a little over 2GB of ram was actually in use. 1GB was in standby and the other 4GB was FREE!

I've closed all background applications, unchecked many things in the msconfig boot services, set windows desktop for best performance. My room has the AC on so it is fairly cool in here. Antivirus was set to gaming/silent mode. I've applied some new thermal paste on the CPU & GPU about 2 months ago.

Why then is my CPU always so high ? Causing major lag & FPS deficits.

Please help!!! Thanks in advance. I will attach some pictures.


specs:
Q6600 intel Quadcore Processor @ 2.40 Ghz
GeForce 9500 GT gfx card
8GB of ram installed
Windows 7 x64 Home Edition
MSI P6N Sli Platnium Mobo

The resource monitor screen shots listed below were taken while SC2 was running.

 

[Zepher]

The game is taxing your CPU.
Seems strange that windex would be at 2.7 on the CPU and ram though.

One possibility is that your CPU cooler is really dirty causing the CPU to run really hot which makes it run slower.
I use an app called core temp to check my CPU temps.

Here is my windex from a few years ago with my Q6600'

 

[dwarfer66]

I have a q6600 my wei score is 7.1, 3gb ddr2 800 ram also 7.1. You sure have a prob.

 

[hambuggah]

I've cleaned it not long ago and it didn't show much of an improvement. I've even opened up the case and pointed a huge fan at it.

what should my temperatures be around to be running smoothly?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I've cleaned it not long ago and it didn't show much of an improvement. I've even opened up the case and pointed a huge fan at it.

what should my temperatures be around to be running smoothly?

Does it idle in the 30s?

The heatsink mounting mechanism on those Intels is tricky. You can easily think you mounted it correctly when in fact one corner is not seated.

You probably cannot tell if the motherboard is in the case.

 

[pparks1]

Yeah, there is something seriously wrong causing "both" your RAM and CPU to only score 2.7. That combination should be much higher.

This is exactly where the WEI is useful, figuring out when hardware is not running even remotely close to what it is supposed to.

 

[Britton30]

If you have overheated the CPU in the past you may have fired it and in turn its memory controller. The motherboard chipset may also be damaged.

 

[TexasDieselGuy]

Have you checked your BIOS settings? A failed CMOS battery could be causing your settings to reset. With scores that low, I expect the SpeedStep is off and its defaulted to lowest speed settings.

 

[gregrocker]

You should never have to run Win2000's government-file-cabinet graphics theme with those resources.

The first questions from an installer's point of view is if you have a perfect install on tested adequate hardware because Win7 should never hand or bog in that case.

So you might compare notes with the Best Practices in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
to see if you might need a reinstall once you confirm your CMOS battery as suggested and test your HD and RAM from Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7

 

[Layback Bear]

Have you been in System Configure/Boot/Advance and made any changes?