poor performance on good hardware -- why?

[hoozey]

Hello guys!

I just bought a new computer the other week:

i7 920
12GB DDR3 RAM
EVGA X58 mobo
EVGA GTX285

I have Windows 7 (x64) build 7264 installed and encrypted on a 32GB SSD.
(I also have a 1TB drive for storage.)

I installed it about a week ago and lately it has been becoming sluggish and unresponsive at times. Mostly when loading webpages with lots of pictures or videos. I've tried 3 different browsers with the same result. When watching streaming video, it freezes randomly for a few seconds at a time when playing (but the video play bar shows that it's loaded way past the point where it freezes). I don't think it's my internet connection, because it's pretty fast (university) and I don't have these problems in ubuntu. Also, iTunes sometimes takes 5-10 seconds to gain window focus when I click on it.

I'm having trouble pinpointing where the problem lies. It's obviously not the memory. The processor does't seem to be under a heavy load (and it has 4 cores). Could it be the SSD somehow? It is one of the cheaper ones. My ubuntu installation is on the regular hd and works fine.

Thoughts/ideas/suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,
hoozey

 

[Muad Dib]

How much free space is on that SSD?
Is Hibernation turned on?
Where is the pagefile located? What is its size? Is it a fixed size or system controlled?

 

[fseal]

Encrypted?Did you encrypt the entire boot drive? Bitlocker? Or some other whole drive encryption tool?I would have to think that that would slow things down quite a bit if so... all temp files DLed from web browsers and all virtual memory would slow down.

 

[hoozey]

Right now there's roughly 3.5 GB of free space. Hibernation and virtual memory are both turned off because they filled up the disk and I don't really need them.

Yes, the entire drive is encrypted with truecrypt. From what I've read, the performance hit is barely noticable.

 

[Muad Dib]

Right now there's roughly 3.5 GB of free space. Hibernation and virtual memory are both turned off because they filled up the disk and I don't really need them.

Yes, the entire drive is encrypted with truecrypt. From what I've read, the performance hit is barely noticable.

3.5 GB free is a little tight for my tastes. One A/V process could use that up in scratch files.


The Resource Monitor can be used to monitor disk activity (and everyting else)and isolate the processes using the most resources during the slow-downs. That could provide a clue.

Also, have you tried creating a fixed size paging file on the second hard drive just for testing. Say 4GB. Granted it should not be needed but maybe a recent software update does not know that.

Edit: I would also check the configuration settings for all the apps and ensure that any "temporary" or working storage locations are using folders located on the second HDD. This include the browser.

Signing off now. Good luck. Will check back in AM

 

[hoozey]

Thanks Muad! I changed firefox's cache location to the other drive and now it's working beautifully!

 

[Muad Dib]

Thanks Muad! I changed firefox's cache location to the other drive and now it's working beautifully!

​

You will have to keep an eye on that SSD's free space. When I pondered getting one I came to the conclusion that, IMO, I needed one with 64GB or more just to avoid disk space headaches and any free space requirements for future upgrades.

Watch out for software updates as well. They sometimes reset the configuration settings, including storage locations, back to the defaults.

Happy computing!​

 

[HerrKaLeun]

how do you handle installation of software? I mean 32 GB is enough for all the windows things (and having the page file on the fas SSd makes sense to me). but do you have all the applications installed on the HDD?

I think those needed speed up too. It takes along time to start AutoCAD etc. Or an Adobe suite takes tremendeous amounts of space (but woudl benefit from an SSD for sure). I know that is not your question here, but I think I would almsot need a 128 GB SSD to really speed up all applications (not going to happen any time soon unless I win the lottery)

 

[Muad Dib]

how do you handle installation of software? I mean 32 GB is enough for all the windows things (and having the page file on the fas SSd makes sense to me). but do you have all the applications installed on the HDD?

I think those needed speed up too. It takes along time to start AutoCAD etc. Or an Adobe suite takes tremendeous amounts of space (but woudl benefit from an SSD for sure). I know that is not your question here, but I think I would almsot need a 128 GB SSD to really speed up all applications (not going to happen any time soon unless I win the lottery)

If you have enough memory, and in his case - 12GB, Win7 will load apps into "Standby memory". The first disk hit, will cost performance-wise, but after that hard page faults (very bad thing) will be minimized. How much this will alleviate disk I/O depends on the app, the size of its scratch files, etc, etc. But having a fast SSD for the OS and a large memory reserve for apps is a nice combo.

On one of the first systems I designed and developed we used a RAMDISK for heavily overlaid apps to cut disk I/O. When the system was booted the initialization sequence included creating the RAMDISK and copying critical apps from the HDD to the RAMDISK. That was on a 16 bit architecture with a 32k WORD address space limitation. So believe me when I say "OVERLAID" applications. Same principle applies to Win7 and the prefetch. More memory = less HDD I/O when switching between apps/processes.

As the Moody Blues said in song.... it is a "Question Of Balance".

 

[hoozey]

Yeah, I just have windows on the SSD, and install most of my programs on my larger drive.

 

[HerrKaLeun]

Yeah, I just have windows on the SSD, and install most of my programs on my larger drive.

but then it still takes a while to start large applications (CAD, Photoshop etc.)? If a 32 GB SDD could help me a lot I'd consider one (more than I consider a 128 GB HDD right now). Maybe I wait till SATA 3.0 SSDs come out...

Muad Dib: Ram disk became obsolete with pre-fetch right? now Windows automatically uses all the RAM, correct?
I agree, plenty of RAM is essential to a fast computer (and cheaper than adding an SSD). hoozey definitely has a good PC that potentially could be as fast as the wind.

 

[Muad Dib]

but then it still takes a while to start large applications (CAD, Photoshop etc.)? If a 32 GB SDD could help me a lot I'd consider one (more than I consider a 128 GB HDD right now). Maybe I wait till SATA 3.0 SSDs come out...

Muad Dib: Ram disk became obsolete with pre-fetch right? now Windows automatically uses all the RAM, correct?
I agree, plenty of RAM is essential to a fast computer (and cheaper than adding an SSD). hoozey definitely has a good PC that potentially could be as fast as the wind.

I doubt that they are obsolete but with 64 bit architecture and cheap memory I would think they draw little attention from developers.

Yes Window 7 will use all available memory as standby EVENTUALLY. Try it for yourself. Start the Resource Monitor and click the Memory tab. Note how much memory is "Standby". Now start up and stop every app you have, the bigger the app the better. Now check your Memory tab in Resource Monitor.

It is one of the reasons I now use SLEEP mode routinely. All my most used apps stay loaded.

 

[Vipermk2]

Free up some space.

* Drive indexing: disabled (my computer, right click on the Core SSD drive, properties, uncheck Drive indexing...follow the small wizard guide and wait for it to finish.)

* Prefetch: disabled (Start add search entry regedit then hit regedit.exe. Goto...Hkey_local_machine\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet \Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters...right click Enableprefetcher...hit modify and change 3 to 0 and hit OK)

* Superfetch: disabled (start...add search entry regedit then hit regedit.exe. Goto...Hkey_local_machine\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet \Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters...rightclick EnableSuperfetch...hit modify and change 3 to 0 and hit OK) and (Start...control panel...classic view...administrative tools...services...scroll down to superfetch and right click...properties...change startup type to disabled)

* Defrag: disabled (my computer, right click on the Core drive, properties, tools, defragment...uncheck schedule defragment this drive)



=> Search Indexing: disabled (Start...control panel...classic view...administrative tools...services...scroll down to windows search and right click...properties...change startup type to disabled)

=> System Restore: disabled (Right click my computer...properties...advanced system settings...system protection tab...un check C drive and follow on screen instructions)

=> Hibernation: disabled
(1. Click Start, and then type cmd in the Start Search box.
2. In the search results list, right-click Command Prompt or Cmd, and then click Run as Administrator on the pop up contextual menu.
3. If you are prompted by User Account Control for permission, click Continue.
4. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER: powercfg.exe -h off
5. Type exit, and then press ENTER.)

 

[petrossa]

Hello guys!

I just bought a new computer the other week:

i7 920
12GB DDR3 RAM
EVGA X58 mobo
EVGA GTX285

I have Windows 7 (x64) build 7264 installed and encrypted on a 32GB SSD.
(I also have a 1TB drive for storage.)

I installed it about a week ago and lately it has been becoming sluggish and unresponsive at times. Mostly when loading webpages with lots of pictures or videos. I've tried 3 different browsers with the same result. When watching streaming video, it freezes randomly for a few seconds at a time when playing (but the video play bar shows that it's loaded way past the point where it freezes). I don't think it's my internet connection, because it's pretty fast (university) and I don't have these problems in ubuntu. Also, iTunes sometimes takes 5-10 seconds to gain window focus when I click on it.

I'm having trouble pinpointing where the problem lies. It's obviously not the memory. The processor does't seem to be under a heavy load (and it has 4 cores). Could it be the SSD somehow? It is one of the cheaper ones. My ubuntu installation is on the regular hd and works fine.

Thoughts/ideas/suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,
hoozey

does this sound familiar: http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/19021-inactive-taskbar-icons-4.html#post203925

 

[Mikaka]

Free up some space.

* Drive indexing: disabled (my computer, right click on the Core SSD drive, properties, uncheck Drive indexing...follow the small wizard guide and wait for it to finish.)

* Prefetch: disabled (Start add search entry regedit then hit regedit.exe. Goto...Hkey_local_machine\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet \Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters...right click Enableprefetcher...hit modify and change 3 to 0 and hit OK)

* Superfetch: disabled (start...add search entry regedit then hit regedit.exe. Goto...Hkey_local_machine\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet \Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters...rightclick EnableSuperfetch...hit modify and change 3 to 0 and hit OK) and (Start...control panel...classic view...administrative tools...services...scroll down to superfetch and right click...properties...change startup type to disabled)

* Defrag: disabled (my computer, right click on the Core drive, properties, tools, defragment...uncheck schedule defragment this drive)



=> Search Indexing: disabled (Start...control panel...classic view...administrative tools...services...scroll down to windows search and right click...properties...change startup type to disabled)

=> System Restore: disabled (Right click my computer...properties...advanced system settings...system protection tab...un check C drive and follow on screen instructions)

=> Hibernation: disabled
(1. Click Start, and then type cmd in the Start Search box.
2. In the search results list, right-click Command Prompt or Cmd, and then click Run as Administrator on the pop up contextual menu.
3. If you are prompted by User Account Control for permission, click Continue.
4. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER: powercfg.exe -h off
5. Type exit, and then press ENTER.)

What for he'll use the RAM when he'll disable SuperFetch by following your guide??

 

[Vipermk2]

It's a setting that is commonly disabled when using an SSD drive, have you not checked his/her specs or post.

 

[Zidane24]

It's a setting that is commonly disabled when using an SSD drive, have you not checked his/her specs or post.

indeed...I very much go against disabling Superfetch unless it is a SSD...

 

[gamepro127]

Encrypted?Did you encrypt the entire boot drive? Bitlocker? Or some other whole drive encryption tool?I would have to think that that would slow things down quite a bit if so... all temp files DLed from web browsers and all virtual memory would slow down.

its probaby a virus..Do a scan with malwarebytes anti-malware and online scan at ESET.com

 

[Gene]

I don't see where you listed the brand and model of your SSD but you said one of the cheaper ones and I suspect that is exactly where the problem lies.
The less expensive and older SSD's suffer from a severe stuttering problem when writing to small files which is exactly what you describe. This gets much worse when the drive approaches capacity.

This can be helped by getting page files and Browser cache off the SSD. There are a number of other recommended tweaks - google ssd tweaks and you will find a wealth of information.

The only real solution is to get one of the better SSDs like the Intel X25-M or the OCZ Vertex. The good news is that SSD prices are rapidly dropping.