Why is my computer so slow?

[juliadoh]

I admit I have a fairly light, standard performance computer.
It's fairly new (just under a year) but it's ridiculously slow. I don't have a ton of programs installed. The heftiest ones are Adobe Acrobat and Photoshop. I'm using Microsoft Security Essentials and so I don't suspect my AV as the culprit. I've had my computer scanned by MSE and Malwarebytes and nothing turns up so I don't think it's malware bloating it. I've tried going into MSConfig and disabling programs that I don't need at startup. I've defragged the HD already, and I've used CCleaner several times to clean up my registry. I'm using a 16 GB USB drive with ReadyBoost to speed up the computer. I'm not using Windows Aero. Yet I still get a 2 second delay trying to open things like Chrome or Windows Explorer.

The specs are as follows:
Lenovo SS09366814
Intel Atom CPU 230 @ 1.60 GHz 1596 Mhz, 1 core, 2 logical processors
and I have 2.0 GB of RAM.
When I bought my computer it came with Vista. I recently got a free upgrade so now it's Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit. Back when I had Vista it was also kinda slow.

Is there any way I can make my computer non-laggy? I always have to be careful when I use it. If I try to do something like open 7 tabs in Chrome, open Photoshop, open Windows Explorer, and run iTunes, my computer freezes for sure. The CPU usage gadget on the right of my desktop is always at 50% and and 100% if I'm trying to run anything. I have no idea what's sucking up my resources like this.

What should I do? Should I buy and install more RAM? My dad suspects that maybe getting a dedicated graphics card would help speed it up. I was looking at Game Booster to maybe help speed up the normal everyday working of my computer.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[zigzag3143]

I admit I have a fairly light, standard performance computer.
It's fairly new (just under a year) but it's ridiculously slow. I don't have a ton of programs installed. The heftiest ones are Adobe Acrobat and Photoshop. I'm using Microsoft Security Essentials and so I don't suspect my AV as the culprit. I've had my computer scanned by MSE and Malwarebytes and nothing turns up so I don't think it's malware bloating it. I've tried going into MSConfig and disabling programs that I don't need at startup. I've defragged the HD already, and I've used CCleaner several times to clean up my registry. I'm using a 16 GB USB drive with ReadyBoost to speed up the computer. I'm not using Windows Aero. Yet I still get a 2 second delay trying to open things like Chrome or Windows Explorer.

The specs are as follows:
Lenovo SS09366814
Intel Atom CPU 230 @ 1.60 GHz 1596 Mhz, 1 core, 2 logical processors
and I have 2.0 GB of RAM.
When I bought my computer it came with Vista. I recently got a free upgrade so now it's Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit. Back when I had Vista it was also kinda slow.

Is there any way I can make my computer non-laggy? I always have to be careful when I use it. If I try to do something like open 7 tabs in Chrome, open Photoshop, open Windows Explorer, and run iTunes, my computer freezes for sure. The CPU usage gadget on the right of my desktop is always at 50% and and 100% if I'm trying to run anything. I have no idea what's sucking up my resources like this.

What should I do? Should I buy and install more RAM? My dad suspects that maybe getting a dedicated graphics card would help speed it up. I was looking at Game Booster to maybe help speed up the normal everyday working of my computer.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Both ram and a dedicated video card (if available--dont think it is) would help. You barely have enough ram to do web browsing, using photoshop in 2 gigs of ram is going to be painful.

The OS by itself needs 1 gig minimum. The other one will quickly be used by your browser (mine is now at 400 Mb) and iTunes (mine is 61 Megs).

All of this pre-supposes you are running 32 bit win 7, if by some chance you are running 64 bit it is MUCH worse.

Let us know if you need further assistance

Ken J

 

[eldinv]

WOW your better off installing Windows XP or sometime of Linux distro. I don't know why these even sell these types of computers.

I will admit I have 2GB of RAM but its DDR800 and a fast dual core, so I don't have any lag ever. Even encoding video is fine.

Sorry man, I would install XP at bare minimum or some time of Linux, like Ubuntu.

 

[eldinv]

Did you do an upgrade install or a clean install of Windows.

If you still want to try and run Windows 7, I would backup DATA you need to an external drive, like that USB flash drive and then do a clean install.

Use this tutorial: SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation - Windows 7 Forums

It will completely wipe the drive and do a clean install.

After installation install Microsoft Security Essentials, keep it plain and simple. Don't use CC Cleaner to clean registry, leave that alone.

Programs like Photoshop are not intended for these types of computers, its mainly a web browsing PC, with lite application like Office or OpenOffice.

I hope this helps a little, I feel your pain but there's nothing you can do about it. You have to work with what you got.

Take Care,
Eldin

 

[si8mon]

I use 2 gigs of ram (DDR2) and I run windows 7 with aero fine. I also use photoshop and it runs ok (I don't do anything powerful on photoshop though). I think your processor is to blame, it's only one core and has a speed of 1.6ghz. New netbooks these days come with a similar processors and desktops come with processors that are way more powerful.

But before upgrading your hardware I would do a clean install as clean installs normally always give a performance improvement. But if it doesn't, upgrade the processor (intel i5 would be ideal) and if your willing to spend more, get some extra ram.

 

[marsmimar]

I fully agree with what zigzag and eldin have suggested. I'd also like for you to read through this forum tutorial by Shawn Brink. Perhaps some of the tweaks will help you out.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

 

[eldinv]

I think that might be a netbook or laptop, so I doubt you can upgrade the CPU. If so then OF COURSE, upgrade. LOL

Lot's of people say 2GB is not enough, but it more than enough. Along with a SATA optical and a newer hard drive 7200RPM and a decent dual core your fine.

I can't get a faster dual core its maxed out for me, but I plan on upgrading board and CPU soon.

AMD Six-core here I come.

 

[si8mon]

I think that might be a netbook or laptop, so I doubt you can upgrade the CPU. If so then OF COURSE, upgrade. LOL

My bad, I didn't realise that it's probably a notebook/laptop. If it is you wont be able to upgrade the processor and try to upgrade the ram.

If you don't want to a purchase extra ram and a clean install doesn't improve performance, I would suggest going to XP or Ubuntu

 

[juliadoh]

Oh well, damn

Oh man.................. that just made me feel so bad for my computer ;_;
it's a desktop....

If my computer is about as strong as a netbook then screw that. I'm gonna cannibalize my HD out of it and get a new computer.

Thanks everyone. I managed to actually make it faster on my own through optimization, ha ha. I guess I was just being hopeful for this machine.

Man, I feel stupid.

 

[eldinv]

Oh man.................. that just made me feel so bad for my computer ;_;
it's a desktop....

If my computer is about as strong as a netbook then screw that. I'm gonna cannibalize my HD out of it and get a new computer.

Thanks everyone. I managed to actually make it faster on my own through optimization, ha ha. I guess I was just being hopeful for this machine.

Man, I feel stupid.

Sorry! But good news, just install a better CPU if you still want more performance.

What type of motherboard you have. I couldn't find any information with that model number.

 

[juliadoh]

I'm not sure...
If you can help me find it it would be greatly appreciated.
I just booted the computer and BIOS and took down everything I saw.
Any of this useful?

System Board Identification: Lenovo
System serial number: FFFFFFF
Asset tag:
UUID: 87D90327D5D74DA2970C8374DCF040C0

 

[eldinv]

I'm not sure...
If you can help me find it it would be greatly appreciated.
I just booted the computer and BIOS and took down everything I saw.
Any of this useful?

System Board Identification: Lenovo
System serial number: FFFFFFF
Asset tag:
UUID: 87D90327D5D74DA2970C8374DCF040C0

Maybe?
Lenovo - IdeaCentre Q110 Mini PCs/nettops

 

[juliadoh]

Found it!
This is what I bought.
Newegg.com - lenovo 3000 H Series H200-H1011/M19 (57091128) 19" Intel Atom 230(1.6GHz) 1GB DDR2 160GB Intel GMA 950 Windows Vista Home Basic

It doesn't say anything about the motherboard as far as I can tell ):
I used Belarc to check my computer insides. This is what came up.

CPU
1.60 gigahertz Intel Atom 230
48 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
64-bit ready
Hyper-threaded (2 total)

Main circuit board
Board: LENOVO LENOVO
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: LENOVO 5GKT20A 11/17/2008

 

[eldinv]

That helps a lot. Unfortunately the support section of Lenovo is down, at least for me. Good chance you could upgrade, I'll check in a bit.

 

[si8mon]

Speccy (made by the developers of ccleaner) is a very good tool to check your computer's hardware. Maybe it can tell you what's the Motherboard is.

Edit: Go to http://consumersupport.lenovo.com/au/en/Configuration/APR_Configuration.aspx
and enter the serial number of your desktop it should tell you what motherboard you have.

 

[stormy13]

Despite the case that it is in that thing is still essentially a netbook in desktop form, and as such there is nothing CPU-wise to upgrade. Here is the list of available Atom CPuUs,

Intel® Atom

notice that yours and the 330 have already been declared EOL, and the other four listed are not socket compatible (PBGA437 vs FCBGA559).

Basically comes down to you want to upgrade, you're looking at a new computer.

 

[Vertex]

Check the memory, that can be the culprit.

However, have you tried cleaning the inside of the CPU??? Dust is a hardware killer you know and it WILL get slow because of that.

 

[Zathras]

That CPU is holding you back. It's an ultra-low-power model that is probably about as fast as a typical desktop CPU was 7-8 years ago.

 

[Keiichi25]

*boggle*

Why in the world did Ienovo put a friggin Notebook processor in a desktop case... That isn't what the processor was designed for *boggle again*

Julia - Time for a new system... In all seriousness. Atom processors are suppose to be for slim form factor or notebooks for low consumption, low work computing, not for the kind of work you are looking to do.

You should be looking at a Core2 Duo or Quad minimum on the low end, or at the very bottom a Celeron based processor if you are going cheap. But to be honest, you will find at least a iCore3 processor system with in reason before you even bother finding a Celeron or Core2 based system unless it was clearance.

Just so you know Atom based processors, while they are Intel, aren't really desktop workload type processors. They were, as mentioned before, designed for notebooks, actually more netbooks for basic web and wordprocessing.

For photoshop, you want a Desktop based processor. Not just a 'desktop looking' computer. Hell, you can get a Dell Small form Factor computer that will HAVE a desktop processor that is smaller than that box you have.

Also, look at getting a bit more memory than 2 gigs. While you can RUN photoshop with 1 gig or 2 gigs... If you are seriously looking to do a lot with photoshop, you may want to look at going 64 bit and having 6 gigs of ram. Adobe products are notorious for using a lot of memory it can grab and from experience with Photoshop power users... 32 bit with 4 gigs of ram makes computers cry when Photoshop is used with other programs.

 

[eldinv]

There are cheap Celeron Dual Core or Pentium Dual Core that are plenty for browsing web, office or lite photo editing.


Still can't find what kind of socket that motherboard uses.