Generally poor performance

pabberz ! · 8 Jan 2009 at 21:24

I'm noticing terrible performance on my computer. It doesn't seem to be related to anything, and performance is poor straight away from a fresh XP install. My spec isn't brilliant, but I think it should be performing better than it does. It's mostly noticable whilst gaming.

With the spec below (quoted) I'm lucky to get 40fps in Counter-Strike Source running 800x600, DX8.1, everything Low. Although I'm aware Source games are quite CPU dependant, surely it should be better than this.

Motherboard:
CPU Type DualCore Intel Pentium E2180, 1380 MHz (10 x 138)
Motherboard Name ASRock ConRoe1333-D667 (2 PCI, 1 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E x16, 2 DDR2 DIMM, Audio, Video, LAN)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Lakeport-G i945GC
System Memory 2048 MB (DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM)
DIMM1: Nanya M2Y2G64TU8HD0B-AC 2 GB DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM (5-5-5-18 @ 400 MHz) (4-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz) (3-3-3-9 @ 200 MHz)
BIOS Type AMI (12/10/07)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port RIM Virtual Serial Port v2 (COM3)
Communication Port RIM Virtual Serial Port v2 (COM4)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

Display:
Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS (512 MB)
3D Accelerator nVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS
Monitor Proview 772 [17" CRT] (FAQC440398102)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Realtek ALC662 @ Intel 82801GB ICH7 - High Definition Audio Controller [A-1]

Storage:
IDE Controller Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 27DF
IDE Controller Intel(R) 82801GB/GR/GH (ICH7 Family) Serial ATA Storage Controller - 27C0
Storage Controller AS1J5XXO IDE Controller
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive MAXTOR STM3250310AS (250 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA-II)
Optical Drive HH3223J JHE608Y SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S202N (DVD+R9:16x, DVD-R9:12x, DVD+RW:20x/8x, DVD-RW:20x/6x, DVD-RAM:12x, DVD-ROM:16x, CD:48x/32x/48x DVD+RW/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Also, I have a GeForce 8800GT card that I have also used in this system. I'm currently using my inferior card because using the 8800GT leads me to this confusing problem.

This is really starting to do my head in now. Also, some strange CPU temp. readings. Both cores idle at a (supposed) 80 degrees. This doesn't rise during CPU intensive periods. I'm positive the mobo is displaying the temperature wrong.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers lads!

J.B · 8 Jan 2009 at 22:14

Think you should splash out on a new CPU and some RAM. I imagine that is whats holding you back

pabberz ! · 8 Jan 2009 at 22:21

J.B said:
Think you should splash out on a new CPU and some RAM. I imagine that is whats holding you back

But that wouldn't explain the dodgy temperature readings. Or could it be a combination of needing to upgrade and my mobo being at deaths door?

It may also be worth mentioning that I can only overclock my processor to 2.3. Any more and Windows crashes on load. Duff clocker or mobo problem?

Guzzidom · 8 Jan 2009 at 23:04

pabberz ! said:
But that wouldn't explain the dodgy temperature readings. Or could it be a combination of needing to upgrade and my mobo being at deaths door?

It may also be worth mentioning that I can only overclock my processor to 2.3. Any more and Windows crashes on load. Duff clocker or mobo problem?

That depends on what else you are doing, are you loosening the ram timings off, increasing voltage a touch here and there etc to get your overclock or are you just bumping up the FSB.
Your setup should be fine (at mediumish resolutions and settings) for the gaming you mention, is the Graphics card getting enough power on the connector, I think the 8800GT needs about 16A, if you've got a generic PSU it may not be providing enough juice.
You are also running your ram in single channel mode (you've only got the one stick so you have no choice) which can be worth a 10% performance deficit over 2 x 1GB, another 2GB stick of the same would give your system a boost on those terms alone.
If it's the original cooler, with the original paste it's going to run a bit warm when overclocking
The temps sound like a board error however..

Guzzidom · 8 Jan 2009 at 23:18

Personally I would just get another 2gb stick of the ram and spend £30-40 on a PSU (I'm using a Gigabyte budget one that cost me £39 and is impressively stable)

mame · 9 Jan 2009 at 00:24

Well first of all you have somehow managed to underclock your CPU from it's default 2.0 GHz to 1.3 ? clearing the CMOS should sort this. My e2180 ran for a year at 3.2 no problem at all. Secondly, your 8400 GS is never going to be very good for gaming.

So to solve this, get your e2180 running as fast as possible and buy a cheap 2nd had 8800GT.

slowrunner · 9 Jan 2009 at 10:43

1. CPU clock setting should be 10x200mhz for the default speed of 2Ghz, even a bad chip should be able to reach 3Ghz.

2. AsRock mobo's ain't brilliant for overclocking, might be worth looking into changing it.

3. Can't say I've heard of that memory before, but another GB or 2 might help a little.