Slow Pentium 4 Machine - Advice

Sneakze · 24 May 2013 at 13:11

Hi guys, I've got a machine downstairs of which is about 9 years old and is incredibly slow in terms of boot up etc, I've run Ccleaner and various other applications but none seem to improve it. I've looked for a windows disk to do a fresh install but due to it being a retail machine it dosen't have one (or its lost lol). It is old in terms of hardware, but why throw away a working machine if it needs a bit of tlc, It's mainly used by the family for browsing, flash games. (Back in the day I use to do raiding on it too lol)
Another major problem is the sheer sound of it, it's like a jet taking off and I'm not over exaggerating. So I'm thinking of trying to get hold of a heatsink to shut it up a bit

Specs are as follow:
Mobo - Intel® Desktop Board D915GAG (LGA775)
Cpu - Pentium 4 @ 2.8Ghz
Ram - 4gb
gfx card - Geforce GT220
Psu - cheap unbranded 300w

Cheers Sneak

mickyflinn · 24 May 2013 at 13:14

In the search bar type msconfig which will bring up a list of programs that run at start up. Uncheck the ones u dont need to run like adobe, java, etc and restart.

Should help a little.

Sneakze · 24 May 2013 at 13:17

Ok, I done this a few years back, but it's probably built up again.

Cheers for the advice!

Sneakze · 24 May 2013 at 13:28

I was thinking of this for a new heatsink to improve temps and mostly sound.

Arctic Cooling Alpine 11 Plus CPU Cooler

mickyflinn · 24 May 2013 at 13:51

Have you checked the bios it may have fan control ?

Emlyn_Dewar · 24 May 2013 at 13:55

Clean and reseat the current heatsink would be a good shout.
9 years of dust will probably have taken its toll, might be throttling down.

Windows reinstall would be worth it also.

Sneakze · 24 May 2013 at 16:47

Good idea actually. I was just thinking if the heatsink/fan is knackered from the extensive use throughout the years. I'll try that and see how it goes!