Poor Performance - Please advise

Hi all,

I purchased a Dell Inspiron 1721 a few months back with specs as follows:

AMD Turion 64 TK-55(1.8 Hz)
2 gig RAM
120 Gig HD
Windows Vista Home

Problem: I cannot get the processor to run full speed. It usually runs at
around 800 Hz instead of the full 1800 Hz. I have tried everything I know
(BIOS update, chaging power settings in Windows, changing performance option
in BIOS to not allow OS to change speed, etc.)

I use Adobe Photoshop and VMware. As a result of this issue, these programs
are VERY slow and even chike at times. I don't know if this is a Vista issue
or what, Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much

On Wed, 9 Jul 2008 21:09:14 -0400, "Kevin M" <kmills22@bellsouth.net>
wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I purchased a Dell Inspiron 1721 a few months back with specs as follows:
>
>AMD Turion 64 TK-55(1.8 Hz)
>2 gig RAM
>120 Gig HD
>Windows Vista Home
>
>Problem: I cannot get the processor to run full speed. It usually runs at
>around 800 Hz instead of the full 1800 Hz. I have tried everything I know
>(BIOS update, chaging power settings in Windows, changing performance option
>in BIOS to not allow OS to change speed, etc.)
>
>I use Adobe Photoshop and VMware. As a result of this issue, these programs
>are VERY slow and even chike at times. I don't know if this is a Vista issue
>or what, Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Thanks so much

I don't know why your processor runs at 800Hz, but when I used Vista I
did a few things to improve performance:

- If your computer came with lots of junk installed, you may benefit
from a total system reinstall. Fortunately, Dell makes it easy with
driver downloads. Note: I am not sure what happens to the recovery
partition if you do this or Media Direct. I never used Media Direct
so it wasn't a factor for me.

- Choose a good anti-virus / firewall suite or individual programs. I
use Kaspersky and like it.

- Disable Aero glass and the annoying eye candy that comes with it

- Turn off indexing on all drives

- If you use Outlook there may be indexing there to turn off too

- Of course, defrag your hard drive

- Look at all the processes that are running and terminate any not
needed. I use Codestuff Starter.

I know this is all common sense but it may be helpful.

"journey" <journey@merr.com> wrote in message
news8oa74p5slrog1ma3hb3b4iatp9grc5e02@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 9 Jul 2008 21:09:14 -0400, "Kevin M" <kmills22@bellsouth.net>
> wrote:
>
>>Hi all,
>>
>>I purchased a Dell Inspiron 1721 a few months back with specs as follows:
>>
>>AMD Turion 64 TK-55(1.8 Hz)
>>2 gig RAM
>>120 Gig HD
>>Windows Vista Home
>>
>>Problem: I cannot get the processor to run full speed. It usually runs at
>>around 800 Hz instead of the full 1800 Hz. I have tried everything I know
>>(BIOS update, chaging power settings in Windows, changing performance
>>option
>>in BIOS to not allow OS to change speed, etc.)
>>
>>I use Adobe Photoshop and VMware. As a result of this issue, these
>>programs
>>are VERY slow and even chike at times. I don't know if this is a Vista
>>issue
>>or what, Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>>Thanks so much
>
> I don't know why your processor runs at 800Hz, but when I used Vista I
> did a few things to improve performance:
>
> - If your computer came with lots of junk installed, you may benefit
> from a total system reinstall. Fortunately, Dell makes it easy with
> driver downloads. Note: I am not sure what happens to the recovery
> partition if you do this or Media Direct. I never used Media Direct
> so it wasn't a factor for me.
>
> - Choose a good anti-virus / firewall suite or individual programs. I
> use Kaspersky and like it.
>
> - Disable Aero glass and the annoying eye candy that comes with it
>
> - Turn off indexing on all drives
>
> - If you use Outlook there may be indexing there to turn off too
>
> - Of course, defrag your hard drive
>
> - Look at all the processes that are running and terminate any not
> needed. I use Codestuff Starter.
>
> I know this is all common sense but it may be helpful.

Thanks...most of this I have done (except for HD indexing). When I first got
the laptop, I formatted and reinstalled the OS just to get rid of the junk
software. I was wondering if I've missed some driver or utility for causes
this issue with the processor.
Also, I did download Belarc which also reports processor speed at half (800
Hz).

Thanks

Go into power management, change the processer settings there.

"Kevin M" <kmills22@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:Pgddk.40$UH2.33@newsfe02.lga...
> Hi all,
>
> I purchased a Dell Inspiron 1721 a few months back with specs as follows:
>
> AMD Turion 64 TK-55(1.8 Hz)
> 2 gig RAM
> 120 Gig HD
> Windows Vista Home
>
> Problem: I cannot get the processor to run full speed. It usually runs at
> around 800 Hz instead of the full 1800 Hz. I have tried everything I know
> (BIOS update, chaging power settings in Windows, changing performance
> option in BIOS to not allow OS to change speed, etc.)
>
> I use Adobe Photoshop and VMware. As a result of this issue, these
> programs are VERY slow and even chike at times. I don't know if this is a
> Vista issue or what, Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks so much
>
>

"Justbob30" <NoThank@you.com> wrote in message
news:1bqdndT2pNyv9OjVnZ2dnUVZ_gCdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Go into power management, change the processer settings there.
>
> "Kevin M" <kmills22@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
> news:Pgddk.40$UH2.33@newsfe02.lga...
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I purchased a Dell Inspiron 1721 a few months back with specs as follows:
>>
>> AMD Turion 64 TK-55(1.8 Hz)
>> 2 gig RAM
>> 120 Gig HD
>> Windows Vista Home
>>
>> Problem: I cannot get the processor to run full speed. It usually runs at
>> around 800 Hz instead of the full 1800 Hz. I have tried everything I know
>> (BIOS update, chaging power settings in Windows, changing performance
>> option in BIOS to not allow OS to change speed, etc.)
>>
>> I use Adobe Photoshop and VMware. As a result of this issue, these
>> programs are VERY slow and even chike at times. I don't know if this is a
>> Vista issue or what, Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks so much
>>
>>
Thanks...already tried

"Kevin M" <kmills22@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:5Uddk.378$UH2.66@newsfe02.lga...
>
> "Justbob30" <NoThank@you.com> wrote in message
> news:1bqdndT2pNyv9OjVnZ2dnUVZ_gCdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> Go into power management, change the processer settings there.
>>
>> "Kevin M" <kmills22@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
>> news:Pgddk.40$UH2.33@newsfe02.lga...
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> I purchased a Dell Inspiron 1721 a few months back with specs as
>>> follows:
>>>
>>> AMD Turion 64 TK-55(1.8 Hz)
>>> 2 gig RAM
>>> 120 Gig HD
>>> Windows Vista Home
>>>
>>> Problem: I cannot get the processor to run full speed. It usually runs
>>> at around 800 Hz instead of the full 1800 Hz. I have tried everything I
>>> know (BIOS update, chaging power settings in Windows, changing
>>> performance option in BIOS to not allow OS to change speed, etc.)
>>>
>>> I use Adobe Photoshop and VMware. As a result of this issue, these
>>> programs are VERY slow and even chike at times. I don't know if this is
>>> a Vista issue or what, Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>>>
>>> Thanks so much
>>>
>>>
> Thanks...already tried
>
>
>


Be sure to disable the Windows search service (start/run/services.msc/double
click/disable).

Windows search service now shows up on Dell boxes with XP Pro. One of my
clients got a D830 last week and wondered why it is slow. I shut off the
Windows search service today, but it is still too early for feedback. This is
yet another stupid Microsoft concoction to sell more and faster hardware. It is
a negative productivity tool... Ben

On Wed, 9 Jul 2008 21:33:31 -0500, "S.Lewis" <Gossamer@interesting.com> wrote:

>
>"Kevin M" <kmills22@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
>news:5Uddk.378$UH2.66@newsfe02.lga...
>>
>> "Justbob30" <NoThank@you.com> wrote in message
>> news:1bqdndT2pNyv9OjVnZ2dnUVZ_gCdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>> Go into power management, change the processer settings there.
>>>
>>> "Kevin M" <kmills22@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
>>> news:Pgddk.40$UH2.33@newsfe02.lga...
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> I purchased a Dell Inspiron 1721 a few months back with specs as
>>>> follows:
>>>>
>>>> AMD Turion 64 TK-55(1.8 Hz)
>>>> 2 gig RAM
>>>> 120 Gig HD
>>>> Windows Vista Home
>>>>
>>>> Problem: I cannot get the processor to run full speed. It usually runs
>>>> at around 800 Hz instead of the full 1800 Hz. I have tried everything I
>>>> know (BIOS update, chaging power settings in Windows, changing
>>>> performance option in BIOS to not allow OS to change speed, etc.)
>>>>
>>>> I use Adobe Photoshop and VMware. As a result of this issue, these
>>>> programs are VERY slow and even chike at times. I don't know if this is
>>>> a Vista issue or what, Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks so much
>>>>
>>>>
>> Thanks...already tried
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>Be sure to disable the Windows search service (start/run/services.msc/double
>click/disable).
>

Not sure why the system runs at 800MHz, but I would not use VMware on a system
with only 2GB of memory... Ben Myers

On Wed, 9 Jul 2008 21:09:14 -0400, "Kevin M" <kmills22@bellsouth.net> wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I purchased a Dell Inspiron 1721 a few months back with specs as follows:
>
>AMD Turion 64 TK-55(1.8 Hz)
>2 gig RAM
>120 Gig HD
>Windows Vista Home
>
>Problem: I cannot get the processor to run full speed. It usually runs at
>around 800 Hz instead of the full 1800 Hz. I have tried everything I know
>(BIOS update, chaging power settings in Windows, changing performance option
>in BIOS to not allow OS to change speed, etc.)
>
>I use Adobe Photoshop and VMware. As a result of this issue, these programs
>are VERY slow and even chike at times. I don't know if this is a Vista issue
>or what, Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Thanks so much
>

Does it run at 800Mhz when it is connected to the mains power supply or just
when it is running on batteries? Most modern laptops throttle down the CPU
speed to increase battery run-down time.

"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
news:b31b74phk5vlsapl6u20q5fnjifhsbc40o@4ax.com...
> Not sure why the system runs at 800MHz, but I would not use VMware on a
> system
> with only 2GB of memory... Ben Myers
>
> On Wed, 9 Jul 2008 21:09:14 -0400, "Kevin M" <kmills22@bellsouth.net>
> wrote:
>
>>Hi all,
>>
>>I purchased a Dell Inspiron 1721 a few months back with specs as follows:
>>
>>AMD Turion 64 TK-55(1.8 Hz)
>>2 gig RAM
>>120 Gig HD
>>Windows Vista Home
>>
>>Problem: I cannot get the processor to run full speed. It usually runs at
>>around 800 Hz instead of the full 1800 Hz. I have tried everything I know
>>(BIOS update, chaging power settings in Windows, changing performance
>>option
>>in BIOS to not allow OS to change speed, etc.)
>>
>>I use Adobe Photoshop and VMware. As a result of this issue, these
>>programs
>>are VERY slow and even chike at times. I don't know if this is a Vista
>>issue
>>or what, Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>>Thanks so much
>>

Hi!

> Problem: I cannot get the processor to run full speed. It usually runs
> at around 800 Hz instead of the full 1800 Hz.

You are probably going to have to take this up with Dell, if you are sure
that you have the latest BIOS. The computer is trying to keep both power
consumption and heat generation down by reducing the clock speed of the
processor. (By the way, this is usually expressed in Megahertz (MHz) or
Gigahertz (GHz).)

If the machine is under warranty, I'd certainly consider sending it in.
Something could be wrong--it should clock up when needed, and that process
should be nearly seamless.

William