Determining Computer Speed

[dee-u]

What are the things that make a computer faster (speedier)? RAM? SDRam? DDRam? ClockSpeed? Motherboard? HD RPM?

[NoteMe]

Everything counts. But what counts the most depends on what you are doing. Like if you are testing a database, then I guess the CPU, FSB, RAM and HDD is the most importent stuff. If you are playing a game then the GPU and CPU and RAM is the most importent thing and so on. So in the end it all counts, but it depends on the task.


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[dee-u]

I'm mostly in programming and database.... What maybe is the ideal hardware specs I should have? What RAM, etc.....

[NoteMe]

For databases, you should probably have a fast HDD, and some fast RAM. A fast CPU is not normaly what counts here, unless it is going to be used as a server with a lot of querreies on it.


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[dee-u]

PIV 2.4, 7200 RPM HD, 256 DDRam..... How would you rate that speed?

[NoteMe]

It sounds good to me. Databases is most ofthen not the thing that makes people upgrade their PCs all the time. But depending on what OS you are running, I guess I would have wanted a bit more RAM. If it uses all your RAM, then it will start to use SWAP files, and THEN your computer will be working really slow.



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[dee-u]

How about PIV 1.6, 7200 RPM HD, 512 DDRam, XP Pro/Win2000, Stand-alone computer?

[NoteMe]

Though desision....but I guess I would have gotten the last one. At the moment I am not programming at all. Just have Fx open with 9 tabs, streaming songs in mediablayer, and have MSN open and outlook, and I am all ready using more then 400Mb RAM on WinXp.


BTW have you looked into AMD? They usualy have faster CPUs that are less expensive...



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[dee-u]

What? AMD is faster? Didnt cross my mind! The clock speed doesnt matter already? RAM weighs more?

[NoteMe]

No not that way.....but you can usualy buy a faster AMD processor for the same prize as an Intel processor. At least it used to be like that in Norway last time I bought a computer.


EDIT: And yeah. Usualy RAM is more importent at least when you will probably be using SWAP files all the time or not.

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[dee-u]

I hope somebody backs-up your declaration so I could weigh my options more....

[visualAd]

If you are buying a new system look for the FSB clock speed. The Front Side Bus is the main data highway between the System RAM, Processsor and the Graphics Controller and this puts a cap on everything else. The Intel mother boards with the quad pumped FSB @ 800Mhz are always a good choice.

For databases your main concern is the system RAM - the more system RAM you have the more queries the DBMS can buffer in memory, the more concurrent connections the database server can handle and the more data you can load into memory.

[dee-u]

What does "FOXCONN 661FX Support HT" mean? I think it is a motherboard specification....

[NoteMe]

I guess it just means that you can use a Hyper Threaded CPU. It has two threads, and if the application is buildt to use it, it can more or less do two things at the same time.


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[dee-u]

How can I utilize such specification? Is it a wonderful spec?

[NoteMe]

You have to have a MB that supports it and a CPU that has it. And then you can turn it on and off in the BIOS. I have it at the moment. But I would rather had a 2Ghz PC with 1Gb ram then this 3Ghz HT processor with only 512Mbram.


I guess it depends on how you use your PC. If you are using it for a lot of CPU intensive applications, then it is nice to have a HT processor. If you are not doing that but using a lot of big apps like VS and Fx with lots of tabs and Outlook and so on all the time, then it is better to spend more money on RAM then the CPU it self.



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[penagate]

The AMD CPU's are always a good choice. Look down their range a few models from the top, the price drops off dramatically, and the lower-rated CPUs are faster and cheaper then their Intel equivalents. The FSB speed is lower, but that isn't really a big deal, you can get things like Dual channel DDR RAM which lessens the bottleneck abit.

[dee-u]

These are what I got:

MotherBoard:
Prescott 533mhz cpu,
Hybrid Booster (safe overclocking)
Hyperthreading Technology
AGI8X (the only VGA Upgradable 845GV/GL 865GV W/B in the World By Asrock patented AGI8X Design)
P4i45GV
4 socket 478 Intel Pentium 4/Celeron
FSB: 533MHZ/400 MHZ, DDR 333/266
Internal Intel Gfx, 2 DDR Slots

Processor:
PIV 2.26 GHZ, 533 MHZ System Bus, 512kb L2 Cache

RAM:
256DDR PC 333

Is the speed of this computer good enough?

[Andy]

another factor is running processes..My 1.8 gig laptop runs slower than my 1.0 gig desktop because the laptop has tons of CRAP running on it LOL

[RobDog888]

I know you dont mean it is capable of 4 processors
"4 socket 478 Intel Pentium 4/Celeron"

I would not buy a Celeron since they have 1/2 the L2 cache of a full fledged P4. Your placing a bottlyneck at the CPU that you will have
a very hard time reliving with increased RAM, etc.

[RobDog888]

Dont forget that you have a FSB on your processor and a FSB on your motherboard. You want to get as fast as possible and
probably matching if possible. You dont want a 800 FSB CPU on a 533 FSB motherboard. Can you say "bottleneck"

[si_the_geek]

What type of databases are you using?

If it is Access, the memory is the biggest issue by far - I would recommend at least 1GB Ram.

For SQL Server there are various things that could be useful depending on the number of databases, the size of the databases, how they will be used, and the operating system. Memory is also a big issue here, I would again recommend getting more if you can.


As for AMD vs Intel, I have an AMD Athlon64 3000+ (actually 1.8Ghz) with DDR at home which is noticably faster in most situations than my Pentium4 2.8Ghz at work. It was half the price too!

Whatever you do, don't go for the low-end processors (like Celeron), as the speed reduction is too large for the money you save - you'd be better off buying a lower spec model of one of the proper processors which is now cheap.

[dee-u]

1 Gig for Access? Why? I also have SQL Server.

[si_the_geek]

Access is not particularly well optimised for "small" amounts of memory, which is where all the work is done (if it can be). You can get a big slow-down if you use more than your physical Ram (as the hard drive will be used instead).

The memory that Access uses tends to be up to about 3 times the size of the database (depending on what it is doing), if you are only using the database via a VB program then less will be used. Take into account any other processes that are running and 256MB seems small.

I am currently using 324MB of Ram on my XP Pro system, and I have only these programs open:
VB6 (tiny project) - using 13MB
Outlook - using 9MB
Web browser - using 15MB
Access (3.5MB database, not touched since opened) - 15MB

The rest of the used memory is standard operating system bits & pieces (which I presume would be less if I had less Ram).


If you want more speed then get at least 512Mb Ram (preferably a matched pair of DDR if that is an option), and more if you can.

Improving the speed of SQL Server is a far more complex issue. I'm afraid can't help there as I've never used it on a desktop operating system, and have colleagues who optimise the server hardware/os for me.

[Madboy]

Im running the new Borland Delphi, which is not ideal really as i dont have high specs.

I managed to work Delphi 7 fine, other Delphi's i never had. But what would be ideal to make my pc operate ok for Delphi 2005?

I know i need more ram!

128.0Mb ram
Win XP Pro SP2
800Mhz PIII
80Gb IDE Maxtor

Thanks

[thegreatone]

Im running the new Borland Delphi, which is not ideal really as i dont have high specs.

I managed to work Delphi 7 fine, other Delphi's i never had. But what would be ideal to make my pc operate ok for Delphi 2005?

I know i need more ram!

128.0Mb ram
Win XP Pro SP2
800Mhz PIII
80Gb IDE Maxtor

Thanks

I would say thats a definite more RAM !

And maybe some CPU overclocking ? (Not sure if its actually possible to get much more out of that CPU though :-/ )

Other than that, simply close down background applications that you aren't using at the time

[Madboy]

what do you mean by overclocking?

Does that mean to squeeze more juice out of the processor?

Also is the RAM to make your pc faster, or does that allow you to open more programs (maybe make them slightly faster too?)

[thegreatone]

what do you mean by overclocking?

Does that mean to squeeze more juice out of the processor?

Also is the RAM to make your pc faster, or does that allow you to open more programs (maybe make them slightly faster too?)

If you don't know what overclocking is take a look at a simple definition :

The process of running a processor, memory or video card at a speed faster than the officially marked speed by using a higher clock multiplier or faster bus speed. Not recommended or endorsed by the device manufacturers.

Overclocking is the practice of making a component run at a higher clock speed than the manufacturer's specification. The idea is to increase performance for free or to exceed current performance limits, but this may come at the cost of stability.

So, basically go into the BIOS and knock the FSB up abit at a time (about 5mhz increments seem to be fine with my Ahtlon XP) then check the stability of your system by running a CPU intensive application, if its stable, knock it up another 5mhz, and so forth...(Its always best to fins the absolute max, then take 5 - 10mhz of that just in case)
My Athlon 1600+ XP is now runing at Athlon XP 1800+ speeds, and is still rock solid, the only problem is my Ram holding it back, bottlenecvking the systems performance

RAM : The RAM will easily make the system faster, the more RAM you have the less Virtual Memory the system will have to use, which in turn leads to a faster system as it doesn't have to keep accessing the Hard Drive for additional 'RAM'.
The more RAM you have the more applications you will be able to run simultaneously as well
I have 768Mb DDR Ram @ 333mhz frequency. I can have top on the range games oepn and run a virus scanner at the same time (not recommended, but i can still do it, i'd say the CPU comes into play here as well)

[Madboy]

thanks for the tips, when i had my PC upgraded, the bloke in the shop said he could put an extra stick of 256Mb ram ontop of my 128Mb to add to it, for about £20 squid.

As for that overclocking thing, would that mean say, because i have a 800Mhz Processor, i could turn it into say, a 1Ghz?

[thegreatone]

thanks for the tips, when i had my PC upgraded, the bloke in the shop said he could put an extra stick of 256Mb ram ontop of my 128Mb to add to it, for about £20 squid.

As for that overclocking thing, would that mean say, because i have a 800Mhz Processor, i could turn it into say, a 1Ghz?

I dont think it could be pushed that high, but you never know...
The excess heat produced would have to be dissipated remember, but yes, you have the idea of what *could* be done

[si_the_geek]

Just a quick note, overclocking usually makes any guarantees on your equipment invalid (I'd guess an 800Mhz CPU is out of guarantee already ), and can also cause permanent damage if you arent careful - like fried chips

Depending on how risky you are willing to be (and the options your motherboard gives), you can probably get about 10-15% extra out of a processor.

[thegreatone]

Just a quick note, overclocking usually makes any guarantees on your equipment invalid (I'd guess an 800Mhz CPU is out of guarantee already ), and can also cause permanent damage if you arent careful - like fried chips

Depending on how risky you are willing to be (and the options your motherboard gives), you can probably get about 10-15% extra out of a processor.

Yeah i've just pushed my Ahtlon XP 1600+ over the egde Freezes when loading Win XP...

A stock 1600+ ships @ 1400mhz
Mine is at... 1627mhz, so thats @ 116.5% of the original clock speed. (16.5% performance gain)

I have a feeling thatwith better cooling and RAM that can take the FSB increase that it would go even higher... as that is still with the basic CPU VCore setting.(Stock VCore setting that is)

Note: Based on a Asus A7V600-X motherboard.

[penagate]

What is the record for P4 overclocking now? 7, 8GHz? Thats using liquid nitrogen cooling though... but it does show the P4 chip is limited largely by the cooling mechanism. As for older chips like the PIII, I think an 800MHz would get up to maybe a gig with extra cooling. The highest stock PIII was 1.13GHz and even that was pretty flaky without overclocking, which shows that architecture is a bit limited.

[dee-u]

A feature of my motherboard is Hybrid Booster (safe overclocking), how can I utilize such feature?

[Madboy]

How do i know what features my Motherboard is, im sure i had a replacement board put in when i upgraded my PC

[Madboy]

So, basically go into the BIOS and knock the FSB up abit at a time

I looked in the BIOS and didnt find anything

[penagate]

How do i know what features my Motherboard is, im sure i had a replacement board put in when i upgraded my PC

Open her up and look at the label, then Google it

So, basically go into the BIOS and knock the FSB up abit at a time

I looked in the BIOS and didnt find anything

BIOS -> CPU settings or Advanced, Timing, Chipset.. one of those. If its still not there then it maybe you have to do hack a BIOS flash to get them to show up. I wouldn't recommend that.

[Madboy]

Sounds risky

[si_the_geek]

A feature of my motherboard is Hybrid Booster (safe overclocking), how can I utilize such feature?

I checked out the web site (here), and found that it basically it provides access to the following (and some basic safety features):
CPU Multiplier,
CPU Vcore voltage adjustment,
CPU Frequency Stepless control, *
AGP/PCI Frequency control

The Frequency is basically the FSB, so I would recommend changing this as thegreatone described above.

I would recommend reading anything you can on their site about it, as there may be some useful tips (as well as warnings).

I looked in the BIOS and didnt find anything

There are usually "hidden" settings, which can be seen with a certain hot-key. for my bios it is ctrl-enter.

[Madboy]

There are usually "hidden" settings, which can be seen with a certain hot-key. for my bios it is ctrl-enter.

Why would there be hidden settings?

And where do you press Ctrl+Enter, inside the BIOS, before, on start up?

Thanks