I am helping a friend who bought an HP a few years back and has had chronic problems with "not responding" and major lags. I have done basic maintenance on it and it helps, but it is a really slow computer and really shouldn't be (specs below).
I was thinking that her 240 watt PSU might no be enough for her system and her PC habits (small form factor case so a larger PSU might not be possible). She likes to have 10 chrome tabs open, plus photoshop, plus illustrator, plus itunes and stuff like that. I have run her machine without all of that open and it runs better, but still not that great. My machine runs 10x's better and mine is not as powerful.
I was thinking of possibly taking her down to 3 cores to see if that might eat less power, but this is theory I am not really qualified to suggest - which is why I am here. Can someone point me to a tutorial on how to do this if this indeed seems like a good idea?
THANKS!!!!!
Here's what I will do first
1) check for malware and viruses.
2) Clean out startup (msconfig)
3) update all drivers
4) run memtest
5) possibly drop down to 3 or even 2 cores.
Then try to duplicate the not responding probpelms.
Her system:
Windows 7 32 bit - all service packs and updates current
Processor 1 x Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 / 2.4 GHz ( Quad-Core )
Cache Memory 8 MB L2 cache
Cache Per Processor 8 MB
RAM 4 GB (installed) - DDR2 SDRAM - non-ECC - 800 MHz - PC2-6400
Storage Controller Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 ) ; IDE
Hard Drive 1 x 250 GB - standard - Serial ATA-300
Optical Storage DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM with LightScribe Technology
Graphics Controller Intel GMA 3100
Audio Output Sound card - stereo
Networking Network adapter - PCI Express x1 - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
Power AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )240 watt
Chipset Type Intel Q33 Express
Data Bus Speed 1066 MHz
I was thinking that her 240 watt PSU might no be enough for her system and her PC habits (small form factor case so a larger PSU might not be possible). She likes to have 10 chrome tabs open, plus photoshop, plus illustrator, plus itunes and stuff like that. I have run her machine without all of that open and it runs better, but still not that great. My machine runs 10x's better and mine is not as powerful.
I was thinking of possibly taking her down to 3 cores to see if that might eat less power, but this is theory I am not really qualified to suggest - which is why I am here. Can someone point me to a tutorial on how to do this if this indeed seems like a good idea?
THANKS!!!!!
Here's what I will do first
1) check for malware and viruses.
2) Clean out startup (msconfig)
3) update all drivers
4) run memtest
5) possibly drop down to 3 or even 2 cores.
Then try to duplicate the not responding probpelms.
Her system:
Windows 7 32 bit - all service packs and updates current
Processor 1 x Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 / 2.4 GHz ( Quad-Core )
Cache Memory 8 MB L2 cache
Cache Per Processor 8 MB
RAM 4 GB (installed) - DDR2 SDRAM - non-ECC - 800 MHz - PC2-6400
Storage Controller Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 ) ; IDE
Hard Drive 1 x 250 GB - standard - Serial ATA-300
Optical Storage DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM with LightScribe Technology
Graphics Controller Intel GMA 3100
Audio Output Sound card - stereo
Networking Network adapter - PCI Express x1 - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
Power AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )240 watt
Chipset Type Intel Q33 Express
Data Bus Speed 1066 MHz