Speed up AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+?

Question

I have an AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ processor, it runs at 3.2GHZ and should be running lighting fast performance wise, but whenever i start just one resource consuming process (like converting a video) my CPU Usage goes up to 99% or 100%. Is there anyway i can speed things up? I have XP Service Pack 2 and 2gb of RAM. I do virus scans daily and have a professional firewall running 24/7. I read reviews for this processor before i bought it and all of them said that it runs extremely fast and can handle 7 or 8 resource consuming processes at a time...why arent i get this kind of performance?

Thanks

Answer 1

If your virus/spyware free, there are a couple things you can do get your computer working faster. If you using your computer for normal stuff and not gaming. You don't always need more RAM you just need to perform a few maintenance task.



First, if you haven't cleaned your registry in a while. This is necessary. Your registry holds all the information regarding updates, installs, un-installs etc. Each one of those events produces a key. That key needs your PC's resources and free space. So, if you clean your registry, you make more resources available for speed. Do a registry scan if you got more than 20 errors you should clean it.

http://www.delete-computer-history.com/what-is-the-best-registry-cleaner.html



2. Clear your Windows cache files, this is your temporary file. It can grow up to a large volume and stop your computer from using RAM properly. In a sense slow it down by preventing it from using free space.Here is how:



1. Quit Internet Explorer, Firefox, or any other web browser

2. Click Start, click "Control Panel", and then double-click "Internet Options".

3. On the General tab, click "Delete Files" under Temporary Internet Files.

4. In the Delete Files dialog box, click to select the "Delete all offline content" check box , and then click OK.

5. Click OK.



3. Manage your startups. Your excess CPU usage is due to too many programs running in the background. You can cut these to barebones by alter your msconfig. Here is how:



1. Open your Start menu.

2. Click Run

3. In the command screen type "msconfig.exe"

4. In the "system configuration utility",click either "service" or "startup" tab

5. Uncheck all programs that your are no longer using.

6. Click "OK"



Other great tip is increasing your virtual memory to simulate more RAM. This will give you a bit more resources for multiple program use or CPU heavy programs.

Hope this link helps. Shows you how to do everything step by step. You should get a least 60-120% more resources and speed

if you follow the tips.

Answer 2

Some applications will use a large percentage of the CPU. Virus and spyware scanners use a lot of CPU. Burning DVDs/CDs will also use a high percentage of the CPU. Audio and video editing are also system intensive applications.



One thing you may wish to try is to limit applications that start with Windows. Everything wants to put itself in the startup group and run in the background. Clear out these applications and you will see Windows get to the desktop faster and perform better.



You can also delete everything under the Windows\Prefetch folder. Windows loads these every time Windows starts and there can be remnants in there from applications that are no longer on your computer. Windows will recreate the prefetch files of valid applications on your next reboot.



You can also set the pagefile to 0 and run a defrag of the hard drive. It is best to do this in Safe Mode. Once you have defragged the hard drive you can set up the pagefile to a double the amount of your physical ram for both the minimum and maximum size. This will help keep the pagefile from becoming too fragmented and offer you plenty of virtual memory in proportion to your physical ram.

Answer 3

Amd Athlon X2 6400

Answer 4

The reviewers were probably not talking about converting 7 or 8 videos at a time. Converting videos is a very memory consuming process. Just because its taking up a lot of resources doesn't your getting bad performance, it just means its working to its fullest.

Answer 5

i think of it somewhat is recommended to evaluate the question of air or water cooling. Water block cooling is precisely an upload on ingredient for severe OC. i might tend to no longer immediately, when you consider which you will be able to get an better bang out of a severe end video card or 2. An AM2+ board accessible for Crossfire with the main appropriate enjoying cards, provides you with a great bang. i at the instant examine a overview the place 2 Radeon HD 4830 enjoying cards Crossfired on an Intel board thrashed a Nvidia GTX260 and a GTX280. At $one hundred consistent with card they opened my eyes. My very own subject maximum appropriate now could be to attend on the recent quad cores and helping boards. i prefer to confirm overall performance first. i think they are going to be lots better in power utilization besides. the ingredient with thisd concepts-set is the video enjoying cards will artwork in the two circumstances.

Answer 6

converting video is processor intensive. what other processes are running on the machine? whatever is on the taskbar is also using ram. Make sure you don't have any spyware that may have gotten on the system. you can also defrag.