AMD K6-2 550 mhz CPU low benchmark scores

[tantal]

After running two different hardware analysis utilities (Dr Hardware & Passmark Software's, Performance Test) on my new PC (specs below) I am receiving low marks for some CPU functions.

Namely:
Memory Data Transfer Rate (MB's) Fill: 98 Move: 76 Copy: 66
Integer, Hardstones and Softstones seem to be ok.

I am also experiencing a few unusual performance issues:

1. When the computer boots to the desktop, the specified WIN 98 desktop wallpaper first appears along with icons, but then changes to the light blue color highlighting the icon names for about 15 seconds and then changes back to the selected WIN 98 wallpaper again.
2. Opening software applications, MS Word, even Notepad, are very slow.
3. Closing apps causes a "jerky" motion of the window from the top of the monitor to the bottom as the window closes.

It feels like a major bottleneck.

Specs:
RAM: 128 MB's PC 100 - 8 ns memory (168 Pin DIMM) SDRAM
System Board: SIS Super Socket 7/100 mhz/8 MB Video/onboard Sound/56K Modem/10/100 TX Network Card
HDD: 10 GB UDMA Fujitsu
CPU: AMD K6--2 3D-Now 550

[ReddDogg]

I have wondered what these k6-2 500's and 550's would act like, i haven't seen them in action yet. What i do know is there is significant performance difference between a k6-2 450 and a k6-3 500, and that is what I recommend instead of those celeron chips. I know, you can overclock celeron's cause they run cooler, but I don't overclock computers i build for other people.

I do have a couple questions about the system. First, the hard drive, is it 5400 rpm or 7200 rpm, and is it ata66 or regular 33 Mbps transfer? Is the computer a brand name, such as compaq, or a custome build? I know some manufacturer's version of windows has more stuff in it and it slows down the system. A compaq, for example, will speed up considerably if you reload a fresh copy of windows. Their hardware, with exception of the modem, is good quality, but their windows slows down the system. An even more important question, how were your system resources? Do you have alot running in the startup, or in the msconfig? that will really slow down computer.

I love bland desktop and nothing in startup on my computers. It lets me choose what I want open faster, and it makes things just run smoother. but that is just my opinion. One of these days I will sit down and learn linux inside out, and then I will probably do away with winders all together.

------------------
Joe Redd
MCP

[dale]

Some things I would check:

1) BIOS settings for memory. Especially make sure you have your primary and secondary caches enabled. Also make sure you have "write-back" mode enabled and memory pipelining - these have been affects on performance. Check other memory settings as well. Having slow memory will affect EVERYTHING your system does.

2) Check your virtual memory settings in the "My Computer" Properties. Make sure its Automatic or make sure you have at least 128 MBytes to match your memory.

3) If apps are loading slowly, you will want to go to FAT32 filesystem format and also do the optimization that rearranges your programs to start faster by running the Disk Defragmenter utility (check the options to make sure it has this feature turned on). However, if your memory is slow (#1 above), then this won't have much of an effect. This particular optimization of rearranging your files basically eliminates the "two-step" that windows normally does when it starts a program. Step 1 is that it copies the program from some place on disk to the swap space (another place on disk). Then step 2 is it copies it from swap space into memory. It does this align the bits on page boundries to match the memory blocks it manages in memory. Rearranging the files simply makes sure the programs are already aligned on 4k boundries and skips the part where it copies the program into swap space.

[tantal]

Thanks for the reply.
I have checked the following:
1. Internal and external cache in CMOS is enabled.
2. Write-back mode for caching is also enabled.
3. Ran Scandisk then Defrag.
4. Nothing running from the start-up folder.
5. Task Manager shows 5 or 6 tasks running...all pretty important, I think.
6. Uninstalled antivirus software and any other unnecessary utilities. Basically this is a "barebones" system right now running WIN 98se.
Still getting strange display at start-up and slow launching of apps and "jerky" closes...like something is not releasing app or a definite "bottleneck".
Again, this is a new barebones system. (see specs below)
I'm considering reinstalling the OS, but everything seems to be performing admirably especially shutdown which takes less than 3 seconds from the time I click "shutdown the computer" so I believe my issues are not software related.
Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thxs

Originally posted by dale:
Some things I would check:

1) BIOS settings for memory. Especially make sure you have your primary and secondary caches enabled. Also make sure you have "write-back" mode enabled and memory pipelining - these have been affects on performance. Check other memory settings as well. Having slow memory will affect EVERYTHING your system does.

2) Check your virtual memory settings in the "My Computer" Properties. Make sure its Automatic or make sure you have at least 128 MBytes to match your memory.

3) If apps are loading slowly, you will want to go to FAT32 filesystem format and also do the optimization that rearranges your programs to start faster by running the Disk Defragmenter utility (check the options to make sure it has this feature turned on). However, if your memory is slow (#1 above), then this won't have much of an effect. This particular optimization of rearranging your files basically eliminates the "two-step" that windows normally does when it starts a program. Step 1 is that it copies the program from some place on disk to the swap space (another place on disk). Then step 2 is it copies it from swap space into memory. It does this align the bits on page boundries to match the memory blocks it manages in memory. Rearranging the files simply makes sure the programs are already aligned on 4k boundries and skips the part where it copies the program into swap space.

[tantal]

Thanks for the reply.
The paramters on the hard drive are as follows:
Read Data Transfer Rate (KB's): MIN: 2666 Max: 4266
Write DTR (KB's): Min: 3555 Max: 4023
I'm sorry, but right now the only way I know to determine the OEM's speed rating of the HDD is to physically remove it from the drive and view the specs which right now I don't have the time for. Perhaps the above specs will help though.
The PC is a barebones clone about a month old running WIN 98se.

I have done the following:
1. Checked internal and external cache in CMOS...both are enabled.
2. Tried the "optimum" setting in the CMOS.
3. Ran Scandisk & Defrag.
4. Removed everything from the Start-Up folder (only had the iomega zip drive apps)
5. Uninstalled my antivirus software. (Don't tell my boss!)
6. I removed everything but what I consider three critical tasks from Task Manager.

No change. Still get strange boot at desktop and slow opens and "jerky" closes.

Shuts down really fast though!

Any other help would be greatly appreciated.

Thaxs.

Originally posted by ReddDogg:
I have wondered what these k6-2 500's and 550's would act like, i haven't seen them in action yet. What i do know is there is significant performance difference between a k6-2 450 and a k6-3 500, and that is what I recommend instead of those celeron chips. I know, you can overclock celeron's cause they run cooler, but I don't overclock computers i build for other people.

I do have a couple questions about the system. First, the hard drive, is it 5400 rpm or 7200 rpm, and is it ata66 or regular 33 Mbps transfer? Is the computer a brand name, such as compaq, or a custome build? I know some manufacturer's version of windows has more stuff in it and it slows down the system. A compaq, for example, will speed up considerably if you reload a fresh copy of windows. Their hardware, with exception of the modem, is good quality, but their windows slows down the system. An even more important question, how were your system resources? Do you have alot running in the startup, or in the msconfig? that will really slow down computer.

I love bland desktop and nothing in startup on my computers. It lets me choose what I want open faster, and it makes things just run smoother. but that is just my opinion. One of these days I will sit down and learn linux inside out, and then I will probably do away with winders all together.

[dale]

Well, seems like your bios is set. A couple more things to consider:

1) Yank the network card at. Its possible that you have some kind of continuous hardware interrupt occuring that justs killing the performance on your system. Might even be your video card, try a different one. I have seen cases in the past where a slightly rogue card causes the system to go haywire - but not completely broke.

2) Run "Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->System Monitor" and monitor your cpu, disk and memory and just watch it see if your system, when running more or less idle, isn't. Might indicate a hardware problem or some application going haywire.

dale

[tantal]

I checked the setting for Active Desktop, unchecked it and everything seems normal now.
Thanks for all your help.