power supply hookup question

When hooking up a new power supply, you dont need to worry about the
1.5 volts, 3.0 volts, etc right? Just as long as the pin connections are the
same - 4 pin to 4 pin, 3 pin to 3 pin, etc is the correct way, right?

(still looking for a slow-down reason).

thanks,
savagcl

 

Hi Clif,

The outlets should be moulded that they will only fit to the corresponding inputs. If you use enough force they may be able to pushed in the wrong way (like on floppy drive or fan connections).

I have found that some connectors, like 4-pin fan "adapters" are sometimes loose and can be pushed out of their seating when you connect them (I've just pushed the wire through into the seating).

The motherboard manual and hardware manual/guide should state the various voltage connections. Because of the mouldings it should not be possible to connect to the wrong voltages.

Matt

 

Hi Mattman,
Thanks, was sure i had things right but you never know.

Been all over the web looking for slow-down reasons. Only findings are that i'm
not the only one having a slowdown problem. Seems like a lot of SATA drives
have the same problem but no answers forthcoming so far.

clif

 

Clif, I was thinking about your problem today. I wondered if it might not be a software or driver problem (I can't remember offhand all the things you have tried). Software problems can include things like background programs (spyware, trojans, malware) or your antivirus not functioning properly or system "keepers" like MS Office Fast Find. All drivers may appear to be functioning, but there can be new/old versions hindering each other or Windows has installed what it thinks are the correct drivers, but actually you need the manufacturers latest version. Badly installed graphics drivers can make the system go like a slug.

If you think the SATA is at the core, can you set up a version of XP on another partition, even on the IDE drive perhaps?

If both your IDE and SATA drives are 7200rpm, there will be little to gain from running Windows on the SATA. Actually, I was speaking with my nephew who is in data IT. We pretty much came to the conclusion that you could (should?) install Windows on the slower drive because most of Windows (the underlying OS part) is loaded into the upper memory at bootup. What you need is to install the applications or data that Windows needs onto a fast drive...although, this still may not help if the SATA is not functioning correctly.

What was the configuration when you had good speed? (Just to remind us). What were the changes?

Matt

 

Mattman,

Some good thoughts there, thanks for speaking to your nephew.

No IDE HD available, Initial SATA HD is 160Gig, new SATA HD is 200 Gig.

The last "good" speed (about 121.?? meg) from the SATA via HDTech was
before i reloaded WinXP (initial OEM install), result - speed dropped to 108.?? meg. This reload was with using the OS CD's from the OEM. Since it was slow,
I purchased the full version of WinXP Home and re-installed XP, then
immediately, installed the Chipset Drivers from Intel (latest), result - no speed
change.
The 160Gig HD is unhooked now.

New hardware since purchase of system -
Memory increased to 1024 meg
Soundblaster - Creative Audigy2 ZS w\front panel controls
Graphics card - nVidia 6600 GT
Power supply - 550watts
Canon Multipass 700 (powered off until needed)

I'm pretty sure i have latest drivers but will check again. Will check the reg
since maybe old video drivers may be present....

Thanks for the interest,

 

Clif, at the moment I can only suggest going to PCpitstop and running their tests.

If you are using "pure" harddrive benchmarks, that would indicate the problem is with the way the drive is set up (partitioned) or how your BIOS sets it or Windows runs it.

See if you can find some other tests/measures of the drive performance. They may give you some different angles on where the problem is.

Matt
Edit: What noticable things do you see that are slow ? Does it happen, or get worse, at a particular time.

 

mattman,

PCPITSTOP found no problems.
By "pure" HD benchmarks, I assume you mean HD TACH... Will look for other
benchmark software (not easy to find).

Noticable is the executing of applications, takes longer to execute i.e., showup
on-screen. The only real indication i can see, but once its running (loaded into
mem) its runs fine. Indicates to me that mem, page file, graphics are fine just
slow loading from HD. No difference for any particular time, dawn, dusk, midnight is same.

Will post more when i can find more benchmarking stuff.
thanks,

 

Clif, from what you say, it appears to a disk (setup) problem rather than a system problem. I think you are trying to trace it the the best way, that is, not getting fixed on only one or two solutions and knocking yourself out trying to make them work. Don't get bogged down, have a break and tackle it again later.

I don't know or can't remember how the 160gb drive was set up. Any chance of trialling an install of Windows on that drive (to be uninstalled when completed)?

We may have gone over it in previous posts, but have you checked what BIOS upgrades are available for your motherboard? There should be information as to what each upgrade version does.

You had good speed at one stage, what about this?:
Do an "imaginary" COMPLETE wipe of your drive and start again.
Go to the Seagate website and find information about formatting (like a low-level format or I think they have a utility to format the first 63 sectors, that will reset the formatting information).
I checked back on your previous posts and it seems that the PC is a Gateway. Go to the Gateway website and research their method of drive setup.
See if there are any areas that may have relevance to your problem.
Work out what would be the best/ultimate method of drive setup would be.
Can you work from your current situation to repair the cause or would you risk losing your data.

If the 160gb drive is not in use now, can you backup the data on it and use it as a test drive?
If you can clear and install a fresh version of Windows on a fresh drive, install the drivers and then start your benchmarking. If it starts off with low speed there is something in the drive setup. If it happens later (SAY, when you install the Acronis backup program or install an antivirus that wants to take control of the whole file system) you can nail it.

You don't have to rush into any of these suggestions. Think and research when you have time (and in the meantime, pretend your system is running quickly ).

Luck with it
Matt

 

Thanks, mattman,

I can do all the things you suggested (saved a copy for reference) because i
have an external HD that is used for system/data backups so re-installing
everything only cost me about 1/2 hour.

Wouldnt hurt to return to square one and do a install using the OEM CD's
and original 160GB HD, see the results and then try the windows full CD's, if
needed.

A good exercise, if nothing else i might learn something!!

thanks, Guy,