Confusing CPU/RAM speed issue and hard drive issue

I don't think you seem to see my point on some of those checks.

Sounds OK, but I would still check them (take them out and reseat them) in case they may have been bumped since the last connection, if other checks are fruitless. I always check them first, it saves kicking yourself if you spend many hours checking other areas.

CHKDSK tests a lot of areas, not only the basic file system setup.

The HDD testing utilities do all sorts of tests. I had often had them tell me in which area the problem is. You might need to read into the results, they should test the read/write access speeds that you are interested in and maybe tell you the cause of the problem. SMART just checks that the drive is within "norms ". It is not a testing utility.

Drivers, if it is a Dell motherboard I would look on their website for relevant drivers. After a while Dell don't update their drivers, you might need to find drivers at the motherboard or chipset manufacturer's website (if the motherboard is not OEM).

You don't seem interested in my suggestions. There are "other reasons" for the problem. If you are not willing to try my suggestions I won't reply again. Maybe my suggestions will prove helpful for others.

Matt

 

CPU_Z does not have the issue. Your pc is doing what it is designed to do.

Disable cool&quiet either via the bios or by the power options in Windows.
My cpu goes from 3000MHz to 800MHz with C&Q enabled.
I am sure that things will run slower at 800MHz than they would at 3000MHz.
Probably not the problem, but it is worth eliminating.

 

Since I was told that it was caused by C&Q, I know why it happens, and as it didn't bother me (just bemused me), I shan't turn it off.

The only reason I "don't seem interested in your suggestions" is because I've done most of them already. The hard drive was fully reformatted, not just a simple format, at least 3 of the 5 or 6 times, and still has the issue. I can't see how all 3 hard drives can be faulty. No idea if it's relevant or not, but I redid the Windows Experience test and that didn't pick up any loss in performance on the main hard drive. Also possibly irrelevant, I recently flashed the BIOS and that didn't make any difference. I'm currently downloading a Media Shield driver, which I don't think I've installed yet, so that may help.