How would I speed this pig up?

from WinCustomize Forums
Recently got me a Compaq Evo 510 small form factor system. Even though it has a P4 running at 2.4 GHz and 512 MB of DDR memory and a 533 FSB this machine is slow and I'm running Windows 2000 SP4 as that is what it came with. My copy of XP came with my Dell so it stays with the Dell - will not work on other machines -OEM copy.

So anyone know how to get this thing running better?

I've already tweaked the BIOS settings. Everything is running on Ultra DMA mode.

Thanks in advance...
37,809 views 21 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/OSguides.htm go here it will explain alot.. and show some things you can do:)
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What's slow? Is it swapping a lot? If so, more RAM. I think about 1GB is the baseline these days.
Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Recently got me a Compaq Evo 510 small form factor system
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Kona I'm currently running a 1993 Compaq D-510 EPC SFF, 2.4Ghz with 1Gb of DDR Ram. I bypassed the on-board sound card and instead utilizing the Sound Blaster Audigy2 external USB instead.

Two things I found useful in speeding it up was;

A. I'm running XP Pro sp2

B. Tune-up Utilities. The Registry Cleaner and Optomizers are priceless no only for system performance but for maximum Internet Connection as well.

Because the on-board video card is not upgradeable I cannot migrate to Vista (oh well), but aside from that my system has performed flawlessly since '93.

Check the Compaq / Dell site for the BIOS update and make sure that all of your on-boards (NIC, SoundCard and Video) has the latest drivers as well.

Good luck, I do hope all works well for you.

Cp

  
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Because the on-board video card is not upgradeable I cannot migrate to Vista
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You could just get an Add-on video card if you wanted to. Of course if it's from 93 it may not even have an AGP slot much less a PCI Express slot.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You could just get an Add-on video card if you wanted to. Of course if it's from 93 it may not even have an AGP slot much less a PCI Express slot.
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Nope, there are no available slots inside my particular system configuration at all Kona.

However, these EVO SFF systems were built specifically for Windows XP, and they do run terrific.

And that's why I'm in no hurry to build a Vista system.

Cp
 
 
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Because the on-board video card is not upgradeable I cannot migrate to Vista (oh well), but aside from that my system has performed flawlessly since '93.
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My system has a AGP card installed. It's only a 32 MB card but it beats the on-board stuff. I look into the BIOS but last time I looked I had the latest.

Yeah I would love to be running XP. I have a problem though. My copy of XP only worked with the machine it came with - my old Dell. That's the way it should be. I would have loved to transfer the OS to the Compaq and wiped the Dell's HDD but the XP copy will not even boot on nothing but a Dell.

So now I guess I have 2 choices: buy XP again (sigh) or pirate XP.

By the way I know where the bottlenecks are in the system. The FSB is running at 533 while the Memory is running at 266. Not good.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So now I guess I have 2 choices: buy XP again (sigh) or pirate XP.
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Go the first option!! Consider a XP upgrade....dunno about in the US, but I purchased the Pro version with SP2 for AU$90.00 about 12 months ago.....been running it without major OS fault/issue since then.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
kona0197, I'm by now means an expert but I think you may have identified two things, the amount of memory on your graphic/video card and the somewhat slower speed of you ram vs your FSB. Everything you read talks about the gains when improving and or increasing the memory. Memory seems to be inexpensive again you might want to consider it.   
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
First Q should be....was it a clean/new install of 2K...or is it what was already in it?...
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Clean install. OS disk came with the PC.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
2k is very fast from my experience.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
kona, I'd double the memory to at least 1024mb. I did this with a machine a few months ago and it made all the difference. Then, download the free trials of TuneUp 2007 utilities and PefectDesk 8 and run those thru the system and you might be pleasantly surprised with the result.   

I'm running one of my machines with XP a P4 3ghz with 1024mb of RAM and it is quicker than two of my mates Vista setups with dual core processors. Don't underestimate the addition of TuneUp and PerfectDisk as I found these made an incredible difference and you can try they out - full versions -for free for a while.   
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hey - anything is faster than Windows ME 2 - oh I mean Vista. I will try upgrading the memory. How do I pick witch memory to use in this PC? It's a Compaq Evo 510 SFF.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
kona0197 from what I've seen go to any memory maker or vendor site and they usually have a program that walks you through and helps identifly what type/speed etc of memory that you can put in your computer.   

You might want to start with the Compaq home page.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
kona visit Crucial here and follow the steps and it will identify the memory, cost etc - all for you WWW Link
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How would I speed this pig up?
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Wahtever they are using here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcISZHbQR9k
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How would I speed this pig up?
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Ever seen the movie 'Deliverance'??
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
kona visit Crucial here and follow the steps and it will identify the memory, cost etc - all for you WWW Link
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Hey there Leo .. that is a mighty fine link you gave there .. Crucial recomended I double the DDR which I promptly did .. I am now running 3 gig ddr and whizziest pc I know .. cheers for that !!

( I have had to slow down the cursor .. that went supersonic on me hehehe !!! )
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
No worries, Mike. Sounds like your machines gone into overdrive.   
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
currently running a 1993 Compaq D-510 EPC SFF, 2.4Ghz with 1Gb of DDR Ram.
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Did You have a time machine back then ? 2.4 GHz and DDR-RAM in ´93 smells like that.