HDD Performence In Windows 11?


legacyfan

Member
Local time
8:31 PM
Posts
9
OS
Windows 11 x64
I have a new desktop (an hp elite 8300) that ive installed windows 11 on it and I was wondering if there are any tips on how to improve hdd performence on it im working on turning it into a gaming and improving hd performence is my first goal if anyone knows of any programs or tools to do this it eould be much appreciated (also I installed 11 using the rufus bypass tool)
 
Windows Build/Version
Windows 11 22H2

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Elite 8300
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3750
    Motherboard
    Unknown
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ‎Intel HD Graphics 2500
    Sound Card
    Realtek Sound Blaster (Front Speakers)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2012 Dell Square Monitor
    Hard Drives
    500 GB WD HDD
    PSU
    HP 240W PSU
    Case
    HP Elite 8300 Case
    Cooling
    HP CPU Cooler Fan
    Keyboard
    I live Glow Keyboard
    Mouse
    I Live Glow Mouse
    Internet Speed
    2.0Ghz
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Avast One
Install a SSD.

Screenshot 2023-02-03 021357.jpg
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
Installing a SATA SSD would be your only HDD upgrade option for that (10 year?) old PC.

I don't like to be negative, but I think that's a poor candidate for a gaming PC. It has no discrete graphics card, and a 240W PSU is too small to allow adding a card. That power supply suggests that you have a small form factor PC, which might require a half height card even if the PSU was adequate.

I regret that I can't be more encouraging.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Amd Threadripper 7970X
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte TRX50 Aero D
    Memory
    128GB (4 X 32) Kingston DDR5 5200 (RDIMM)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 4090 OC
    Sound Card
    none (USB to speakers), Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philips 27E1N8900 OLED
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @ 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Crucial T700 2TB M.2 NVME SSD
    WD 4TB Blue SATA SSD
    Seagate 18TB IronWolf Pro
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1600 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo XL
    Cooling
    Alphacool Eisbaer Pro Aurora 360, with 3 Phanteks T30 fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Internet Speed
    1200 Mbps
  • Operating System
    windows 11 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel I9-13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus RoG Strix Z690-E
    Memory
    64GB G.Skill DDR5-6000
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 3090 ti
    Sound Card
    built in Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA329C
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850 1TB
    8 TB Seagate Ironwolf
    4TB Seagate Ironwolf
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1300 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX Liquid CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)
@legacyfan definitely disable Sysmain in services for wildly improved boot time. Also keep an eye on what your antivirus is doing every time other programs do something, it definitely slows everything down; if you're using Defender, Sordum has something to block it. Other than slow(er) loading times, HDDs should still be good for general gaming
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell g5 5590
    CPU
    intel 9th gen
    Memory
    8GB LOL
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia
    Hard Drives
    C: nVME kioxia SSD
    D: SATA toshiba HDD
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender (if it hasn't been disabled yet)
As @bobkn mentioned, I doubt you'll be able to play any new game on that system, even with a SATA SSD. It might work for some of the older (older) games.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro Beta
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5900X
    Motherboard
    MSI MPG X570S Edge Max WiFi
    Memory
    Patriot Viper Gaming DDR4 Extreme Performance (2 x32MB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ZOTAC RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC 12GB GDDR6/ ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB GDDR6 192-bit Gaming Graphics Card
    Sound Card
    Proprietary
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic XG2530 25"/Benq XL2411P 24"/ ASUS VA24DQSB) 23.8"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 240Hz/144Hz/60Hz (based on monitor setup above)
    Hard Drives
    SK hynix Gold P31 1TB PCIe NVMe Gen3 M.2 2280 Internal SSD
    ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB
    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart 700W 80+ White Certified PSU
    Case
    Rosewill ATX Mid Tower Gaming Computer Case, Gaming Case with Blue LED for Desktop
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H60i RGB PRO XT Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    Corsair K70
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    ~950Mb/s upload/ ~700Mb/s download
    Browser
    Edge (Chromium)
    Antivirus
    Norton 360
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    MSI B550 Gaming GEN3 Gaming Motherboard
    Memory
    32MB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    I forget, but it's old. I can't see the need to upgrade it.
    Sound Card
    Propietary
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ACER LED 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung SSD 3.5"
    Case
    Corsair
    Cooling
    Stock
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    ~750Mb/s download / ~750Mb/s upload
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender and Malware Bytes
I agree 100% with the others, ditch the HDD and install an SSD instead. It will be a night/day difference.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink SEI8
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8279u
    Motherboard
    AZW SEI
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 2666Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Plus 655
    Sound Card
    Intel SST
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus ProArt PA278QV
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    512GB NVMe
    PSU
    NA
    Case
    NA
    Cooling
    NA
    Keyboard
    NA
    Mouse
    NA
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Mini PC used for testing Windows 11.
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5900x
    Motherboard
    Asus Rog Strix X570-E Gaming
    Memory
    64GB DDR4-3600
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 3080 FT3 Ultra
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ. ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27” WQHD
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2TB WD SN850 PCI-E Gen 4 NVMe
    2TB Sandisk Ultra 2.5" SATA SSD
    PSU
    Seasonic Focus 850
    Case
    Fractal Meshify S2 in White
    Cooling
    Dark Rock Pro CPU cooler, 3 x 140mm case fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Keyboard
    Corsiar K65 RGB Lux
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender.
Agreed with most of this all around as well.

One thing to note: Is this the AIO, the Small Form Factor, or the Tower Desktop? I have found references to Elite 8300 for all three types, and the CPU specs vary a bit amongst the three.




If you're on a budget, a small SSD, such as a 256 GB one, will allow you to install Windows and regular apps, and a few games on it, making it run (seemingly) much, much faster. But the CPU and graphics are also going to be limiting factors on any one of those machines, due to their age.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 23H2 Current build
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HomeBrew
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
    Motherboard
    MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE
    Memory
    4 * 32 GB - Corsair Vengeance 3600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti XC3 ULTRA GAMING (12G-P5-3955-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek® ALC1220 Codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2x Eve Spectrum ES07D03 4K Gaming Monitor (Matte) | Eve Spectrum ES07DC9 4K Gaming Monitor (Glossy)
    Screen Resolution
    3x 3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    3x Samsung 980 Pro NVMe PCIe 4 M.2 2 TB SSD (MZ-V8P2T0B/AM) } 3x Sabrent Rocket NVMe 4.0 1 TB SSD (USB)
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling’s Silencer Series 1050 Watt, 80 Plus Platinum
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7 XL Dark ATX Full Tower Case
    Cooling
    NZXT KRAKEN Z73 73.11 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler (3x 120 mm push top) + Air 3x 140mm case fans (pull front) + 1x 120 mm (push back) and 1 x 120 mm (pull bottom)
    Keyboard
    SteelSeries Apex Pro Wired Gaming Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3S | MX Master 3 for Business
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex Ftth
    Browser
    Nightly (default) + Firefox (stable), Chrome, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender + MB 5 Beta
  • Operating System
    ChromeOS Flex Dev Channel (current)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E5470
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6300U CPU @ 2.40GHz, 2501 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 520
    Sound Card
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 520 + RealTek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell laptop display 15"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 * 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 128GB M.2 22300 drive
    INTEL Cherryville 520 Series SSDSC2CW180A 180 GB SATA III SSD
    PSU
    Dell
    Case
    Dell
    Cooling
    Dell
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3S (shared w. Sys 1) | Dell TouchPad
    Keyboard
    Dell
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex Ftth
if you have the tower vesion, there is more space and a more powerful psu, but doubtful it is worth getting a more expensive graphics card than phil used in the 8200 below.

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
Can you do the same to an 8300?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 23H2 Current build
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HomeBrew
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
    Motherboard
    MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE
    Memory
    4 * 32 GB - Corsair Vengeance 3600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti XC3 ULTRA GAMING (12G-P5-3955-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek® ALC1220 Codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2x Eve Spectrum ES07D03 4K Gaming Monitor (Matte) | Eve Spectrum ES07DC9 4K Gaming Monitor (Glossy)
    Screen Resolution
    3x 3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    3x Samsung 980 Pro NVMe PCIe 4 M.2 2 TB SSD (MZ-V8P2T0B/AM) } 3x Sabrent Rocket NVMe 4.0 1 TB SSD (USB)
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling’s Silencer Series 1050 Watt, 80 Plus Platinum
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7 XL Dark ATX Full Tower Case
    Cooling
    NZXT KRAKEN Z73 73.11 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler (3x 120 mm push top) + Air 3x 140mm case fans (pull front) + 1x 120 mm (push back) and 1 x 120 mm (pull bottom)
    Keyboard
    SteelSeries Apex Pro Wired Gaming Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3S | MX Master 3 for Business
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex Ftth
    Browser
    Nightly (default) + Firefox (stable), Chrome, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender + MB 5 Beta
  • Operating System
    ChromeOS Flex Dev Channel (current)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E5470
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6300U CPU @ 2.40GHz, 2501 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 520
    Sound Card
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 520 + RealTek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell laptop display 15"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 * 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 128GB M.2 22300 drive
    INTEL Cherryville 520 Series SSDSC2CW180A 180 GB SATA III SSD
    PSU
    Dell
    Case
    Dell
    Cooling
    Dell
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3S (shared w. Sys 1) | Dell TouchPad
    Keyboard
    Dell
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex Ftth
yes, the same.

it also is possible to mod the hp bios to support nvme but not really worth it unless you already own the programmer and adapter.
the dell equivalent optiplex 3rd gens are much easier to bios mod , no programmer needed for the dells..

Interesting experiment if you have one of those older machines hanging around, if you think they are worth any effort or expense.

I have an hp 8300 sff that I can't quite bring myself to chuck out. The sff often have noisy and drafty old fans that need replacement, I cba doing that and its probably worth less than the £16 two fans would cost.

If you have one in good condition, put in a sata ssd and then they are fine for general pottering around, doing a bit of document work, youtube vids and so on.

Phil reckons that they can be passable for the less demanding games using a 1050 or similar. Or maybe that other one - a 1650 I think it is called.

I dont know, I am not interested in gaming.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450

Write speed higher than read speed for a SSD? It´s the other way around.

Also, the labels are wrong. SSD should be "SATA SSD", "NVMe m.2" should be "NVMe SSD", or "PCIe NVMe SSD". NVMe is an access protocol, counterpart of AHCI. M.2 is a connector and form factor, a SATA SSD can also use it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
thankyou everyone for the kind input! and I will consider adding an ssd in if I ever get the money for it
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Elite 8300
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3750
    Motherboard
    Unknown
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ‎Intel HD Graphics 2500
    Sound Card
    Realtek Sound Blaster (Front Speakers)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2012 Dell Square Monitor
    Hard Drives
    500 GB WD HDD
    PSU
    HP 240W PSU
    Case
    HP Elite 8300 Case
    Cooling
    HP CPU Cooler Fan
    Keyboard
    I live Glow Keyboard
    Mouse
    I Live Glow Mouse
    Internet Speed
    2.0Ghz
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Avast One
A SATA SSD is very inexpensive and you probably don't need more than the amount of space already used on your HDD. I suggest a 500 GB SSD for very little money. Example of this at Newegg.com


I am using two Samsungs as backup drives internally in my desktop. However, my build is new and uses an NVME M.2 SSD. Your computer will not have the design to accomodate an M.2 SSD. BUT, a SATA SSD is going to be like lightening for you once you clone your HDD to the SSD or just start from scratch with a new Windows 10 install. I highly recommend downloading their tool to allow a Flash Drive to hold the installation files. Besides, it's good to have a Windows Install Flash Drive for doing repairs or recoverying your computer System Image.

Gaming with demanding graphics will not improve (as mentioned earlier in this topic). Legacy and browser games will perform fairly well but this would not be considered a Gaming PC.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Build Date: March 2022
    CPU
    Intel Core i9-13900KF
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime 690-P
    Memory
    DDR5 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 4600
    Graphics Card(s)
    RTX 4080 12GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 (scaled 125%) (144Mhz Refresh Rate)
    PSU
    1000 Watt
    Cooling
    AIO
    Internet Speed
    1GB
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes Premium
if you have the tower vesion, there is more space and a more powerful psu, but doubtful it is worth getting a more expensive graphics card than phil used in the 8200 below.

that's what I plan to eventually do with my computer
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Elite 8300
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3750
    Motherboard
    Unknown
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ‎Intel HD Graphics 2500
    Sound Card
    Realtek Sound Blaster (Front Speakers)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2012 Dell Square Monitor
    Hard Drives
    500 GB WD HDD
    PSU
    HP 240W PSU
    Case
    HP Elite 8300 Case
    Cooling
    HP CPU Cooler Fan
    Keyboard
    I live Glow Keyboard
    Mouse
    I Live Glow Mouse
    Internet Speed
    2.0Ghz
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Avast One
My new Desktop in April came with a 512GB NVMe C:/boot/system drive and having just salvaged a 2TB HDD from a NAS box put it in for plain storage, hardly noticed any different in performance.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 2TB WDC HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Write speed higher than read speed for a SSD? It´s the other way around.

Also, the labels are wrong. SSD should be "SATA SSD", "NVMe m.2" should be "NVMe SSD", or "PCIe NVMe SSD". NVMe is an access protocol, counterpart of AHCI. M.2 is a connector and form factor, a SATA SSD can also use it.
You'd expect that, but some benchmarks (like Crystal Disk Mark) produce higher write numbers than read. Could be bogus.

I'd relate NVME to PCI Express. There are older PCI-E M.2 cards that don't support NVME, but they are mostly obsolete.

As regards M.2, that's correct, but SATA M.2 drives are getting to be scarce. NVME add-in cards also existed (like the Intel 750 series AIC), but few use those. (I have a 400GB one lying around. Should see if a computer museum wants it.)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Amd Threadripper 7970X
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte TRX50 Aero D
    Memory
    128GB (4 X 32) Kingston DDR5 5200 (RDIMM)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 4090 OC
    Sound Card
    none (USB to speakers), Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philips 27E1N8900 OLED
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @ 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Crucial T700 2TB M.2 NVME SSD
    WD 4TB Blue SATA SSD
    Seagate 18TB IronWolf Pro
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1600 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo XL
    Cooling
    Alphacool Eisbaer Pro Aurora 360, with 3 Phanteks T30 fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Internet Speed
    1200 Mbps
  • Operating System
    windows 11 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel I9-13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus RoG Strix Z690-E
    Memory
    64GB G.Skill DDR5-6000
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 3090 ti
    Sound Card
    built in Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA329C
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850 1TB
    8 TB Seagate Ironwolf
    4TB Seagate Ironwolf
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1300 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX Liquid CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)
I would first install a SATA SSD to make it 10 times faster than using a mechanical and probably worn out HDD. I would make sure all drivers, especially the graphics, are updated directly from manufacturer's site, not Windows Update. I would then go to Settings, System, Info, Advanced System Settings, Performance and disable all visual effects (such as fades, animations etc). In Settings, Accessibility, Visual Effects make sure both Transparency and Fades are disabled. This should make a huge difference in performance, but of course don't expect to play modern games. It will be able to play older less demanding games, probably with most video settings to "low" or "off". I would try it to see how it goes before investing on a low factor discreet graphics cards. Have in mind that low factor cards (I hope this is the appropriate term) are entry level. You will see some improvement over the onboard graphics card, but don't expect miracles. Again you must keep most settings to "low" or "off". If you want to improve visual appearance of the game, start with the lowest possible settings (including screen resolution, there is no need to play 1920x1080, try 1280x720 or lower), and gradually increase a single setting a step at a time. Stop when you see the game starts to lag.

PS: I would also set all the power settings for maximum performance, never allow the system to sleep, never switch off the screen or the hard disk, disable screensaver etc, to further improve performance. Also do not install any third party antivirus, Windows Defender is light and does a good job. I would then disable some services (such as Google Update, Mozilla Maintenance) and all startup applications. The less they run at startup the better.

PS2: You can also enable Ultimate Power Plan (ultimate system performance), run the following command in an Administrator command prompt or Powershell:

powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61

Then go to Control Panel, Power Settings and select that scheme. This will force the CPU to always run at maximum speed (Turbo Boost always on), not only when enabled by the game.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 64-bit (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v23H2 (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    Gainward NE5105T018G1-1070F (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Patriot Burst Elite 480GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Stock Intel CPU Fan, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
Here is a pic of the Asus GT 1030 in the HP Elite 8300 (SFF). I would close the hole around the GPU card and prevent it from leaning over to the right under its own weight. Next, I woud find a perfect spot above the GPU heatsink to mount a Noctua cooling fan, draw a circle on the cover plate of the case with a sharpie and start drilling holes along the circle until the piece pops out. Use JB Weld, metal coat hangers and sheets of metal cut out of tin boxes or whatever it is that you must find to make it work. Ghetto modding is the only real way to go.


IMG-20180604-175604.jpg
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Cooling
    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
  • Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
You don't have to go that far. As long as the 1030 is low profile, just use the appropriate bracket. If you have lost it you can buy separately. You won't need any additional cooling, unless you plan to overclock it, not recommended. This should allow you to play some games, but again don't set the settings too high, be conservative.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 64-bit (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v23H2 (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    Gainward NE5105T018G1-1070F (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Patriot Burst Elite 480GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Stock Intel CPU Fan, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4

Latest Support Threads

Back
Top Bottom