Slow Computer


is there a recommended bench-marking program that is definitive
Definitive...no. A definitive answer is the final one and there is no one size fits all 100%. While usually benchmarking tools can give you a clearer picture of individual hardware performance and stability, it does require a user to put all the garnered data together to come to a reasonable conclusion of hardware that may be underperforming to its specs or starting to fail. He must monitor his temps as heat may be a contributing factor. There are many benchmarking tools out there, some free, some paid. Some benchmark only specific components like drive performance or CPU or GPU. suggestions here but by no means are they all listed

When it comes down to a motherboard that might be marginal, the only consumer tools I am aware of is whatever your OEM or mobo manufacturer provide you. Dell provides a pre-boot hardware test in its uefi bios. Someone else may have more to offer regarding that.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 2600.1742
    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 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External +512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme
    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
@glasskuter - i appreciate your attention to detail! I am most focused upon CPU (i would think) with my primary use being MS Office programs. I might be wrong, but i suspect my gpu is likely not a factor (and is probably overkill for what i use this computer for), and since my drives are M.2's, unless they have some strange issues, i suspect that error checking them rather than bench-marking would be the way to go. I have run checkdisk and one of these evenings will let loose memtest on the system. Does this all appear accurate to you or have i missed something?
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 for Workstations with 6 or more cores
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel(R) Xeon(R) W-1370P @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz
    Memory
    16.0 GB (15.7 GB usable)
Of course, it doesn't hurt a thing to test your hardware. Run the Dell tests directly from bios first. They're already there. But If it were me, I would be monitoring task manager for any software bottlenecking the hardware. Use the startup section of task manager and stop any unnecessary startup apps from running. Use the performance tab to see if your cpu is performing as it should. I would see if any 3rd party programs might be causing conflict by testing in a clean boot state. Check reliability monitor to see if any consistent software issue patterns are showing up.

I would even create a new local user accout to test with. (Give it administrator privileges.) If you have no problems using the new account, it would point to corruption in your user account, not a hardware problem or a windows problem.

If none of that pointed to anything, I'd even test in safe mode to make sure a 3rd party driver wasn't messing with me.

Barring none of that helping, I'd make a system image and do a clean install or do a reset and remove everything. Reinstall 365 and use it for a few days before tweaking or adding additional software. If the problem is gone, you're golden. If the problem is still there, you can always restore the image you made and be right back where you started.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 2600.1742
    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 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External +512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme
    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
@ glasskuter: I'm on it! First step, research how to set up that local user account. I have read that W11 is designed to avoid that (maybe specific to 24H2), and i just don't remember much else, but it will be easy to find. I just re-ordered my work starting with local account, then safe mode. If work just wouldn't get in the way... :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 for Workstations with 6 or more cores
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel(R) Xeon(R) W-1370P @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz
    Memory
    16.0 GB (15.7 GB usable)
Create a new local account
Settings>Accounts>Scroll down and click on Other Users.
Select add account>select I don't have this person's signin information

This will let you create a local account

In user name box name the account and assign a password.
Very Important- Make the new user an administrator. Once account is created, to the right of the new user name click down arrow. Select Change account type.
Click arrow to right of standard user and select Administrator.
Restart. You will see 2 accounts on login screen. Login to new account and its desktop will be created.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 2600.1742
    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 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External +512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme
    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
You can convert your User Profile to a Local Account, you don't need to create a new one.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit 22H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Gigabyte Z390 UD
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 77000 3.60
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z390 UD
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GEForce RTX 2060 Super
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Two 27" Dell 4K monitors
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    M.2 NVME SSD, 500 GB; Two 2TB Mechanical HDD's
    PSU
    850w PSU
    Case
    Cyberpower PC
    Cooling
    Water cooled
    Keyboard
    Backlit Cyberpower gamiong keyboard
    Mouse
    Backlit Cyberpower gaming mouse
    Internet Speed
    1 GB mbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
@ glasskuter: Thank you!

@ Spunk: Would you be so kind as to briefly advise what capabilities i would be losing by converting to local? I have seen a number of folks actually recommend this-

THank you,
-Bruce
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 for Workstations with 6 or more cores
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel(R) Xeon(R) W-1370P @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz
    Memory
    16.0 GB (15.7 GB usable)
You can convert your User Profile to a Local Account, you don't need to create a new one.
But creating a new account is the only way to prove issues in his old account aren't contributing to his slow problems.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 2600.1742
    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 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External +512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme
    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
Defender is the only AV I know, which causes a terrible slow down, like icons loading one by one.
Note that installing 3rd party AV will not disable Defender's processes, you have to do it yourself.

Then there is something completely screwed up with your pc. Defender does no such thing on any of my laptops or tablets.

BTW, it's funny how people who say get rid of Defender are never prepared to accept consequences to OP if they get hacked.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14
    CPU
    I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB soldered
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop OLED screen
    Screen Resolution
    2880x1800 touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1 TB NVME SSD (only weakness is only one slot)
    PSU
    Internal + 65W thunderbolt USB4 charger
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois (UK pint cans - 568 ml) - extra cost.
    Keyboard
    Built in UK keybd
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wireless dongled, wired
    Internet Speed
    900 mbs (ethernet), wifi 6 typical 350-450 mb/s both up and down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0, 2xUSB4 thunderbolt, 1xUsb3 (usb a), 1xUsb-c, hdmi out, 3.5 mm audio out/in combo, ASUS backlit trackpad (inc. switchable number pad)

    Macrium Reflect Home V8
    Office 365 Family (6 users each 1TB onedrive space)
    Hyper-V (a vm runs almost as fast as my older laptop)
@ glasskuter: Thank you!

@ Spunk: Would you be so kind as to briefly advise what capabilities i would be losing by converting to local? I have seen a number of folks actually recommend this-

THank you,
-Bruce
Again, this is common bs that an MS account slows down pc.

What slows down a pc is lots of apps running in the background as @glasskuter also says.

The single biggest thing you lose is the link of digital licence to MS account which meansd if there is some hardware glitch e.g. mobo failure, you may not be able to reactivate pc, and would have to buy a new licence.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14
    CPU
    I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB soldered
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop OLED screen
    Screen Resolution
    2880x1800 touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1 TB NVME SSD (only weakness is only one slot)
    PSU
    Internal + 65W thunderbolt USB4 charger
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois (UK pint cans - 568 ml) - extra cost.
    Keyboard
    Built in UK keybd
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wireless dongled, wired
    Internet Speed
    900 mbs (ethernet), wifi 6 typical 350-450 mb/s both up and down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0, 2xUSB4 thunderbolt, 1xUsb3 (usb a), 1xUsb-c, hdmi out, 3.5 mm audio out/in combo, ASUS backlit trackpad (inc. switchable number pad)

    Macrium Reflect Home V8
    Office 365 Family (6 users each 1TB onedrive space)
    Hyper-V (a vm runs almost as fast as my older laptop)
Well, hasn't this been fun...

Thursday evening i was doing some work in MS Access when it started to behave goofy. I would get "out of memory" errors and restart Access and some other idiot OLE error, then do a restart (of the computer), then at one point we automatically went into repair mode, with the normal initial processes reporting they could not fix the problem, time to reinstall Windows. Though i do not believe doing the more aggressive Windows reinstall really does wipe out all my files (especially since i have all my personal documents and pictures over on a separate physical drive than the OS), it has been too long and i didn't want to chance it so i took the lighter method, then spent until midnite doing the basic reconfiguration which continued through yesterday, and there will be remnants for days if not weeks. Weird thing i noticed when once again up and running - after reinstalling several programs at least one of them had some of the prior customization. It appears that both Program Files directories were wiped, but the branch ProramData is the same one from before (not happy that old junk that the OS uses was carried forward, might do another reinstall but this time while creating backups of EVERYTHING personal related on C: and before allowing a full reinstall, reformatting the OS partition (don't think i should kill the Dell partition...)).

Have not had enough time to extensively work on and test the present speed, but my present impression is that we are running notably faster, and i am afraid to reinstall any "helper" or non-essential apps that made life easier because i don't know what is going to cause problems. I use a couple for Excel, one for Access and another for both. Additionally i would like to bring back Fan Control, but i really don't know what causes performance hits so i am reluctant. I do not think any of them cause normal noticeable hits, but i suspect something that i might have brought on caused the significant hit specifically with my hardware. Kind of feel like i am venturing into a mine-field, one that might not be deadly, but one that sure can tick me off!!!

Is System Restore so good that i could create a restore point, install an item (or two) of software, run things for a couple days, and if i sense an issue truly restore the computer to actually be identical to prior to the install?

Thank you!!!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 for Workstations with 6 or more cores
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel(R) Xeon(R) W-1370P @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz
    Memory
    16.0 GB (15.7 GB usable)
System Restore is not a reliable backup resource.
If you manually set a Restore point, and then install an App and run it a couple of days.
If you don't like the app you can run the System Restore and it should return your computer back to the way it was before you installed the app.
Or you could just Uninstall the app., that's the easiest way.

The best method for backing up is to create a System Image file of your computer using Macrium Reflect or your favorite imaging app and save the image to an External USB HDD. Then you can restore your computer to all its glory at any time.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit 22H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Gigabyte Z390 UD
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 77000 3.60
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z390 UD
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GEForce RTX 2060 Super
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Two 27" Dell 4K monitors
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    M.2 NVME SSD, 500 GB; Two 2TB Mechanical HDD's
    PSU
    850w PSU
    Case
    Cyberpower PC
    Cooling
    Water cooled
    Keyboard
    Backlit Cyberpower gamiong keyboard
    Mouse
    Backlit Cyberpower gaming mouse
    Internet Speed
    1 GB mbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
In my opinion you have a few hardware flaws. Only 16gb ram and a basic onboard graphics. While you don't game it still could help to appear slow. Your Cpu seems pretty good. Now software wise is interesting. My feeling is if you go to amazon, cnn, netflix and safe sites you dont need malwarebytes or software to see if your pc is getting taken over, or a vpn unless you plan on streaming stuff oversees. As a former pirate myself i know what the dangers are of the less legal areas of the internet are. Any software dell installed that you don't use should be deleted. I got a Alienware and actually like the Alienware command center. Task Manager will tell you what is started with your pc and if you know what it is and don't want it loaded rubbish it off. I only have 6 things enabled. 32gigs of ram would likely go a long way to help, being your pc is sharing your ram with the graphics system. Thus you are getting out of memory errors. I game my balls off and have never got that message with 32gb of ram. Alot to dislike i guess about windows 11 but i have yet to have an issue, but I spent way too much money on my pc and nothing slows it down. Also someone said "windows defender causes my icons to load one at a time. my girlfriends craptop that cost 800 bucks has not a issue and that thing is not powerful at all.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware R16
    CPU
    Intel Core i9 14900F(50c-60c while gaming)
    Motherboard
    Alienware R16
    Memory
    SK Hynix 32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia RTX 4080 Super(55c was the max i even seen)
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Alienware AW3423DWF 34inch
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Lexar M.2 NM790 4TB, Kioxia M.2 1TB
    PSU
    Alienware 1000 Watt
    Case
    Alienware R16
    Cooling
    Alienware Liqiud Cooler
    Keyboard
    Roccat Vulcan 100 Aimo
    Mouse
    Razer Basilisk X Hyperspeed
    Internet Speed
    500mbps Down/25mbps Up
    Browser
    EDGE (Split screen converted me)
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
@ Bigsexy022870 - Well,,, in the meantime i kind of upgraded my RAM to the idiotic amount of 64GB...

The issue is that for the first six or so months all was very fast, then something slowed it down noticeably. I presumed it was just one of those pesky Windows updates and soon enough it would be reversed, but as this was not the case, i want to find out what is going on. The full re-installation of Windows seems to have had a good effect, but it is too soon to tell and i am relying on my perceptions. And since i have two 32GB chips in slots 1 & 3, i think when i feel like it i will stick the 8gb chips in 2 & 4. All are ECC and same speed, and it just seems dumb having them sit in a drawer...

@ Spunk: Oh... Like i've mentioned, it will take me a while to notice what i'm missing and reinstall. I had Macrium Reflect running backups every week i think. Need to reinstall that! And thinking about it, if i am certain a program was installed prior to the slow-down - in other words, the programs i always installed anytime i completely reset or bought a new system, those should be safe (i find the word "should" generally has something to do with most disasters, like someone probably said "Turning this system off should be OK" in Russian just prior to Chernobyl blowing up).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 for Workstations with 6 or more cores
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel(R) Xeon(R) W-1370P @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz
    Memory
    16.0 GB (15.7 GB usable)

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