PC Hardware Problem, Random PC Pauses

[Viper_Maniac]

Ok now this started a couple months ago. Back then it wasn't this bad like it is now. Then it just used to be subtle slowness. Now its worse. Whenever I try to install anything it takes 3-4 times longer than it should. If I try to unzip anything(includes self extracting exe's) it goes so painfully slow. In just general use of the PC it will pause for a few seconds or more. Internet browsing is a pain. I'll get full system pauses if I have more than 2 or 3 tabs open(most of the time).

Now I've run a few apps to test a few things. First I ran Memtest (regular & +), HDTune and Western Digital Diagnostics and none of them found anything wrong. I know its a hardware problem because I experience similar problems in Linux(Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy).

One problem I really have is that I don't have any spare parts to test on my hardware so I can try to pinpoint what the troublemaker is. I also don't know anyone that would have any.

I did a small little test of my own where I selected a file approximately 270-290MB on both hard drives and copied them to another folder on their own respective drives. The IDE drive file copied in 10-15secs. The SATA drive file took over 10mins to copy(Prolly would have been more I hadn't stopped it). I don't know if that might give an indication as to where to start.

To make matters worse I just don't have the money to buy a new mobo/cpu/memory. I'm hoping someone here may be able to help me in some way figure this out. Oh and if you're looking for my system specs they're right here:

PC Specs: | Athlon64 3500 | 1GB Kingston DC PC3200 | Asus A8N-SLI Premium | EVGA GeForce 7600GT 256MB PCI-E | Soundblaster Audigy | WD 250GB SATA & 80GB IDE HDDs |

 

[Mark T]

What spyware/antivirus do you have running?

 

[Sureboss]

Probably worth running CCleaner too. Do both Cleaner and Registry options.

 

[hamstrings]

What power supply? Is this regular Kingston RAM or the fancy HyperX stuff? Are dust bunnies loafing around in the case?

 

[Viper_Maniac]

What spyware/antivirus do you have running?

SUPERAntiSpyware / ESET NOD32 4.0.437.0

Probably worth running CCleaner too. Do both Cleaner and Registry options.

Done that at least a few times already.

What power supply? Is this regular Kingston RAM or the fancy HyperX stuff? Are dust bunnies loafing around in the case?

Silverstone 500W / Regular / Nope cleaned the case out with canned air about a month or so ago.

 

[hamstrings]

I notice you have an A8N-SLI. Make sure the motherboard chipset fan is able to spin freely. I've seen a lot of dying ones on that particular board.

 

[Thiele]

Sounds like the CPU could be on it's way out to me. I don't know though.

 

[Viper_Maniac]

I notice you have an A8N-SLI. Make sure the motherboard chipset fan is able to spin freely. I've seen a lot of dying ones on that particular board.

This motherboard didn't come with a chipset fan.

AI Cool-Pipe
It's no longer either quiet operation or low system temperature. The A8N-SLI Premium, with AI Cool Pipe, lets you have the best of both worlds. This unique heat pipe design provides heat dissipation performance comparable to that of cooling fans without the annoying rotation noise.

Source

Sounds like the CPU could be on it's way out to me. I don't know though.

I was kinda thinking that at first but didn't want to buy one(not just because I couldn't afford it but because I didn't want to buy it and have it not fix the problem). If I can somehow eliminate other things and it comes down to the CPU then I'll know I need to find someway to get a new one.

 

[hamstrings]

I didn't know the A8N-SLI Premium had the passive heatpipe. The vanilla ones had the fan that died by the three year mark.

Do you recall changing or adding anything to your computer when the sluggishness began?

Which drive do you have Windows installed on? The 250GB SATA or the 80GB PATA? For some reason, your PATA drive isn't sluggish like your SATA drive. If it's possible, see if you can install Ubuntu or Windows on the 80GB drive. Is the system still sluggish? If not, then it might have to do with the SATA subsystem.

 

[Viper_Maniac]

Last hardware change was prolly when I added a 2nd LiteOn DVD burner but that was at least a year ago.

I have both OSes installed on the 250GB SATA since its the biggest and I use the 80GB as backup/storage. I do have a 30GB IDE drive in my closet. Its just been sitting there for awhile. I could give it a shot at installing Windows or Ubuntu on that and see what happens.

 

[Viper_Maniac]

No more ideas?

 

[Sureboss]

Is your OS installed on the SATA HDD? If that one is taking so much longer (10 mins for a file that size shouldn't be right), then that could be the issue. Failing that, it'd be worth trying some new RAM. What are the temps like? Run Everest Home Edition to find out, about the easiest way I know of.

 

[Pako]

I'm sure you've already done it, but when was the last time you defragged your SATA drive?

 

[Viper_Maniac]

Is your OS installed on the SATA HDD? If that one is taking so much longer (10 mins for a file that size shouldn't be right), then that could be the issue. Failing that, it'd be worth trying some new RAM. What are the temps like? Run Everest Home Edition to find out, about the easiest way I know of.

Yes it is installed on the SATA since its bigger than the other IDE drive. The IDE drive is mainly for storage/backup. Would Sandra Lite be able to do the same thing? I have that downloaded already. Either way whichever one I choose will take a painfully long time to install itself.

I'm sure you've already done it, but when was the last time you defragged your SATA drive?

Prolly about a month ago.

 

[Casio]

If you can find it, go onto the BIOS and change the AHCI to compatibility mode and see if that helps.