Slow computer -- power supply related?
 

This is just a preliminary post, a wee bit short on details (as I do not
have subject PC in front of me), to try and troubleshoot the following
problem:

My Mom's computer is running gawdawful slow and I cannot figure out why.

Programs take forever and a day to load, screen slow to redraw at times,
etc.

It's a very basic HP Pavilion mini-ATX system with no bells or whistles.
It has a Celeron 700MHz processor.

It has always run slowly, whether under Windows98SE and (now) SuSE Linux
9.3 Pro.

In an effort to speed it up, I recently upgraded her to 512MB RAM. No
joy. What I did learn, however, upon opening up the case is that her PC
only has a *100W* power supply. HP is a cheapass outfit, dontcha know?

So, until I gather more details on her system (tonight), I'd like to
know if an underpowered system (which, at 100W, I feel that it is) would
actually appear to run slowly.

I'll get back to the group with more details as I gather them/or as
requested to help solve this vexing problem.

Thanks.

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Re: Slow computer -- power supply related?
 

DC wrote:

> This is just a preliminary post, a wee bit short on details (as
> I do not have subject PC in front of me), to try and
> troubleshoot the following problem:
>
> My Mom's computer is running gawdawful slow and I cannot figure
> out why.
>
> Programs take forever and a day to load, screen slow to redraw
> at times, etc.
>
> It's a very basic HP Pavilion mini-ATX system with no bells or
> whistles. It has a Celeron 700MHz processor.
>
> It has always run slowly, whether under Windows98SE and (now)
> SuSE Linux 9.3 Pro.

*Mom*'s running Linux? You go, Mom! :)


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Re: Slow computer -- power supply related?
 

Blinky the Shark wrote:
> DC wrote:

>> This is just a preliminary post, a wee bit short on details (as
>> I do not have subject PC in front of me), to try and
>> troubleshoot the following problem:

>> My Mom's computer is running gawdawful slow and I cannot figure
>> out why.

>> Programs take forever and a day to load, screen slow to redraw
>> at times, etc.

>> It's a very basic HP Pavilion mini-ATX system with no bells or
>> whistles. It has a Celeron 700MHz processor.

>> It has always run slowly, whether under Windows98SE and (now)
>> SuSE Linux 9.3 Pro.

> *Mom*'s running Linux? You go, Mom! :)

As her admin, I didn't exactly leave her the choice. };O)

After one of her neighbour's kids came over, one afternoon, and went to one
dicey site too many, Windows was completely fubar, overrun with spyware and
viruses. I had just done a service call for routine maintenance and updates
(and free roast beef dinner <g>) *the weekend prior* and gave it a clean bill of
health.

Enough of this ****, I sez.

My baby sister was kinda choked up that she couldn't have genuine MSN Messenger
with all of
its built-in IncrediMailness. Boo fricken hoo.

I installed it about 2 months ago, now. Not a single complaint -- homework is
getting done, she's always online chatting with my kids, business as usual...

Oh, and I've lost 8 lbs. }:O)

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Re: Slow computer -- power supply related?
 

DC wrote:

> Blinky the Shark wrote:
>> DC wrote:
>
>>> This is just a preliminary post, a wee bit short on details
>>> (as I do not have subject PC in front of me), to try and
>>> troubleshoot the following problem:
>
>>> My Mom's computer is running gawdawful slow and I cannot
>>> figure out why.
>
>>> Programs take forever and a day to load, screen slow to redraw
>>> at times, etc.
>
>>> It's a very basic HP Pavilion mini-ATX system with no bells or
>>> whistles. It has a Celeron 700MHz processor.
>
>>> It has always run slowly, whether under Windows98SE and (now)
>>> SuSE Linux 9.3 Pro.
>
>> *Mom*'s running Linux? You go, Mom! :)
>
> As her admin, I didn't exactly leave her the choice. };O)

Power can be a good thing, if applied wisely. :)

> After one of her neighbour's kids came over, one afternoon, and
> went to one dicey site too many, Windows was completely fubar,
> overrun with spyware and viruses. I had just done a service
> call for routine maintenance and updates (and free roast beef
> dinner <g>) *the weekend prior* and gave it a clean bill of
> health.

Ouch.

> Enough of this ****, I sez.

Aye!

> My baby sister was kinda choked up that she couldn't have
> genuine MSN Messenger with all of
> its built-in IncrediMailness. Boo fricken hoo.

Indeed.

> I installed it about 2 months ago, now. Not a single complaint
> -- homework is getting done, she's always online chatting with
> my kids, business as usual...

Bitchin'.

> Oh, and I've lost 8 lbs. }:O)

Caught something from the roast beef? :)


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Re: Slow computer -- power supply related?
 

Blinky the Shark wrote:
> DC wrote:
>
>> Blinky the Shark wrote:
>>> DC wrote:
>>
>>>> This is just a preliminary post, a wee bit short on details
>>>> (as I do not have subject PC in front of me), to try and
>>>> troubleshoot the following problem:
>>
>>>> My Mom's computer is running gawdawful slow and I cannot
>>>> figure out why.
>>
>>>> Programs take forever and a day to load, screen slow to redraw
>>>> at times, etc.
>>
>>>> It's a very basic HP Pavilion mini-ATX system with no bells or
>>>> whistles. It has a Celeron 700MHz processor.
>>
>>>> It has always run slowly, whether under Windows98SE and (now)
>>>> SuSE Linux 9.3 Pro.
>>
>>> *Mom*'s running Linux? You go, Mom! :)
>>
>> As her admin, I didn't exactly leave her the choice. };O)
>
> Power can be a good thing, if applied wisely. :)
>
>> After one of her neighbour's kids came over, one afternoon, and
>> went to one dicey site too many, Windows was completely fubar,
>> overrun with spyware and viruses. I had just done a service
>> call for routine maintenance and updates (and free roast beef
>> dinner <g>) *the weekend prior* and gave it a clean bill of
>> health.
>
> Ouch.
>
>> Enough of this ****, I sez.
>
> Aye!
>
>> My baby sister was kinda choked up that she couldn't have
>> genuine MSN Messenger with all of
>> its built-in IncrediMailness. Boo fricken hoo.
>
> Indeed.
>
>> I installed it about 2 months ago, now. Not a single complaint
>> -- homework is getting done, she's always online chatting with
>> my kids, business as usual...
>
> Bitchin'.
>
>> Oh, and I've lost 8 lbs. }:O)
>
> Caught something from the roast beef? :)

I bet it's just the lack of service calls <g>

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like an idiot.

Re: Slow computer -- power supply related?
 

Toolman Tim wrote:

> Blinky the Shark wrote:
>> DC wrote:
>>
>>> Blinky the Shark wrote:
>>>> DC wrote:
>>>
>>>>> This is just a preliminary post, a wee bit short on details
>>>>> (as I do not have subject PC in front of me), to try and
>>>>> troubleshoot the following problem:
>>>
>>>>> My Mom's computer is running gawdawful slow and I cannot
>>>>> figure out why.
>>>
>>>>> Programs take forever and a day to load, screen slow to
>>>>> redraw at times, etc.
>>>
>>>>> It's a very basic HP Pavilion mini-ATX system with no bells
>>>>> or whistles. It has a Celeron 700MHz processor.
>>>
>>>>> It has always run slowly, whether under Windows98SE and
>>>>> (now) SuSE Linux 9.3 Pro.
>>>
>>>> *Mom*'s running Linux? You go, Mom! :)
>>>
>>> As her admin, I didn't exactly leave her the choice. };O)
>>
>> Power can be a good thing, if applied wisely. :)
>>
>>> After one of her neighbour's kids came over, one afternoon,
>>> and went to one dicey site too many, Windows was completely
>>> fubar, overrun with spyware and viruses. I had just done a
>>> service call for routine maintenance and updates (and free
>>> roast beef dinner <g>) *the weekend prior* and gave it a clean
>>> bill of health.
>>
>> Ouch.
>>
>>> Enough of this ****, I sez.
>>
>> Aye!
>>
>>> My baby sister was kinda choked up that she couldn't have
>>> genuine MSN Messenger with all of its built-in
>>> IncrediMailness. Boo fricken hoo.
>>
>> Indeed.
>>
>>> I installed it about 2 months ago, now. Not a single
>>> complaint -- homework is getting done, she's always online
>>> chatting with my kids, business as usual...
>>
>> Bitchin'.
>>
>>> Oh, and I've lost 8 lbs. }:O)
>>
>> Caught something from the roast beef? :)
>
> I bet it's just the lack of service calls <g>

Figured that out after I posted. :)

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Re: Slow computer -- power supply related?
 

Blinky the Shark wrote:
> Toolman Tim wrote:

>> Blinky the Shark wrote:
>>> DC wrote:

[...]

>>>> Oh, and I've lost 8 lbs. }:O)

>>> Caught something from the roast beef? :)

>> I bet it's just the lack of service calls <g>

> Figured that out after I posted. :)


We had spaghetti, tonight. Mmmm. }:O9

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Re: Slow computer -- power supply related?
 

"DC" <dcmoose@myrealbox.com> wrote in message
news:slrndl58eq.8ta.dcmoose@moosemeat.ca.INVALID.. .

> So, until I gather more details on her system (tonight), I'd like to
> know if an underpowered system (which, at 100W, I feel that it is) would
> actually appear to run slowly.

More likely that componants would manage, just, on the available power, then
just stop - though it's possible that if the HDD motor isn't receiving
enough power it will slow down. Try putting a new HDD cable in. Also make
sure that the hard drive isn't sharing its cable with the CD.

Dan







.................................................. ...............
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>>>> at http://www.TitanNews.com <<<<
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Re: Slow computer -- power supply related?
 

Dan Evans wrote:



> "DC" <dcmoose@myrealbox.com> wrote in message
> news:slrndl58eq.8ta.dcmoose@moosemeat.ca.INVALID.. .

>> So, until I gather more details on her system (tonight), I'd like to
>> know if an underpowered system (which, at 100W, I feel that it is) would
>> actually appear to run slowly.

> More likely that componants would manage, just, on the available power, then
> just stop - though it's possible that if the HDD motor isn't receiving
> enough power it will slow down. Try putting a new HDD cable in. Also make
> sure that the hard drive isn't sharing its cable with the CD.

Thanks, Dan. I'll try a new cable next time I go over there. As far as
sharing the cable, you wouldn't believe how jam packed that case is.
It's doubtful that I could get a new cable in there, provided there is
even a second IDE receptacle on the mobo.

I'll let you know.

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Re: Slow computer -- power supply related?
 

DC wrote:

> Blinky the Shark wrote:
>> DC wrote:
>
>>> This is just a preliminary post, a wee bit short on details (as
>>> I do not have subject PC in front of me), to try and
>>> troubleshoot the following problem:
>
>>> My Mom's computer is running gawdawful slow and I cannot figure
>>> out why.
>
>>> Programs take forever and a day to load, screen slow to redraw
>>> at times, etc.
>
Since you already know that computer, you surely have a "lshw" or
"lspci" or (windows) "hwconfig" outprint?
Looks somehow like only generic chipset support resulting in no dma,
or/and no graphic acceleration.
Which chipset, which kernel?

>>> It's a very basic HP Pavilion mini-ATX system with no bells or
>>> whistles. It has a Celeron 700MHz processor.
>
>>> It has always run slowly, whether under Windows98SE and (now)
>>> SuSE Linux 9.3 Pro.
>
You cannot expect miracles. What GUI did you give mom? Probably unwise
to change it now since she's already used to it ... but even kde or
gnome can be a bit "slipstreamed" by turning off unneeded "services".

To your original question: unless it's a laptop on batteries, there is
no psu dependent throttling. However, a overheated cpu will slow down
(check fan running and blow the dust bunnies off the heatsink, also
check correct plain seat) and processes racing away (top in linux
should show).

>> *Mom*'s running Linux? You go, Mom! :)
>
> As her admin, I didn't exactly leave her the choice. };O)
>
....
> Oh, and I've lost 8 lbs. }:O)
>
*g*
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