Now that I have had windows vista for almost 2 months, my assessment is that I like it, but it is much more of a resource hog than Windows XP was. For example, prior to upgrading to Windows Vista, I used to have one Gigabyte of ram on my machine and World of Warcraft used to play very smoothly (60 frames/second). After upgrading to Windows Vista, my frame rate went down to 30 frames per second.
I did a lot of research on the Internet regarding this issue and read things about video drivers being slower in Windows Vista than in Windows XP, but nothing that I read seemed to indicate that I should have seen such a significant drop in my frame rate. Especially considering that I have an Nvidia GForce 7800 GS. I was puzzled.
Then, one night, while playing World of Warcraft, I realized that in addition to the drop in frame rate, I found that when I would hot-key out of World of Warcraft to look up information on a quest for the game on Google, I noticed that Internet explorer or Mozilla Firefox would take much longer to start than they used to on Windows XP. This got me to thinking that perhaps 1 Gigabyte of RAM might not be enough for the way that I was using my system. So off to the local Best Buy I went.
Initially I was thinking about purchasing only 512M of ram and using it to fill in the last available RAM slot on my motherboard (ASUS K8N-E Deluxe), but when I read the manual, I found out that this would slow down the RAM access from 333 Mhz to 200 Mhz . But, I found out that if I purchased 1 Gigabyte of RAM, I would be able to swap out one of the 512 Megabyte modules for the 1 Gigabyte module, resulting in a 512 Megabyte RAM increase while at the same time being able to retain the 333 Mhz speed.
When I got home with the RAM, I decided to experiment a little. Prior to inserting the RAM into the system, I booted the system and checked the Windows Experience Index. 4.1 was the measurement. I then shut the system down and added the 1 Gigabyte module to the remaining slot and re-booted. Just like the manual said, the ram would only run at 200Mhz. I even tried moving the module around to see if I could find a configuration that would result in a higher clock rate. I was unable to do so. So, I let the system boot with this configuration and then checked the Windows Experience Index. I was surprised by what I found, the experience index had gone from 4.1 to 2.0 even though I added 1 Gigabyte of ram. In addition, World of Warcraft had become almost unplayable. So, I shut the system down once more, removed one of the 512 Megabyte modules, and re-booted. The result was that the system was back to 333 Mhz. Here is one instance where adding RAM could slow down your system.
After the system rebooted, I checked the Windows Experience Index and found that it had returned to 4.1. The big difference being that now, when I hot-keyed out of World of Warcraft, Mozilla Firefox and Internet explorer, and just about anything else that I ran was much more responsive. In addition, the World of Warcraft frame rates returned to 60 frames per second.
Should you decide to upgrade your computer system from Windows XP to Windows Vista, I would recommend that you increase your system RAM by a minimum of 512 Megabytes in order to achieve performance similar to what you are used to on Windows XP. In addition, whenever you are thinking about adding RAM to your system, always check your system manual or contact support for your system to make sure that you will get the increase that you expect by adding the ram you intend to add.
This is where I will publish my random thoughts. There is no set schedule to the publications.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Windows Vista, a first impression
I'm back to posting
Instead of the direction that I was going with my prior posts, I think that I am going to switch to posting about technology instead. I figure that there is probably more interest in my views on technology then there is on where I went on vacation and how the kids did in sports over the summer. So, without further adieu, here is the first of what I hope will be many, many technology posts to come.
Windows Vista
Being a technology professional, I felt that it was important for me to get a jump onto the windows vista bandwagon in order to keep on top of things.
Since I was one of the users plagued with Windows Genuine Advantage problems, due to a disreputable PC vendor that is no longer in business, I decided that I would purchase a full copy of Windows Vista Ultimate and see if I could get away with upgrading from Windows XP. While it turned out that I was able to run the upgrade process, I was unable to get the upgraded system to boot.
On the very first boot into Windows vista after the upgrade process completed, I was presented with the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) showing that something was wrong with my USB drivers. After several attempts of re-booting and some swearing, I decided to call Microsoft support to see if they had any information on this problem and if they could help me to overcome it. It turned out that they did not have anything to offer that would help me get through the upgrade install. Instead the support representative suggested that I perform a clean install.
During the clean install, the Windows Vista installation process found that there was another version of windows already installed on the comouter and offered to make a backup copy of it before beginning. Just to be on the safe side, and after checking that I had enough space available, I selected the option to make the backup. After about 40 minutes and a few prompts for administrator userid's, passwords, time-zones, etc., the system was up and running, with all of my old files located in a Windows.old directory.
While I was not too happy that I was forced to have to do a clean install, because I knew that I would then have several hours of application re-installs to go through, I was very happy that Windows Vista was up and running with the full aero glass interface and all. Isn't it pretty =)
For anyone who is going to point out that I should have made a backup of my system before I began the upgrade, I would like to explain why I didn't bother. Other than the Windows Operating system and hardware drivers, the only other applications that I install onto my C: drive are utilities (winzip, Acrobat reader, etc.). All of my important data files (pictures, finance data, etc.) and applications are kept on other drives on the computer so that even if the C: drive was completely re-formatted by the installation, nothing of value to me would be lost.
I Have been using Windows Vista for about 3 weeks now and I like it much better than Windows XP. The main reason for this is all of the additional security prompts that appear when you try to run an programs that will make a change to the system configuration. I'll be honest, for the past 4 years, I have been using Suse Linux for almost everything except playing games and handling support calls from work because it already had such prompts. These kinds of prompts are very helpful in preventing malicious software from having it's way with your system. As tempting as it may be to turn these new prompts off in Windows Vista, I would strongly recommend against doing so. Don't worry, after a while you will get used to them and you won't notice them so much. Lastly, your system will be much more secure because of them.
Instead of the direction that I was going with my prior posts, I think that I am going to switch to posting about technology instead. I figure that there is probably more interest in my views on technology then there is on where I went on vacation and how the kids did in sports over the summer. So, without further adieu, here is the first of what I hope will be many, many technology posts to come.
Windows Vista
Being a technology professional, I felt that it was important for me to get a jump onto the windows vista bandwagon in order to keep on top of things.
Since I was one of the users plagued with Windows Genuine Advantage problems, due to a disreputable PC vendor that is no longer in business, I decided that I would purchase a full copy of Windows Vista Ultimate and see if I could get away with upgrading from Windows XP. While it turned out that I was able to run the upgrade process, I was unable to get the upgraded system to boot.
On the very first boot into Windows vista after the upgrade process completed, I was presented with the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) showing that something was wrong with my USB drivers. After several attempts of re-booting and some swearing, I decided to call Microsoft support to see if they had any information on this problem and if they could help me to overcome it. It turned out that they did not have anything to offer that would help me get through the upgrade install. Instead the support representative suggested that I perform a clean install.
During the clean install, the Windows Vista installation process found that there was another version of windows already installed on the comouter and offered to make a backup copy of it before beginning. Just to be on the safe side, and after checking that I had enough space available, I selected the option to make the backup. After about 40 minutes and a few prompts for administrator userid's, passwords, time-zones, etc., the system was up and running, with all of my old files located in a Windows.old directory.
While I was not too happy that I was forced to have to do a clean install, because I knew that I would then have several hours of application re-installs to go through, I was very happy that Windows Vista was up and running with the full aero glass interface and all. Isn't it pretty =)
For anyone who is going to point out that I should have made a backup of my system before I began the upgrade, I would like to explain why I didn't bother. Other than the Windows Operating system and hardware drivers, the only other applications that I install onto my C: drive are utilities (winzip, Acrobat reader, etc.). All of my important data files (pictures, finance data, etc.) and applications are kept on other drives on the computer so that even if the C: drive was completely re-formatted by the installation, nothing of value to me would be lost.
I Have been using Windows Vista for about 3 weeks now and I like it much better than Windows XP. The main reason for this is all of the additional security prompts that appear when you try to run an programs that will make a change to the system configuration. I'll be honest, for the past 4 years, I have been using Suse Linux for almost everything except playing games and handling support calls from work because it already had such prompts. These kinds of prompts are very helpful in preventing malicious software from having it's way with your system. As tempting as it may be to turn these new prompts off in Windows Vista, I would strongly recommend against doing so. Don't worry, after a while you will get used to them and you won't notice them so much. Lastly, your system will be much more secure because of them.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Finally had some time...
With the little league season nearing the end, and with the Memorial Day weekend almost here, I finally found some time to post another entry. Sorry for the delay.
What's up with the kids?
The kids didn't use all of their snow days this year so they don't have any school 5/26 and 5/27. I decided that this would also be a great time for me to take a couple of days vacation. So here I am typing this blog at 11:30 PM.
Lauren decided that having her own web page on the family web site wasn't cool enough and since all of her friends have their own myspace web sites, she had to have one too. So she begged,pleaded, and whined about not being able to have her own myspace until I couldn't take it any more.
Jason, on the other hand, is much more interested in playing videogames and can't be bothered with a web site. His skills on the video games has improved so much, and mine have deteriorated so much, that Jason is able to beat me in just about any game that we play together. Man I'm getting to be an old fart!
What's up with Lisa?
As I promised, Lisa managed to find another woodscape picture that she wants me to make for her. I started working on it over 3 weeks ago, but didn't get very far before needing to turn my sites to dong some spring cleanup, and chores around the outside of the house. Perhaps I'll manage to find some time over the memorial day weekend to finish the picture. If you are interested, here is a link to a picture of the picture. I really am looking forward to being able to return to work on it.
Now that spring is fianlly here(i think), Lisa is in her glory. She has been relentless with the honey-do list. I honestly think that she spends the winter planning my chores for the spring such that I have very little free time to myself. Thus the reason for this update at ll:30 PM. While I love to complain about it, I also don't really mind the work. It gets me out of the house and gets the blood circulating. Much better than being a couch potato.
Uncle Mike
I spoke to my uncle a few weeks ago and caught up with how everyone was doing. He sent me a poem that he finished and I really enjoyed it. I was very thankful that he decided to send it. He told me that Oriana (one of my cousins) is living in London -- yes, London England (I was very sprised by this), and she has her own web site. Perhaps some day Lisa, the kids, and I might get to visit her there. I know that I would really like that although I am not to sure how if Oriana would want us bugging her. In addition, since 9/11, Lisa has had absolutely no desire to get on an airplane to for any reason.
Getting tired now...
Good Night...ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz.....
What's up with the kids?
The kids didn't use all of their snow days this year so they don't have any school 5/26 and 5/27. I decided that this would also be a great time for me to take a couple of days vacation. So here I am typing this blog at 11:30 PM.
Lauren decided that having her own web page on the family web site wasn't cool enough and since all of her friends have their own myspace web sites, she had to have one too. So she begged,pleaded, and whined about not being able to have her own myspace until I couldn't take it any more.
Jason, on the other hand, is much more interested in playing videogames and can't be bothered with a web site. His skills on the video games has improved so much, and mine have deteriorated so much, that Jason is able to beat me in just about any game that we play together. Man I'm getting to be an old fart!
What's up with Lisa?
As I promised, Lisa managed to find another woodscape picture that she wants me to make for her. I started working on it over 3 weeks ago, but didn't get very far before needing to turn my sites to dong some spring cleanup, and chores around the outside of the house. Perhaps I'll manage to find some time over the memorial day weekend to finish the picture. If you are interested, here is a link to a picture of the picture. I really am looking forward to being able to return to work on it.
Now that spring is fianlly here(i think), Lisa is in her glory. She has been relentless with the honey-do list. I honestly think that she spends the winter planning my chores for the spring such that I have very little free time to myself. Thus the reason for this update at ll:30 PM. While I love to complain about it, I also don't really mind the work. It gets me out of the house and gets the blood circulating. Much better than being a couch potato.
Uncle Mike
I spoke to my uncle a few weeks ago and caught up with how everyone was doing. He sent me a poem that he finished and I really enjoyed it. I was very thankful that he decided to send it. He told me that Oriana (one of my cousins) is living in London -- yes, London England (I was very sprised by this), and she has her own web site. Perhaps some day Lisa, the kids, and I might get to visit her there. I know that I would really like that although I am not to sure how if Oriana would want us bugging her. In addition, since 9/11, Lisa has had absolutely no desire to get on an airplane to for any reason.
Getting tired now...
Good Night...ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)