Tips to maximise Vostro 1500 performance

My new Vostro 1500 is due to arrive on 21 August 2007.

Are they any recommendations on what adjustments I should make to the Vista default settings, features that should be disabled, or programs that I should remove to maximize performance?

 

Hey whr r u from..?? and how did u manage to get the free RAM... i'm placing my order today... same specs as urs...

 

enable write caching
disable Indexing
services.msc cleanup
turn features on/off (Vista)
startup programs cleanup via msconfig or Windows Defender
one-size paging file (much debated, but I do it anyway)

All the above after a reinstall for a nice, fresh system.

P

 

And make shure to check the default vista battery settings. Even on desktops, the default power setting within vista robs your graphics card's PCI-e power, thus making it slower. Just change it from balanced to max performance, even if your notebook comes with a power optimization program.

 

I'm from Australia

 

My Vostro came yesterday and I was wondering the same thing! Thanks for the tips cvx5832! I'm currently doing a complete reinstall of Vista after formatting all the partitions.

How do you enable write caching? I think I know how to do most of the other stuff.

 

This is such a noob question, but why is a fresh install necessary?

 

I'm guessing he's probably from Australia and grabbed the same deal I did last week where Dell were offering a free upgrade on RAM to 3GB, free BT mouse, free BT headset, free delivery, free 3yr CoverGaurd, free BT module. Combined with a coupon for 10% off Vostro... it was a good time to order a 1500

edit: I should read more carefully. He is a fellow Aussie

 

Yep, I'm a fellow Aussie alright. I saved the cart and ordered it on Monday.

 

I'm getting 3GB RAM in mine and was going to turn off the page-file all together. I currently do that for my desktop that has 2GB, and have only had an out-of-memory problem once when I had iTunes, 2 x FF, Thunderbird, Photoshop, AutoPanoPro, MotorolaPhone Tools all running and I went to start Adobe Premier and it said "yeah... right, nice try tiger..."

Why not force the OS and apps to utilise all that nice fast system RAM I have installed, rather ballooning a page-file in and out on the HDD all the time ? Am I missing something here ? It's been working great on my desktop for about a year now. And I reckon there are more benefits with notebook, given the potential battery savings in not having to write/read the HDD all the time.

 

If you're a noob, you probably don't want to attempt a fresh install. Most people on these boards seem to think that while a complete reformatting, by eliminating all bloatware and Dell's default settings, can result in a slight performance increase, but that it's by no means necessary and shouldn't be attempted by those who aren't completely comfortable. With the Vostro, which is supposed to come bloatware-free, that should especially be the case.

I'm debating whether to do a fresh install on my Inspiron 1720 and leaning against it.

 

A fresh install is definitely not necessary for the Vostro line. My friend brought his brand new Vostro over today for me to install some software and I was surprised to see how little there was on my system. I expected to have to do a reformat, but I didn't bother wasting the time since there was so little on it. My Dell XPS M1210 on the other hand had at least 25 pieces of bloatware on it.

 

FYI: You can't enable write caching on any of the new notebooks <_<

 

how would you do a fresh install on the vostro since it doesn't come with a vista disc? or was it's supposed to come with one? should i call DELL to get it?

 

also, are there any hacked or updated drivers we can use for the HD to allow write caching?

 

for tweaking services http://www.blackviper.com/

 

bios..... change hard drive (acoustic) settings to PERFORMANCE. Bit noiser.

 

You should have got a Vista disc.

 

I tried the "no page file" route and it worked for a while. Unfortunately for my (specific) use, and only 2.0GB, I was still able to reach an out-of-memory scenario. For my particular application, I had to use a page file. With lesser memory-intesnsive tasks, a no page file setup indeed worked quicker.

 

A fresh install, as has been said, is not for everyone, and certainly not necessary. However it's a way for me to guarantee that there isn't a program or driver in my system that I don't need, instead of going through your computer and seeing what you can remove.

If the OP is comfortable with a fresh install, why not. Besides, Vista is as moron-proof as I've seen in a Windows install.

 

Yes you can. Do some Google-ing on write-caching and the RAID controllers that came installed on your Dell.

Good luck.

In the future - unless you're absolutely sure, it's "FYI" statements like these that perpetuate misinformation.

Regards,
Paolo

 

If you're already doing the reinstall, without installing the Dell "drivers and utilities" disc, write caching is available via Device Manager > Disk Drives > your hard drive > Properties.

Good luck.

 

What does write caching do?

 

Speeds up Windows performance by "caching" or storing write requests. This frees the OS sooner to begin other tasks as it thinks the writing has completed. The actual "committing" of the write data happens in small chunks after the fact, and has less impact on the system.

The downside is if something happens to your system (freeze up or spontaneous reboot) right after a write, the data isn't really written to the hard drive, and is probably lost.