How to check the performance of DELL XPS M1530?

I've just purchased
DELL XPS M1530
Intel T9300 2.5GHz 6MB L2 cache
4GB RAM
200GB 7200rpm
GeForce 8600M GT 256MB
1680x1050 LCD 2MP camera
Vista Ultimate

When my dad tried it, he asked me: what is the difference with 1 / 2GB RAM and your old PCs?

So he asked me to proof it. Anyway, he understand about computer and knows how to rate a PC performance.

And he is more curious when he knows that when I have a Skype phone and browsing / opening applications, the phone is skipped.

How can I show the real performance of my laptop?

Thank you very much.

 

Well, you can run sythentic benchmarks such as HD Tune (for HDD), PC Mark Vantage/PC Mark 05 (overall), 3DMark06 (GPU), WPrime 32M test (CPU)....etc etc
they are not very far from real-world performance and do give a good idea of the notebook's performance....!!

You can compare the scores with other computers with same/different specs or configurations....!!

 

And how is the phone skipped..??

 

During the Skype phone, I browse, chat, opening a few applications.

If I scroll my mouse a bit faster on the browser page or I open an application, the conversation will be delayed a little.

Why? My specs is more than enough to handle those processes, right?

Thank you.

 

you sure have got one powerhouse of a laptop..

OK, run task manager and minimize it, and keep an eye on the CPU usage....!!
Does it jump up and down....when you fiddle around with Skype running..??
A firewall could be blocking it as well

You could also clean up the registry with CCleaner or Uniblue 2.0, to get the system to be a bit more picky....

 

Yes, you are right. If I only use an old laptop, I wouldn't ask it. That thing makes me confused, why it can be happen to high specs like mine?

What can we analyze from the CPU usage?

How to know if the firewall blocks?
I use AVG Free 8.0.

It still new since May 2008, is there any garbage already?

I also have analyze it if it needs defragment but it said no need.

Thank you.

 

Any PC, no matter what the specs, can bottleneck when using the right applications or playing the right games. Look at Crysis for example.

And even though you have had it only since may, you definately want to clean your computer very, very frequently. Use antivirus programs, reg. cleaners etc.

Try CCleaner. It should give you a bit of a boost in performance seeing as how you havent cleaned it since you got it.


Try more of a manual firewall. Zonealarm is one such that comes to my mind.

Defrags usually have little if nothing to do with your computer being possibly bogged down from adware, spyware, malware etc.

 

Any PC, no matter what the specs, can bottleneck when using the right applications or playing the right games. Look at Crysis for example.

And even though you have had it only since may, you definately want to clean your computer very, very frequently. Use antivirus programs, reg. cleaners etc.

Try CCleaner. It should give you a bit of a boost in performance seeing as how you havent cleaned it since you got it.


Try more of a manual firewall. Zonealarm is one such that comes to my mind.

Defrags usually have little if nothing to do with your computer being possibly bogged down from adware, spyware, malware etc.

 

Skype skips because your internet connection is the bottleneck.

When I make a phonecall I first switch off my downloading apps and browsers.

It's not your system, your system is more than fast enough.

If you want to fix this you'll need a faster internet connection.

 

O..I see. So what makes the phone skipped is the Internet?

By the way, for a few times I've been doing Skype phone and browsing, etc which makes the phone skipped. Is it OK with the hardware?

I thought my Internet is good enough because it is ADSL and I never get a slow loading when opening sites. Well it still not enough then.

If I use a desktop PC in my office with a slower Internet connection I guess, and lower PC configuration, it was fine. I was confused too.

So no matter how high a PC's spec, it will reach the end when dealing with heavy application?

I guess Vista is very high demanding OS. Far away than XP.

Thank you very much.

 

Maybe there are some applications that allow you to control bandwith and priorities. If you could limit the amount of bandwith the browsing uses, it would garantee bandwith to Skype.

Easier would be to stop surfing when you're calling your father

Also check if other apps might be eating your bandwith like msn and ms updates.

 

Ok. I see.

But is it OK with my laptop when I have doing that for a few times?

I also run Yahoo Messenger during Skype phone. I guess it also quite high demanding, because everytime after the OS first loaded, it always a little lag. I don't know why, ONLY Yahoo Messenger, other application is not.

Is it normal?

Thank you.

 

I do not understand your question chris. please explain.

 

1. Is it ok with my laptop since I have been doing Skype phone with browsing, etc. that makes the phone skipped, will it affect my hardware?

2. And I also run Yahoo Messenger during Skype phone. I guess it also quite high demanding, because everytime after the Vista first loaded( I set Yahoo Messenger run at startup ), it always a little lag each time I scroll the contact list. I don't know why, ONLY Yahoo Messenger, other application is not.
Is it normal?

Thank you Phil.

 

1 it is fine. It will not affect your hardware.

2 This is normal, I also have a little lag when MSN logs on. I guess it's importing the contactlist at that moment.

Whenever I use Skype, I switch off MSN, torrents, browser and updates so that nothing interferes with the phonecall. This way I have the best connections. If I do not close those application I get a little delay and sometimes skips on the line.

 

Ok thank you Phil. By the way, what is your notebook and what are the specs?

 

The one I am working on now is 1.6Ghz/1GB/XP. Before this I had 2.0Ghz/2GB/Vista which had the same.

But this is not about specs, this is about the internet connection in my opinion.

 

Yours DELL too? Inspiron / Latitude?

Anyway, Phil can a laptop use more than 4GB RAM?

Mine is 4GB, how can I use it optimally? Of course, combined with my other specs.

Thank you.

 

for Windows, only a 64bit version of windows can use 4GB or MORE of ram

but usually
a) your laptop hardware is hardware limited to 4GB
b) u wont need more than 4GB, unless u'r running photoshop with 10000megapix of photos.....

 

Mine are Asus and Sony.

Like paper_wastage said, you'll need 64bit Vista to benefit from 4GB.

 

Ok I see. Is there any other 32-bit applications beside Photoshop? Maybe games I guess? There are a few very high demanding games nowadays, like Call Of Duty, Metal Gear Solid, etc.

Ok, thanks all.

 

Crysis, Supreme Commander, Doom 3, F.E.A.R.
Any video encoding/editing software....(Sony vegas, Adobe premier elements)