Differences in performance in Vista

I'm trying to understand the differences in performance in Windows Vista across multiple setups. My original computer was an HP dv4000 with specs below before it died and I had to borrow my roommate's desktop. However, the desktop seems extremely slow and I can't really figure out why. Here are the specs of both:

HP dv4000:
Intel Pentium M 1.6Ghz pinmodded 2.13Ghz
1GB DDR2 533Mhz RAM
80GB 5400RPM HDD
Ati Mobility Radeon x700 128MB
15.4" screen @ 1280x800
Windows Vista Ultimate
Vista Rating: 4.2 (lowest CPU)

Roommate's PC:
Intel Pentium 4 3Ghz
1GB DDR 400Mhz RAM
80GB 5400RPM HDD (probably 5400, but maybe 7200, too lazy to figure out)
Ati Radeon 9600 256MB
17" CRT @ 1280x1024
Windows Vista Ultimate
Vista Ratin: 3.4 (lowest Gaming graphics with desktop only 0.1 higher)

So what I am thinking is that does video card performance matter that much? It's a good thing I got a decent video card on my new laptop coming in Monday but I don't know why performance would vary so much just because of that!

 

I think its probably the difference in the processor
your rommmate processor clocks at 3.0 ghz

 

r both systems sharing the same software set.up (start.up processes & services & AV & firewall & tweaks)?

cheers ...

 

windows doesnt consider ur software setups while doing the rating.. its more for your system hardware and those softwares that supports hardware.. so AV and tweaks shouldnt matter in the rating..

As mentioned, the processor speed can def be one reason.. and SPRT takes all the components into consideration, separately.. and then comes up with a score.. so ur processor, HDD, GPU.. everything wil matter..

 

sure, the question pertained to dagamer34's observation ("My original computer was an HP dv4000 with specs below before it died and I had to borrow my roommate's desktop. However, the desktop seems extremely slow and I can't really figure out why") that the buddy's system is much slower -

vista rating is NOT a benchmark for overall system performance

cheers ...

 

Well, the CPU score of the Pentium 4 is 0.2 higher if I remember correctly. It's the same software setup with no major differences.

I mean, it doesn't really matter too much as my new laptop should run Vista just fine, but I'm just trying to understand this a bit more.

 

Oh.. okay.. didnt connect properly.. qhn is correct..

and dagamer34, dont worry abt the rating till MS perfects the tool..