Vista running too slow for autocad and sketchup - Will XP or 7 speed this up?

My Toshiba Satellite with Vista has super slow lag/response time for autocad and sketchup - will switching to XP or 7 help this? Any help with upgrade suggestions will be helpful. I just need to know what to do..............thanks!

 

check your gpu drivers, they might play a role.

i don't think the other os' should help, as the app should run well on all of them (else they would have a huge problem supportwise).

 

What are the specs of your computer?

 

toshiba satellite l305d-s5873

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 12/21/2009, 13:29:00
Machine name: SUSAN-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1 (6001.vistasp1_gdr.090805-0102)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: TOSHIBA
System Model: Satellite L305D
BIOS: InsydeH2O Version 1.20
Processor: AMD Turion(tm) X2 Dual-Core Mobile RM-70 (2 CPUs), ~2.0GHz
Memory: 1790MB RAM
Page File: 1610MB used, 2219MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 6.00.6001.18000 32bit Unicode

Display Devices
---------------
Card name: ATI Radeon 3100 Graphics
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI Radeon 3100 Graphics (0x9613)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9613&SUBSYS_FF6A1179&REV_00
Display Memory: 893 MB
Dedicated Memory: 254 MB
Shared Memory: 638 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor
Driver Name: atidxx32.dll,atidxx64,atiumdag.dll,atiumdva.dat,atiumd64,atiumd6a,atitmm64
Driver Version: 7.15.0010.0096 (English)
DDI Version: 10
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 4/22/2008 21:55:36, 1499136 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D553-11CF-FE70-60DFA1C2CA35}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x9613
SubSys ID: 0xFF6A1179
Revision ID: 0x0000
Revision ID: 0x0000
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C
Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
{6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
{3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled

--------------
System Devices
--------------
Name: Atheros AR5007EG Wireless Network Adapter
Device ID: PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001C&SUBSYS_7128144F&REV_01\4&18D07F7E&0&0030
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\athr.sys, 7.06.0000.0108 (English), 4/18/2008 00:54:16, 909824 bytes

Name: Realtek RTL8102E Family PCI-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&SUBSYS_FF6A1179&REV_02\FFFF000000
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\Rtlh86.sys, 6.205.0403.2008 (English), 4/15/2008 10:05:08, 118784 bytes

Name: PCI Express standard Root Port
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_9607&SUBSYS_FF6A1179&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&0&38
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\pci.sys, 6.00.6001.22142 (English), 3/24/2008 20:23:40, 151096 bytes

Name: PCI Express standard Root Port
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_9606&SUBSYS_FF6A1179&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&0&30
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\pci.sys, 6.00.6001.22142 (English), 3/24/2008 20:23:40, 151096 bytes

Name: PCI Express standard Root Port
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_9605&SUBSYS_FF6A1179&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&0&28
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\pci.sys, 6.00.6001.22142 (English), 3/24/2008 20:23:40, 151096 bytes

Name: PCI Express standard Root Port
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_9604&SUBSYS_FF6A1179&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&0&20
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\pci.sys, 6.00.6001.22142 (English), 3/24/2008 20:23:40, 151096 bytes

Name: PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_9602&SUBSYS_96021022&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&0&08
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\pci.sys, 6.00.6001.22142 (English), 3/24/2008 20:23:40, 151096 bytes

Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_9600&SUBSYS_FF6A1179&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&0&00
Driver: n/a

Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1304&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&0&C4
Driver: n/a

Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1303&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&0&C3
Driver: n/a

Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1302&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&0&C2
Driver: n/a

Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1301&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&0&C1
Driver: n/a

Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1300&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_40\3&2411E6FE&0&C0
Driver: n/a

Name: ATI Radeon 3100 Graphics
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9613&SUBSYS_FF6A1179&REV_00\4&1E8AA2B1&0&2808
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\atikmdag.sys, 7.01.0001.0747 (English), 4/23/2008 00:36:32, 3551232 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\ativcaxx.cpa, 8/23/2006 17:26:58, 328162 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\ativcaxx.vp, 8/23/2006 17:26:58, 929 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\ativvpxx.vp, 9/8/2007 22:37:08, 52400 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\ativpkxx.vp, 5/30/2007 11:37:38, 2096 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\ativokxx.vp, 5/30/2007 11:37:38, 2096 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\ativdkxx.vp, 4/18/2007 08:19:50, 2096 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\ati2erec.dll, 1.00.0000.0012 (English), 4/22/2008 21:09:16, 49152 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiumdag.dll, 7.14.0010.0567 (English), 4/22/2008 21:50:22, 3074560 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiumdva.dll, 7.14.0010.0182 (English), 4/22/2008 21:35:36, 4088832 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atitmmxx.dll, 6.14.0011.0017 (English), 4/22/2008 22:05:08, 159744 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiicdxx.dat, 3/6/2008 10:40:54, 168883 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiumdva.dat, 4/22/2008 21:35:14, 3107788 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\amdpcom32.dll, 7.14.0010.0001 (English), 4/22/2008 21:24:32, 47104 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atibrtmon.exe, 3/4/2008 19:02:00, 90112 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\Ati2evxx.exe, 6.14.0010.4190 (English), 4/22/2008 22:03:10, 671744 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\Ati2evxx.dll, 6.14.0010.4176 (English), 4/22/2008 22:04:22, 258048 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atipdlxx.dll, 6.14.0010.2530 (English), 4/22/2008 22:04:56, 315392 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\Oemdspif.dll, 6.15.0003.0000 (English), 4/22/2008 22:04:44, 249856 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\ati2edxx.dll, 6.14.0010.2513 (English), 4/22/2008 22:04:32, 43520 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\ATIDEMGX.dll, 2.00.3034.37959 (English), 4/22/2008 22:05:20, 372736 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atioglxx.dll, 6.14.0010.7417 (English), 4/22/2008 21:44:32, 9662464 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atidxx32.dll, 7.15.0010.0096 (English), 4/22/2008 21:55:36, 1499136 bytes
Driver: C:\Windows\atiogl.xml, 1/21/2008 09:48:20, 12477 bytes

 

Vista is itself a slow operating system on any hardware and your laptop is more than sufficient to handle AutoCAD well, so the problem most likely lies with your drivers. I would follow davepermen's suggestion by updating your video drivers.

 

what kind of video driver should I get to speed things up?

 

I don't have either of those programs, but I'm guessing RAM could be a factor. Press shift-ctrl-Esc to run Task Manager, go to the Performance tab and watch the green bar for the memory. If it's usually near the max when the computer is slow, then you probably need more RAM.

Also, I don't know how powerful your graphics card is... from the model number I'm guessing it's probably pretty weak. If it's just the 3D stuff that performs badly, then the graphics card might be an issue.

 

I think both your suggestions can be ruled out by the fact that his machine has 2GB of RAM, of which approximately 300MB is borrowed by the IGP. Also, the Radeon should be sufficient unless he's rendering shadows and lighting with CAD. Possible, but unlikely. Still, these suggestions are certainly worth considering.

 

vistas only real place to slow you down is BEFORE the app is running. once it runs, it should run well (within maybe 10% of the performance of other os' on the same system).

so check your drivers.

 

Your specs are decent, although the RAM is at 2 GB which is just enough for smooth Vista functions, but I'm not sure Autocad or Sketchup would like that too much.

Switching to XP or 7 'might' solve the lag issue, though if I was in your position, I would upgrade the RAM to 3GB, or possibly 4Gb (but if you go with 4, then switching to a x64 OS would be advisable).

Check your gpu drivers first and foremost, and also if you have all of the Windows updates in place.
If everything is ok ... then perhaps you might give it a go with the RAM upgrade, or simply install XP on a separate partition and see how the programs behave from there.

 

I'm curious just what kind of lag there is. Switching to 7 probably won't help. Switching to XP may help though. AutoCAD is an incredible complex piece of software and I won't bet that two years is enough time to iron out the transition to Vista.

 

yeah, the only thing that could help is disabling aero (or switching to xp). if it's some sort of incompatbility with the gpu-rendered ui.

you could try that: set windows to classic mode, and run it then.

 

AutoCAD 2008 was designed to use Vista, so I doubt that compatibility is an issue unless he's using an older version.

 

The lag time is about 10-20 seconds for each function I enter. I'm using Autocad Architecture 2010 and SketchUp Pro.

 

What is the process for setting windows to classic mode?

 

It looks like swarmer might be right; AutoCAD Architecture 2010 system requirements have high recommendations as with any CAD program, but it recommends 3GB of RAM:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=13799982

Note the video requirements as well, though that may be for specific tasks.

 

On my desktop with XP and Autocad 2009 running, about 900k is used. I can't tell how much is used by the video card. Vista is known to require more memory so my guess is that you don't have enough memory. There should be very little lag time for commands that you enter.

However there are a few commands that I enter that have delays loading dialogue boxes and so forth. I believe there is a problem with my search paths and sometimes autocad is looking for commands in places where there are no places. I haven't taken the time yet to try to track this down. (tools > options > files).

 

This clears up a lot of things.

 

Toshiba proprietary graphics cards share alot of memory--her specs say up to 898mb mine shares up to 2175 and will share more if I add more. My Toshiba with 4096 RAM gets low memory warnings playing games occasionally and gets unbearably laggy. I wish the 4gb module I need to fix my problem were as inexpensive as the 2x2gb modules you need.

 

Here's some info on your graphics card... http://www.notebookcheck.net/ATI-Radeon-HD-3100.20165.0.html ... not as weak as I thought, but may still not be optimal for serious CAD stuff. (I don't use CAD myself so I'm not really the expert on this.)

Rather than spending a lot on upgrades, an option I'd consider is to sell the laptop and use the money toward buying a new one with 3 or 4 gb, Windows 7, and a more powerful graphics card and newer CPU.

But if the budget's tight, you may get some mileage out of just upgrading the RAM.