Need help with interpreting results of test

[sorcerer]

I recently had a topic in this forum about an Asus X501 laptop and in that case was asking about the heat pipe of the CPU heatsink. The owner of said laptop is away on holiday so no great rush to finish the job, which is just as well because I still haven't got to the bottom of why it's running slowly and I keep leaving it to do other work then coming back to it when time allows.

Anyway, as I said in the other topic the HDD tests good with GSmartControl and also the manufacturer's diagnostic program; it's not overheating and RAM tests good according to Memtest86+

Long story short - I ran HD Tune and got abysmal results but discovered that the same drive tests perfectly good when connected to my test rig.

In laptop:

[URL=http://s137.photobucket.com/user/darkdoo/media/hd_lap.jpg.html][/URL]

Same drive in my test rig:

[URL=http://s137.photobucket.com/user/darkdoo/media/hd_desk.jpg.html][/URL]

This would indicate, to me anyway, that either the laptop motherboard or CPU is the possible cause of the problem. Given that I only work from my tiny spare bedroom and don't have access to lots of fancy and expensive test gear or even a spare mobo/processor, how can I narrow it down?

 

[Markverhyden]

You need to take into account a few things. What is the difference between the processor/mobo/RAM of the two platforms? Operating systems?

I would try another HD and see what happens with testing it in the Asus.

 

[Larry Sabo]

Those dips are usually due to processor interruptions to handle other tasks. If you run the test in Safe mode and minimize moving the mouse during the test, that would give a truer picture of the drive's performance. Actually, I would suggest using HDDScan in Safe mode, since it gives a more helpful table of speed. There was another thread recently in which this was discussed.

 

[sorcerer]

Thanks guys, will do that tomorrow as it's almost midnight here now and I've had a little drink tonight

Edit: 3.00am here and even with a bellyful of ale I can't sleep. However, what you're saying is now so blindingly obvious that I'm left wondering why I didn't see it before? A 'DOH' moment if ever there was one

 

[sorcerer]

Ok, finally got to sleep at about 6.30am so my day is gonna be great! Anyway, I took your advice chaps and did the tests again in Safe Mode and kept my hands away from the mouse and everything else - results below. One thing I noticed that set me off down this line of thought, ie, that the problem is either mobo or RAM, is that after booting with a Memtest86+ disc (and therefore being completely outside of Windows), it took 4hrs 15min to do one pass on 4GB RAM. It completed with no errors but I've never known 4GB to take 4hrs 15min before. Anyway, all advice gratefully received.

[URL=http://s137.photobucket.com/user/darkdoo/media/hdsm2.jpg.html][/URL]

and the graph:

[URL=http://s137.photobucket.com/user/darkdoo/media/hdsm1.jpg.html][/URL]

and HD Tune results:

[URL=http://s137.photobucket.com/user/darkdoo/media/hdtunesm.png.html][/URL]

 

[Larry Sabo]

The drive looks fine to me. The RAM sure looks suspicious; I'd check how known-good and compatible RAM runs on Memtest.

 

[sorcerer]

Thanks very much Larry, I'll give that a try.

 

[sorcerer]

Sort of reached an impass now - the RAM is soldered onto the motherboard and no facility to add extra RAM in. So, before I call it quits and tell the customer that his machine is fubarred, is there any other conclusive way I can test the RAM just by software alone to make sure that it is indeed that at fault?

 

[Larry Sabo]

If you're sure the CPU temps (CoreTemp) are okay, about the only thing left to try would be a restore to factory default (after making an image of the drive). Have you done an offline scan for malware? How does a Linux live CD/Flash run? Sometimes these things are just a mystery of life and they can't all be resolved. You've given it your best try; the slowness is not your fault.

 

[sorcerer]

Yep, CPU core temps are 48C at idle and 54C under load, which is possibly a bit hotter than I'd like but certainly not excessive enough to cause this slowness - or at least I don't think so anyway. Kaspersky Rescue Disc found a problem or two but cleaned them up so (after running other scans as well) I'm confident there's no malware causing it either. Linux Mint Live CD runs slowly as well so it's definitely something external to Windows and the file system.

Thanks very much for your help Larry but as you say, time to call it a day I think. Cheers sir

 

[SilverLeaf]

Just curious, did you verify that the SATA controller is set to use AHCI in the BIOS, or is it set to legacy/IDE mode?

 

[Larry Sabo]

Depending on how much space he needs, it might be worth adding memory and trying an SSD, if it means salvaging the laptop. BTW, I don't think you've given us the full specs for the laptop. It comes with an i3 or Pentium CPU (slugs) and "up to 4GB of shared memory." So it's a very basic 32-bit laptop that's never going to be fast, I suspect. Probably not economical to upgrade. I recently guided 2 customers in the purchase of basic desktops with i3 CPUs and will never do that again. Takes 3-5 seconds to open apps or Windows features (e.g., This PC, Properties).

 

[FremontPC]

See if Asus included any diags and check the RAM with that. There have been more than a few instances when Memtest said the RAM was clean and swapping out the sticks fixed the problem. Is there a BIOS update for this model? That might have an impact on RAM performance.

I'd also check to see if Intel Rapid Storage Technology is installed. If it is, remove it and test again.

 

[Markverhyden]

4 hours to test 4gb of RAM. Sounds like that may be the issue. Last thing I would do before declaring it DOA and giving it back to the customer is reflash the BIOS. This is another example of why I do not like the super small cheap laptops, everything is soldered on so it's an all or nothing proposition. And even Apple has moved their higher stuff to soldered on as well.

 

[sorcerer]

Just curious, did you verify that the SATA controller is set to use AHCI in the BIOS, or is it set to legacy/IDE mode?

It was originally set to AHCI but as we often do in these situations, I tried it both ways and it made no difference.

BTW, I don't think you've given us the full specs for the laptop. It comes with an i3 or Pentium CPU (slugs) and "up to 4GB of shared memory."

It's an AMD C-60 with Radeon HD6290 graphics 998MHz HT/multicore (2), 64-bit

See if Asus included any diags and check the RAM with that. There have been more than a few instances when Memtest said the RAM was clean and swapping out the sticks fixed the problem. Is there a BIOS update for this model? That might have an impact on RAM performance.

I'd also check to see if Intel Rapid Storage Technology is installed. If it is, remove it and test again.

No Intel RST installed and the RAM is soldered directly on the motherboard so no sticks to swap out. Will check for updated BIOS though.

Thanks, everyone, for all your help, it really is much appreciated