Machine should be fast ... it isn't ... BIOS and Chipset Behavior

[Russell W. Coover]

I have a refurbished Dell Optiplex 3020.

CPU = i5-4590 (3.3 to 3.7 GHz)
8 GB RAM
Windows 10 Pro cleanly installed 2 days ago
Start Programs cut to minimum using ccleaner
Registry cleaned using ccleaner
Unneeded files deleted using ccleaner
Any problems fixed using Tweaking.com Windows Repair Portable

The computer should scream. It does not. It isn't particularly slow, but it is not running at the speed I expect from it. I have faster machines running slower hardware. Using the utility "Why so slow?", after running a scan, the only problem reported was in the section entitled "BIOS and Chipset Behavior",. The report ...

"The highest measured SM BIOS interrupt or other stall was 154 microseconds. This is considered poor behavior. Your system may have difficulty handling multimedia in real-time and may be subject to unexpected stutters and unresponsive behavior"

I have no idea on how to approach this. Can you help?

Thanks.

 

[Grizzly]

You may have an incorrect driver.

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us...roduct/optiplex-3020-desktop/drivers/advanced

do you have a regular HDD or a SSD?? A SSD drive will definitely speed up everything

 

[Russell W. Coover]

I have a 1 GB HDD in the 3020, and yes, I realize that an SSD will speed up everything. But I've just acquired the 3020 and have not had an opportunity to update it yet. I'm simply trying, at this point, to make it the best computer it can be.

The Device Manager reports all drivers working properly.

The BIOS is the latest version. I have updated it from A03 to A15.

After installing a clean version of Windows 10 ( When I bought it, I found that somebody had placed a version of Windows XP on it's drive, but it had a Windows 7 sticker Key on the box, so I used that key to install Win 10), I did have a problem with the Video Card that Windows installed, so I went to the Intel website and downloaded the latest version of the driver for the Intel HD Graphics 4000. For some reason, the .exe version did not want to install, but I was able to install the .zip version of the driver and I've had no problems with it.

Going to the Dell Support website, I notice that the Video Drivers listed do not include the integrated (on the motherboard) driver for the Intel HD Graphics 4000. The Intel driver is for models 4200 to 5500. I will try this driver and let you know the results.

I will also take a look at the Chipset drivers. I do not know if what I'm using is the same as those listed on the page.

If you have any other ideas, please let me know. I do appreciate them.

 

[Russell W. Coover]

The "incorrect" driver guess didn't work out. I made sure I have all the correct drivers and the problem still exists. I'm out of ideas. Anybody?

 

[Comp Cmndo]

When you go to Dell Support, do you enter the Dell Service Tag?
The "as shipped" hardware configuration will be listed.
Since it is refurbished, some of the hardware may not match what is listed for your Service Tag.
Service Tag is in the BIOS & on a label on the machine.
No legit refurbisher would install WinXP, could be the machine was returned & never tested.

Since you just installed Win10, it may be in the middle of downloading an update.
Which version of Win10 did you install?

 

[Russell W. Coover]

dI purchased the machine from a private party. There is a big red refurbished tag on the bottom of the machine. And yes, I did enter the Dell Service Tag, and I allowed Dell to scan the machine, but I used the "Find it myself" option to find drivers.

I cannot find evidence that the machine was modified with new equipment, though I did change the Hard drive myself. It has the stock CPU and it has the stock amount of memory. My install of Win 10 was on a freshly scrubbed hard drive and I have not added any software that Dell normally includes on new machines.

I have run the Diagnostics software from Dell, and it finds no problems ... still, I have 7 computers at home (plus the Dell Opt 3020) none with specifications as good as this Dell, but 5 of them are faster. The two that are not? A Dell Venue 8 Pro and a Dell Venue 11 Pro --- tablets ... though the 11 comes very close to being as fast.

The Windows 10 version of this machine? Windows 10 Home version 1703 (Build 15063.296) 64bit. Most of my machines run Windows 10 Pro, but I had to use the Windows 7 Home Premium COA to activate it. ,

 

[Wargamer]

What is your BIOS startup time as reported by Task Manager (on the right side @ top of the Start Tab)?

Any Event Viewer logs that might indicate some performance related issues?

 

[Wargamer]

I did have a problem with the Video Card that Windows installed, so I went to the Intel website and downloaded the latest version of the driver for the Intel HD Graphics 4000. For some reason, the .exe version did not want to install, but I was able to install the .zip version of the driver and I've had no problems with it.

Looking at the Intel Specs for your CPU, it lists your CPU processor graphics as Intel® HD Graphics 4600.
http://ark.intel.com/products/80815/Intel-Core-i5-4590-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_70-GHz

If that is correct, then the correct graphics driver for your Intel 4th Gen processor would be here:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/81496/Intel-HD-Graphics-4600

 

[tercorbin1]

Hi I have same issue except mine is much slower. WhySoSlow Analysis BIOS and chipset behavior: The highest measured SM BIOS interrupt or other stall was 854 microseconds. This is considered very poor. Your system will have difficulty handling multimedia in real-time and will be subject to unexpected stutters and unresponsive behavior
My System specs are as follows:
Last BIOS start time: 30.4 seconds
MB:Maximus XII FormulaZ490
CPU i9 10850KA
OS: Windows 10 Professional (x64) Version 2009 (build 19042.685)
32644 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
Display adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
Drives
75575.80 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
37974.75 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
ASUS DRW-24B1ST g SCSI CdRom Device [Optical drive]
Crucial_CT1050MX300SSD4 [Hard drive] (1050.21 GB) -- drive 1, rev M0CR040, SMART Status: Healthy
Crucial_CT960M500SSD1 [Hard drive] (960.20 GB) -- drive 9, rev MU05, SMART Status: Healthy
HP SSD EX950 2TB [Hard drive] (2000.07 GB) -- drive 0,
Intel Optane+477GBSSD [Hard drive] -- drive 8,
Intel Optane+477GBSSD [Hard drive] -- drive 7,
INTEL SSDPEKNW020T8 [Hard drive] (2048.41 GB) -- drive 6, SMART Status: Healthy
Samsung SSD 860 QVO 1TB [Hard drive] (1000.20 GB) -- drive 10, rev RVQ01B6Q, SMART Status: Healthy
Seagate Backup+ Hub BK SCSI Disk Device (6001.17 GB) -- drive 15
Seagate Expansion Desk SCSI Disk Device (8001.56 GB) -- drive 13
Seagate Expansion Desk SCSI Disk Device (8001.56 GB) -- drive 14
Seagate Expansion Desk SCSI Disk Device (8001.56 GB) -- drive 12
ST10000DM0004-1ZC101 [Hard drive] (10000.83 GB) -- drive 3, rev DN01, SMART Status: Healthy
ST10000VN0004-1ZD101 [Hard drive] (10000.83 GB) -- drive 2, rev SC60, SMART Status: Healthy
ST1000LM014-1EJ164-SSHD [Hard drive] (1000.20 GB) -- drive 4, rev HPD3, SMART Status: Healthy
ST6000DM001-1XY17Z [Hard drive] (6001.18 GB) -- drive 5, rev CC48, SMART Status: Healthy
WDC WD10EVVS-63E1B0 [Hard drive] (1000.20 GB) -- drive 11, rev 01.01A01, SMART Status: Healthy

Local Drive Volumes

c: (NTFS on drive 7) *	9994.22 GB	8720.96 GB free
d: (NTFS on drive 2)	9999.83 GB	2695.16 GB free
e: (NTFS on drive 8)	510.76 GB	344.32 GB free
f: (NTFS on drive 4)	999.52 GB	544.12 GB free
g: (NTFS on drive 5)	6001.17 GB	2243.34 GB free
h: (NTFS on drive 6)	1.14 GB	628 MB free
i: (NTFS on drive 0)	1999.40 GB	681.38 GB free
j: (NTFS on drive 9)	960.20 GB	266.44 GB free
k: (FAT32 on drive 6)	345 MB	317 MB free
m: (NTFS on drive 6)	2046.91 GB	1382.17 GB free
n: (NTFS on drive 7)	5.55 GB	5.01 GB free
o: (NTFS on drive 3)	10000.83 GB	1509.12 GB free
p: (NTFS on drive 1)	1050.21 GB	572.24 GB free
q: (NTFS on drive 10)	1000.20 GB	562.85 GB free
s: (NTFS on drive 13)	8001.43 GB	4361.87 GB free
t: (NTFS on drive 11)	1000.20 GB	458.87 GB free
u: (NTFS on drive 15)	6001.04 GB	2556.03 GB free
w: (NTFS on drive 12)	8001.43 GB	4947.60 GB free
y: (NTFS on drive 14)	8001.43 GB	6122.34 GB free

* Operating System is installed on c:
if more info is needed please let me know​

 

[bernie9000]

I have the same thing. Ryzen 9 3900XT with Corsair LPX32 GB memory on Asrock Xtreme4 x570 mobo. PC runs shitty....

 

[bernie9000]

I have the same thing. Ryzen 9 3900XT with Corsair LPX32 GB memory on Asrock Xtreme4 x570 mobo. PC runs shitty....

Tried the following: new hdd, different memory, bios updates, frequency tweaking on memory, all in vain. My old 4790k PC runs better.