- Dec 21, 2015
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Hello, I need to ask what's causing a certain set of problems on my computer(s) so I know what to buy to avoid getting the same problems again. This post is potentially TLDR but I'm out of options as to what to do. I should perhaps say from the start that I don't know anything about computers so answers need to be on a very low level and instructions exceedingly detailed.
In short, my problem with computers (specifically, laptops) that I own or use is that if I leave them alone for some time, say an hour or more, when I come back they are more or less slow. Leaving the computer alone with say a youtube tab open, or programs like Matlab, RStudio, Codeblocks, Texworks etc certainly exacerbate the problem, but it appears even when I've not used them at all. See below for examples of the slowing down, and how I use the computer (so as to provide information that might reveal why my computers .
The two computers I have now have the following specs:
1. Dell N5110, Intel Core i5-2450M 2.5GHz, 6GB ram, 64-bit OS, 350gb hard drive, runs windows 7 and ubuntu 14 (computer runs quite well with ubuntu but is prone to sudden shutdown), age <3 years.
2. Asus Notebook U31F, Intel Core i3 2.53GHz, 4GB ram, 64-bit OS, 450gb hard drive, runs windows 7, age >4 years.
Computer 2 is incomparably better than computer 1, which has to be scrapped because it appears to have hardware issues. When it comes to using the computers they do exhibit the same class of problems however, with computer 1 exhibiting them to a much much greater degree. Now follows problem description.
The slowing down takes many forms. Example: I'm in a folder and click a file/program to highlight it. The mouse cursor then indicates that the system is processing. The folder itself might say "not responding". Eventually, say 10 seconds, all is fine and the file is finally highlighted. Opening the actual file leads to the same problem; the cursor indicates the system is processing, the file's program opens and says "not responding", and is resolved after some time. Continued use of file/program is laggy.
Example: I play a youtube video, it finishes. I leave that tab open and browse the internet in another tab. I leave the computer, come back after >1 hour. I now want to go to the youtube tab to start another video. The cursor is moved over that tab - this should lead to a label (with the tab's title) appearing, but it doesn't appear for some time. Clicking the tab the browser window is initially turned white, possibly with browser "not responding", eventually the contents of the tab appear. All interaction with the site is now laggy. Replaying the video easily takes more than a minute before it starts, and then the video is laggy (it's alright eventually).
Example: A program is minimized. I move the cursor over the program; the "miniature" (?) takes time to appear, then appears all white, then finally the contents. Clicking maximizes the program, which might go into "not responding" mode for a moment.
Example: I'm in Chrome and wish to visit a certain site, a "mainstream" site say wikipedia, one that's never down and always works well. I enter the url and press enter. The tab window goes white and there is seemingly endless processing, flashback to the '90s. This "processing" might take over a minute or even two minutes, at which point the site might load flawlessly, or pictures and css (?) don't load at all. I'm sure this behavior doesn't have to do with the site itself, it seems highly improbable that mainstream sites such as wikipedia would be down as often as they are for me, every other day maybe.
As you can tell there's a common theme to these problems, lagginess. There are other problems with both computers but this problem is the most vexing and the topic of this question.
How I use my computer: I reckon how one uses one's computer is essential to performing an analysis of what's causing a certain problem with the computer, so here's an outlay. Online I don't visit "suspicious" websites save for at most five. I don't click ads (adblock ftw). I don't download or upload. I'm mostly on wikipedia or other reference sites researching various nonsense. I let playlists run "in the background" on youtube. Offline I don't play games nor have any installed. I don't edit photography or film, I don't watch blu-ray quality movies unless that's all I could find. I do minor computing and statistical work using Matlab and RStudio but nothing big like millions of data or solving massive systems of equations, I also write minor programs in C++ such as implementing a bitcoin mining algorithm for research purposes (that program sure causes the fan to spin but doesn't make the computer lag). Mind you don't mistake my use of those programs for knowing anything about computers. Oh, and my laptops are always in cool environments and never ever placed on cloth of any kind (pants, bed, couch).
That's that, there's more I guess but I can't think of more to write. I've heeded to all the standard advice such as "update drivers" and "clear temporary internet files" but that had zero effect. So my two questions are:
1) What's causing all this? I've tried reading up on computer hardware to ascertain what might be the cause but it's a daunting subject, plus I don't get the impression that my computers' hardware are so awful that they can't handle what mostly could be called everyday use. It's also ridiculous that computer 2 works a whole lot better than computer 1 despite being at least 18 months older and at least on paper having worse hardware.
2) More importantly, when I finally go ahead and buy a computer (laptop), what is it that I need more than anything to avoid having the computer lag like the current two I have? Processor, RAM, graphics, what is it?
Sorry for the long post but I believe more information enables a better analysis, thanks for reading it all and thanks in advance for any help!
In short, my problem with computers (specifically, laptops) that I own or use is that if I leave them alone for some time, say an hour or more, when I come back they are more or less slow. Leaving the computer alone with say a youtube tab open, or programs like Matlab, RStudio, Codeblocks, Texworks etc certainly exacerbate the problem, but it appears even when I've not used them at all. See below for examples of the slowing down, and how I use the computer (so as to provide information that might reveal why my computers .
The two computers I have now have the following specs:
1. Dell N5110, Intel Core i5-2450M 2.5GHz, 6GB ram, 64-bit OS, 350gb hard drive, runs windows 7 and ubuntu 14 (computer runs quite well with ubuntu but is prone to sudden shutdown), age <3 years.
2. Asus Notebook U31F, Intel Core i3 2.53GHz, 4GB ram, 64-bit OS, 450gb hard drive, runs windows 7, age >4 years.
Computer 2 is incomparably better than computer 1, which has to be scrapped because it appears to have hardware issues. When it comes to using the computers they do exhibit the same class of problems however, with computer 1 exhibiting them to a much much greater degree. Now follows problem description.
The slowing down takes many forms. Example: I'm in a folder and click a file/program to highlight it. The mouse cursor then indicates that the system is processing. The folder itself might say "not responding". Eventually, say 10 seconds, all is fine and the file is finally highlighted. Opening the actual file leads to the same problem; the cursor indicates the system is processing, the file's program opens and says "not responding", and is resolved after some time. Continued use of file/program is laggy.
Example: I play a youtube video, it finishes. I leave that tab open and browse the internet in another tab. I leave the computer, come back after >1 hour. I now want to go to the youtube tab to start another video. The cursor is moved over that tab - this should lead to a label (with the tab's title) appearing, but it doesn't appear for some time. Clicking the tab the browser window is initially turned white, possibly with browser "not responding", eventually the contents of the tab appear. All interaction with the site is now laggy. Replaying the video easily takes more than a minute before it starts, and then the video is laggy (it's alright eventually).
Example: A program is minimized. I move the cursor over the program; the "miniature" (?) takes time to appear, then appears all white, then finally the contents. Clicking maximizes the program, which might go into "not responding" mode for a moment.
Example: I'm in Chrome and wish to visit a certain site, a "mainstream" site say wikipedia, one that's never down and always works well. I enter the url and press enter. The tab window goes white and there is seemingly endless processing, flashback to the '90s. This "processing" might take over a minute or even two minutes, at which point the site might load flawlessly, or pictures and css (?) don't load at all. I'm sure this behavior doesn't have to do with the site itself, it seems highly improbable that mainstream sites such as wikipedia would be down as often as they are for me, every other day maybe.
As you can tell there's a common theme to these problems, lagginess. There are other problems with both computers but this problem is the most vexing and the topic of this question.
How I use my computer: I reckon how one uses one's computer is essential to performing an analysis of what's causing a certain problem with the computer, so here's an outlay. Online I don't visit "suspicious" websites save for at most five. I don't click ads (adblock ftw). I don't download or upload. I'm mostly on wikipedia or other reference sites researching various nonsense. I let playlists run "in the background" on youtube. Offline I don't play games nor have any installed. I don't edit photography or film, I don't watch blu-ray quality movies unless that's all I could find. I do minor computing and statistical work using Matlab and RStudio but nothing big like millions of data or solving massive systems of equations, I also write minor programs in C++ such as implementing a bitcoin mining algorithm for research purposes (that program sure causes the fan to spin but doesn't make the computer lag). Mind you don't mistake my use of those programs for knowing anything about computers. Oh, and my laptops are always in cool environments and never ever placed on cloth of any kind (pants, bed, couch).
That's that, there's more I guess but I can't think of more to write. I've heeded to all the standard advice such as "update drivers" and "clear temporary internet files" but that had zero effect. So my two questions are:
1) What's causing all this? I've tried reading up on computer hardware to ascertain what might be the cause but it's a daunting subject, plus I don't get the impression that my computers' hardware are so awful that they can't handle what mostly could be called everyday use. It's also ridiculous that computer 2 works a whole lot better than computer 1 despite being at least 18 months older and at least on paper having worse hardware.
2) More importantly, when I finally go ahead and buy a computer (laptop), what is it that I need more than anything to avoid having the computer lag like the current two I have? Processor, RAM, graphics, what is it?
Sorry for the long post but I believe more information enables a better analysis, thanks for reading it all and thanks in advance for any help!
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