Possible HDD problem?

[alxrocks]

Hey guys.
I've been playing around with my pc for a while now and noticed that some things are taking a while to do tasks and when running a game it seems to stall while the data is being processed on loads. I'm just wondering if this could be a HDD problem and how'd I check this out for myself? Checked online for a HDD health checker but all seem bogus to me.

 

[tom_gr7]

could you be a bit more specific mate,

what hdd do you have? and what kinda tasks/games run slow?

 

[alxrocks]

Sorry, It's a Cavier black 2TB HDD which is my 2nd drive. It runs really slow on FFXIV on mid settings, so I know it isn't my GPU lagging. And most thing's I open especially my web browser (chrome) will lag when going into tabs.

 

[tom_gr7]

Sorry, It's a Cavier black 2TB HDD which is my 2nd drive. It runs really slow on FFXIV on mid settings, so I know it isn't my GPU lagging. And most thing's I open especially my web browser (chrome) will lag when going into tabs.

ok, so is ya first drive an ssd? is ffxiv and chrome installed on drive 1 or the caviar black?

when ya say chrome is lagging, its not just ya net being slow? or the browser crashing/locking up

 

[alxrocks]

1st is SSD, yeah. But Chrome and FFXIV are both installed on the HDD. Definitely not my net as it's actions with chrome itself, not while browsing.
If there a way I can check if my HDD read speeds are dipping?

 

[Buzz]

What anti Virus are you using? Are you running a firewall other then windows?

 

[alxrocks]

I'm using Virgin Media's anti-virus and windows firewall
Thanks for the replies btw

 

[Buzz]

Just to eliminate it would you either remove or disable the anti virus and flush your DNS cache


Open the Start menu
In the search field, type cmd.exe
When cmd appears, right-click it
Select Run as Administrator
Type: ipconfig /release
Wait a few seconds for a confirmation
Type: ipconfig /renew
Wait a few seconds for a confirmation
Type: ipconfig /flushdns
Wait a few seconds for a confirmation
Close the window
Try the game/chrome again

Is is EVERY program you run or only games and chrome giving you hassle?
Are you using the the Virgin Media Super Hub?
I doubt its a problem with the HDD itself personally. Have you tried running your comp in safe mode with networking and seeing if the problem happens?

 

[alxrocks]

What does all the do? So far it seems to have helped!! :O Thanks!
Does that need to be done quite often or something?
I do use the superhub, yeah.

 

[Buzz]

This just Resets your DNS cache by letting the IP address you are using go and resetting it. I do it often enough if clearing my chrome cache doesnt help. It shouldnt be needed that often though.

Most operating systems and DNS clients will automatically cache IP Addresses and other DNS results, this is done in order to speed up subsequent requests to the same hostname. Sometimes bad results will be cached and therefore need to be cleared from the cache in order for you to communicate with the host correctly. All major operating systems allow you to force this process

You can also try this. It helped with a computer I fixed in uk before but I dont use Virgin myself so take note of what you do so if any probs you can reset it. (also your firmware maybe little different)

First turn your Super Hub on and off. Now login to the ip address they give you on the back of the Super Hub and enter the user name and password.
Now you are taken to a splash page, at the bottom of the images under the writing is a link to advance options.
Now on the left on the navigation you should see services.
This will take you to a list of services that are all optional. None of these are required and it is much much faster without any of these. Untick everything and turn the router off and on again.

Hope it continues to help for you.

PS I have found Avast free anti Virus very reliable/stable and cheap on resources
http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10019223.html?part=dl-85737&subj=dl&tag=button

Remove all other Anti-Virus products first. Never run more then 1 at a time.

 

[tom_gr7]

good work buzz rep

 

[alxrocks]

Maybe it hasn't fixed it. Just come on today and was lagging, so I did the ipconfig thing and superhub and it's still lagging like hell. ><; anymore ideas?

 

[alxrocks]

Also i've noticed the cpu keeps spiking from 7% (while playing XIV) to 40% then does back down.

 

[AndyL]

Try downloading ATTO Disc Benchmark here and run it on both your SSD and then your HDD. Post print screens of the results back here and we can advise you on if your SSD or HDD has any speed problems. By the way what make and model SSD do you have?

 

[alxrocks]

That's the Cavier



This is the SSD



And this is my 3rd HDD Raptor, All of which seem to read well. So I don't know what else It could be.

 

[AndyL]

All of which seem to read well. So I don't know what else It could be.

I agree, all of those results are perfect. So you can rule out your SSD's and HDD's.

How much RAM do you have? and have you tested it?

Can you post your full system specs please.

 

[alxrocks]

Case CORSAIR OBSIDIAN SERIES™ 650D GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i7-2600k Quad Core (3.40GHz, 8MB Cache) + HD Graphics
Motherboard ASUS® P8Z68-V/GEN3: PCI-E 3.0 READY, SLI, CROSSFIREX***SPECIAL***
Memory (RAM) 16GB KINGSTON HYPER-X GENESIS DUAL-DDR3 1600MHz, X.M.P (4 x 4GB KIT)
Graphics Card 3GB AMD RADEON™ HD7970 - DVI,HDMI,2 mDP - DX® 11, Eyefinity 4 Capable
2nd Graphics Card NONE
3rd Graphics Card NONE
Memory - 1st Hard Disk 120GB INTEL® 520 SERIES SSD, SATA 6 Gb/s (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
2nd Hard Disk 2TB WD CAVIAR BLACK WD2002FAEX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (7200rpm)
3rd Hard Disk 600GB VELOCIRAPTOR WD6000HLHX, SATA 6-Gb/s, 32MB CACHE (10,000rpm)
4th Hard Disk NONE
RAID NONE
SSD CACHE DRIVE NONE
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive 24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
2nd DVD/BLU-RAY Drive NONE
Memory Card Reader NONE
Power Supply CORSAIR 1050W PRO SERIES™ HX1050-80 PLUS® SILVER MODULAR (£159)
Processor Cooling TITAN FENRIR EVO EXTREME HEATPIPE CPU COOLER (£39)
Fan Controller NONE
Sound Card ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Facilities 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT - AS STANDARD ON ALL PCs
USB Options 6 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL (MIN 2 FRONT PORTS) AS STANDARD
Modem NONE, I WILL BE USING BROADBAND
Floppy Disk Drive NONE
Firewire & Video Editing NONE
TV Card NONE
Operating System Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)

I haven't tested the RAM, no. I've checked task manager which says it's running at around 14-20%. The CPU runs at 7% sometimes randomly jumping to 40%. Not sure how I would check the GPU.

 

[AndyL]

The fact that the CPU jumps up to 40% every now and again shouldnt matter at all (it would be a problem if it was jumping to 100% for large portions of time). You would test your RAM with memtest - google is your friend.

 

[vanthus]

The CPU jumping to 40% is a problem in my my opinion,especially if you are not
running anything you know of.It could be caused by some program running in the background.
In task manager,under processes can you identify anything that is causing this,or better still
Have a look at the resource monitor to see if anything is hogging CPU usage.
The processes are listed in order of usage,
go to control panel/performance information and tools/advanced tools/open resource monitor/click the CPU tab.
Failing that try opening "system configuration" type msconfig in the search box,
select the startup tab,untick startup items to try & identify anything that may be causing the problem.

 

[Buzz]

When you say its "lagging" like hell What EXACTLY lags. Is it ONLY a program using internet connection or is it ALL programs.

Download and run
http://www.memtest86.com/
(choose your preferred method from the list)

Make sure TRIM is enabled
To enable TRIM, start a Command Prompt window (in Administrator mode, type “CMD” in the Search bar from the Windows Start Menu) and
enter the following command:
fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0

Once the value of “0” is set for this parameter, TRIM is enabled.

Check your Cache.
Control panel \ system \ advanced system settings
Advanced Tab \ Performance \ Advanced \ Virtual Memory Change
Select C: and make sure you have system managed size set. Reboot

Remove power from Router for approx 30 seconds and restart

Remove All non needed peripherals like added sound card or usb drives. Add back one by one. Testing each time

Boot to BIOS and check your BIOS Revision number. If it is lower then the BIOS 3201

Download and install
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/misc/utils/AISuite_II_V10203_Z68_XPVistaWin7.zip

Download to desktop and extract
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1155/P8Z68-V_GEN3/P8Z68-V-GEN3-ASUS-3201.zip

Run Ai Suite and click Update, and upgrade from file. Point to the file you just extracted to the desktop and let the BIOS update.

Let computer restart and do its bits and pieces.

Once updated go back into Bios and click advanced top right, then advanced again and click the Advanced Tab
Select onboard Device configuration and

PCI express x16_3 slot (black) = Auto
Marvell storage controller = disabled
marvell storage oprom = disabled

Click Back

Select Ai tweaker tab
Memory Frequency = 1600mhz

Save and exit Bios

Go to
http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/auto_detect.aspx
and check your Graphics card drivers

Go to
http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/detect
Check your drivers and update as needed.

Restart between EACH update.