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As I write this, my laptop is loading Intellij Idea, restoring a database and untarring a 1.5gb directory. Everything takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r. Generally, I feel this machine performs slowly for a 4gb-dual-core-2+ghz machine; it feels just "like any old laptop".
Anti-virus, Anti-speed?
On-access anti-virus scan seems the main culprit. It feels like someone has replaced a sprinter's track shoes with knee-high rubber boots (i.e. 'wellies'). In theory IT has configured on-access scan to exclude my highly used developer directorie (i.e. projects main directory and IDE working directory), but I don't really have means to control it nor monitor it. Only IT can configure anti virus.
Environment
This is a company-issued laptop, with IT-managed core software: specifically McAffee "on-access antivirus software."
- -Windows xp pro SP latest
- 7200 rpm disk
- 4gb of ram (yes, the OS can only access 3gb)
- McAffee Onaccess scan: Note that it "excludes" my "projets" and "Idea directory"
Already Done
I've done the following
- run Soluto software to remove all the unneeded services (e.g. Amazon Downloader, Java updater, etc.)
- Defragment weekly
- try to keep my hard drive at 20% unused
- McAffee excludes my Projects and IDE home directory (in theory it should not drag down my compiles or deploys. )
Questions:
- Can you recommend any other steps?
- Would upgrading to 64-bit OS, e.g. windows 7 help the cause?
- Can you recommend any other monitoring best practices?
I'd think about moving to linux and a faster filesystem, but need to run a sql server instance and outlook.
1Norton and McAfee are the two worst AV packages in my book. They seem to sap at least 1/2 the computing power of any computer they touch. Have you tried removing that and see what kind of difference it makes? – Chris S – 2010-08-06T17:13:02.780
2Thanks. "IT-controlled" means I can't remove/disable/circumvent etc the anti-virus, even with a local admin account. "Exclusions" are the IT-approved solutions. – None – 2010-08-06T17:25:12.693
The AV's are indeed slowing things but i havent meet any notebook that can handle too much stress on it ... and i do have a hell of a notebook http://www.dell.com/us/en/dfh/notebooks/xpsnb_m2010/pd.aspx?refid=xpsnb_m2010&cs=22&s=dfh (custom ed with top resources) yet it always let me out on most proccessing things when i really need it while multitasking.
– Prix – 2010-08-06T17:30:40.903Much more than half. I ran the portable apps version of firefox (under XP)on both my work machine (Core 2 Duo 1.86ghz) and my personal laptop (1st gen Pentium M 1.7ghz, 1.5GB RAM) and 200 tabs open much quicker on the laptop. The desktop cpu ought to be 25% faster (at least, bigger cache, faster clock, better arch) and two cores, but the reverse is true, noticeably slower (probably not half the speed, but clearly slower).
After boot, work is using 500MB, laptop 128MB. Work runs McAfee, Marimba, one or two other things. – Ronald Pottol – 2010-08-06T18:11:30.913