Computer Cpu/speed, Can I Find How Fast My Pc Is Running

We have speedtest to see how fast the wifi is working, but how can I tell if my laptop, or pc is running as fast as it should?

I did a search and all I find is "stuff" to make my computer run faster, supposedly, but nothing that I find says it can show me if my CPU (central processing unit) is working like it should.

I don't understand if it's the wifi, or my computer that is slow sometimes. What do you guys do to know if you are running at the speed you should be?

My info is in my signature. Thanks for any help anyone can give me. My computer is working fine, but my sister is always complaining her's is slow. So if I understand this better myself, I can tell her. I can do speedtests for her, but like I said, I need to understand CPU, and if I could download something to run and check if her computer is doing all it should be, or as fast as it should be. I'll insert a photo of her computer info below as well. She has an HP Desktop (see attachment), thanks again, denise

 

Figures, I just found this, https://www.reference.com/technology/can-test-speed-computer-processor-19081d8c9455d583

So anyone have a recommend on any of this software to test CPU? Thanks guys, I'll check in the a.m. to see if anyone replied

 

For a start, you might try CPU-Z here: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/cpu_z.html

 

The simplest none tech way is to open/search for Task Manager and select the performance tab.
This gives active graphs of performance at that moment.
It gives a good indication of the current situation and is so easy to understand.

 

outdoorgal...
Benchmarks are fine to test the equipment to see if it's working as it should, but gauging system performance is hard to do without being able to see how your system's resources are being utilized. Desktop meters are a common way to see this very easily. There is also a tool in Windows called resource monitor that you can use to see CPU, memory, and network usage:

http://www.isunshare.com/windows-8/5-ways-to-open-resource-monitor-in-windows-8-8.1.html

Processors almost never go bad, RAM not all that often, and hard drives every 3-5 years or up with light usage. Since hardware is not likely to outright fail, benchmark tests on a sluggish PC are of limited value compared to other tests you can run. Running an old fashioned chkdsk /r will tell you everything you need to know about a hard drive's health, and that's the piece of hardware likeliest to be slowing a PC down if anything hardware-wise...

 

When ppl say their computer is running slowly Denise, most times it's not because the CPU or any other component isn't performing 100%, it's simply because too much is being asked of it - too many programs and background processes automatically starting when there is no need for them to do so. Fixing it would require you to spend some time obtaining lists of all this stuff and posting it here or somewhere for further advice. You would then have to implement the advice yourself but ppl here could advise of course. TBH, unless it is so slow as to be nearly unusable, I would advise not to get too involved. You could create problems that don't exist right now and she wouldn't thank you for that.

 

Do the 2 PCs have identical hardware and software?
Download and install Speccy on both, take screenshots of the Summary info and post them.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/speccy.html

BTW You could also use the portable version from a flash drive.

 

Thank you much, I can try this one. I forgot to mention I tried PCmark and I think it was a bad download, it just didn't run right. I didn't pay that much attention because if it seems complicated, or doesn't run smooth I just delete and move on to the next

 

I will look again. I didn't think about task manager at all. Thank you for this denise

 

Sorry Eldon, I didn't mean to confuse anyone but no, my laptop is different than my sister's pc. I think I'll check out the task manager first this a.m. and then move onto some screenshots.

 

Ok, good info, thank you!! I think Eldon's idea of me getting some screenshots of the task manager (is that a desktop meter??). I'll look at your link too, check out the "resource monitor". Sis has a puter running 8.1, guess you saw that

 

Mine runs great after I think it's been 5 years. I am always checking things, downloading "stuff" lol, and I come here if I need a fix My sis is not tekkish, and doesn't want to be, no interest One day she thought she'd been invaded by a virus because she described this "thing" on her desktop. It was a "screenshot" I put there so I could easily grab her computer info. Just the file icon

 

This is so true, and I understand perfectly. I wanted to know for sure if I could tell how slow her's is actually running, or if it is actually running as it should. I get 50 for my download speeds with Charter wifi. She has a rinky dink company that only gives them 15. They have a contract with the Mobile home park she lives in so she has no other choices for internet.

 

Geez, I can't believe the things I don't know about my computer. Or don't pay any attention to. Thank goodness for majorgeeks

Here's a snip of my laptop cpu "performance". This is fine, works for me, I think. I need to ask if that speed (max on the right) is the max for the processor, or just the max I'm getting. If we could start with that it will help me to know, and share it with my sister. Here's the snip, further explanation/comments on mine, is so welcome on the whole cpu thing That fluctuated of course
and wasn't getting even close to the 1.50.

 

Ok Dr. M, I saw that list of processes as well. I won't trim that down on my own because so much of it I don't know what the processes are (do they need to be running etc.). That screenshot is my laptop, it runs fine for me, although there could be a lot going on (processes as I mentioned)that I don't need, maybe don't need??

Appreciate your help and everyone's. I'm learning a lot here today I could post more snips if you guys want to help me go further on this. I use remote control (TeamViewer) to help on my sister's puter and it's hit and miss catching her. But if I understand mine, I can help her with hers

 

Ok, got a couple snips of my sister Snagged her between her casino games, lol

These are from her TM as you can see

Yeehaw, This is great! I'm dog-paddling with my "water wings" on, but yeah, headed into the deep, lol

 

Here's something to get your teeth into denise. Black Viper is widely trusted for this sort of thing.

 

I ran Wise Registry Cleaner yesterday for her so she may be running better this a.m. I'll take a look at what Earthlings suggested. Check out the Black viper program, see what that has to offer.

My gut tells me she is getting what she should for speed, and she's just like I am, the better unit we get the quicker we are ready to go faster,

 

Wow, yeah, I'll have to chew on that one awhile, sounds like he was right on snapping the photos, phone cams come in handy for sure All interesting, and I will do some further reading on it, thanks so much

 

I udidn't know abot speed (had hoped it helped so thanks for the heads-up) but I didn't like the idea of empty folders or "dead files" for lack of a better description. Just leftover trash is what it gets rid of. I know the system files are not something I want to get into but to clean them up seemed smart?? Maybe not though? I get my software here because I trust your site for programs that are reliable, or suggested by "Major Geeks"

 

How long has sis had her computer? Fact is as Windows ages it accumulates an awful lot of clutter which eventually can seriously slow it down. Running Disk Cleanup from time to time helps but sometimes the only really effective answer is to do a factory reset - saving any personal files first.

 

I will read this doc, and get a better handle on what the registry cleaners do and don't do, thank you, denise

PS a sherlock holmes fan?? Or atleast a Moriarty fan. I think I can safely say I've seen all the shows on Sherlock, oldest and newest, love them. I really loved the newer series with Cumberbatch, but didn't beat the old ones for me anyway

 

Oh man, wished I'd seen this before, asked about the registry cleaners. Well, I'll hope for the best because I ran it on my puter, and my sisters. Ok, VERY good read and sounds he knows his biz. Heck with "registry" cleaning.

Thank so much doc better late than never for me to learn denise

 

She got it about 3 years ago she says, I think more like 4. I have done the disk cleanup and have considered the Factory Reset. I thought that would be a great plan. I've got all her "purchased" games and photos backed up/saved. And if she has much more issues, I may push for that. I've done mine twice in 5 years and it really helped

I also have restore-to-previous-date on her's and my puter for quickies. Wanted to upgrade her to Win 10 but felt she is more comfy with what she knows now in Win 8.1. Don't want to overwhelm her

 

outdoorgal...
Yes, task manager and resource monitor are both the same principle as desktop meters. Desktop meters for 8.1 require installing a third party program. I did notice that the PC is 8.1 thanks . If you really want to check the hardware at some point, chkdsk /r at a command prompt is very valuable. That's the main hardware maintenance/fix utility to keep in mind, and it's very easy to run and completely risk free (in PC terms/if there is such a thing) as it runs during boot. Unfortunately, many times slowness is just the result of hardware limitations (lower powered PC) or of software configuration.

I think you are going about things the right way when it comes to looking into this issue. If your sister runs into an unmanageable situation performance-wise, you will have a head start on working through the issues. Otherwise, you may consider CCleaner over any of the others. More is known about CCleaner than the others, since it's so popular, and there is alot of information across Google about how to use the program...

 

Oh thanks altbo. Ok, I will go ahead and attach the photos form my sister's and I don't see anything that is using too much memory. If anyone sees something, I appreciate any help. I really think her's is running good now. She says so as well. I did do that Registry cleaner (Wise Reg. Cleaner) but went ahead and uninstalled it because of the How-to-geek "read". I don't want to mess with that again unless I'm advised to

I will uninstall that from my laptop as well, and do the same, ask you guys first Thanks again, denise

 

The only thing is denise that some folk, me for example, are a bit OCD about knowingly leaving junk on our computers, even when we know it's harmless. So I do run a registry cleaner now and again, one of CCleaner's, WiseCare's or Iobit's as I'm pretty confident they are well written programs and very unlikely to cause problems. But then I always have a system image not more than a month old, just in case

 

outdoorgal...
Windows disk cleanup tool is a good option for cleaning. Also, CCleaner makes it fairly easy to turn off registry cleaning, but it probably is best to be cautious and avoid 3rd party cleaners, considering it is your sister's system. She might not be so comfortable running it. It's not easy to set up the Windows disk cleanup to run automatically on a schedule in Task Scheduler, but it can be done. This doesn't clean the registry, so it's safe...

Here is how to set it up to run automatically in Windows 10. It's the same for Windows 7, so I assume it is the same for Windows 8.1, also:

http://www.windowscentral.com/how-automate-disk-cleanup-tool-windows-10

I do this on W7 PCs here, but it requires a little bit of a walkthrough to set up the actual task. Also, when choosing categories to clean, it is good to make sure you know which ones are best to get rid of. You might want to put this on the back burner and make it a project for later, etc.

Glad to hear your sister's PC is running better ...

 

I can be OCD and in case, I may decide to use the Wise brand cleaner. But I will make sure to back things up/image etc. ty Earthling