OT: THIS is why I've grown increasingly tired of my PC...

digitalkettle · Post by **digitalkettle** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:58 pm

Sounds like you guys need to check out Windows RG: http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/

subterFUSE · Post by **subterFUSE** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:58 pm

Meef Chaloin wrote:bollocks to all the 'this would never happen with a mac' comments.

my pc is rock solid & never crashes. Mac users just feel like they have to justify spending twice as much

Agreed. My computers never crash. All 5 of them.

I have become an expert in operating MS-DOS & Windows over the years. I learned the hard way..... personal experience. Trial and error. And I'm glad I did it. Understanding PCs is a very valuable skillset to have.

aqua_tek · Post by **aqua_tek** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:06 pm

pulsoc wrote:
aqua_tek wrote:LOL
PC:
sony vaio vgn-s150
1.67 Ghz Pentium M
60 GB 5400 RPM
512 MB RAM

MAC:
macbook pro 15"
2.16 Ghz Intel core duo
100 GB 7200 RPM
2 GB RAM

Look at those specs!! Spend a night going through your als. files on the windows machine saving the files as self-contained, then copy and paste the whole library over to your mac.

Good lord why wouldn't you want to work on those on the machine?

hahah yeah i'm pretty sure the specs have a lot to do with it, but its just weird how it used to run perfectly before and now it doesnt. i seriously think it's some hardware malfunction, because as i mentioned before, the pc actually has crashed a few times in the past few weeks and has given me the ever so dreadful "BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH", only to be back up and running after a few hours of rest, but still giving me the glitching problems.

As for other factors, I have deactivated the firewall so the only internet related issue could be the fact that i'm on wireless, and it could also be the antivirus. Though i'm using AVG free, which is IMO extremely light. (any better suggestions for effective, yet light anti virus software?)

either way, thanks a lot guys. Guess i'll have no other choice but to go and transfer ALL my files to my mac. should take a few hours... or a day.. or two

aqua_tek · Post by **aqua_tek** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:07 pm

digitalkettle wrote:Sounds like you guys need to check out Windows RG: http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/

leisuremuffin · Post by **leisuremuffin** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:09 pm

Meef Chaloin wrote:bollocks to all the 'this would never happen with a mac' comments.

my pc is rock solid & never crashes. Mac users just feel like they have to justify spending twice as much

I am not saying that "macs never crash." they do.

I am not saying that macs don't have problems. they do.

I AM saying that macs are easier for regular people to use and have a much easier learning curve than PCs.

.lm.

JamieG · Post by **JamieG** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:22 pm

If you are using a Pentium 4, your random CPU spikes could be a result of BRANCH PREDICTION.

BASICALLY, the Pentium 4 family of chips tries to predict what instructions it will need to use and fetches them and loads them in preperation......if the prediction is wrong the processor has to then stop, fetch the correct instructions and execute them instead!

This means, by nature, the pentium 4 will spike and slow down every now and agian due to brach prediction. The latest Intel chips use other methods to 'speed' up processing (ie made them smaller = electronic signal have to travel less distance).

Branch prediction is not a good thing, so if you are using Pentium 4 family processors and are experiencing spikes or random slow-downs, then switch to Mac, or a PC with a different chip!

Jamie

Angstrom · Post by **Angstrom** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:24 pm

I don't thinkbranch prediction issues would have only started to occur within the last 3 weeks though

I have to mention that this problem has started showing only recently... say 3 to 4 weeks. Before that i was having no real issues with my laptop

I still think - heat issues.

robin · Post by **robin** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:30 pm

JamieG wrote:If you are using a Pentium 4, your random CPU spikes could be a result of BRANCH PREDICTION.

BASICALLY, the Pentium 4 family of chips tries to predict what instructions it will need to use and fetches them and loads them in preperation......if the prediction is wrong the processor has to then stop, fetch the correct instructions and execute them instead!

This means, by nature, the pentium 4 will spike and slow down every now and agian due to brach prediction. The latest Intel chips use other methods to 'speed' up processing (ie made them smaller = electronic signal have to travel less distance).

Branch prediction is not a good thing, so if you are using Pentium 4 family processors and are experiencing spikes or random slow-downs, then switch to Mac, or a PC with a different chip!

You don't half see some rubbish posted on the internet.

JamieG · Post by **JamieG** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:33 pm

Angstrom wrote:I don't thinkbranch prediction issues would have only started to occur within the last 3 weeks though

I have to mention that this problem has started showing only recently... say 3 to 4 weeks. Before that i was having no real issues with my laptop
I still think - heat issues.

Sorry, didn't see that bit. With PC's it's difficult to tell if its Hardware/Software/Virus related!

I would try re-installing windows and everything cleanly. Due to software conflicts, and other issues, I find I have to do this about once a year to keep things running smoothly and I don't have my PC on the net!

Something, which I might add, I have never had to do on my Mac in its three year history, even though its had heavy use, heavy internet interaction, and lots of different software installed, un-installed, upgraded, etc. I also don't have to wipe off the dust before I use it

Jamie

Meef Chaloin · Post by **Meef Chaloin** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:34 pm

how full is your hardrive?

JamieG · Post by **JamieG** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:36 pm

robin wrote:
JamieG wrote:If you are using a Pentium 4, your random CPU spikes could be a result of BRANCH PREDICTION.

BASICALLY, the Pentium 4 family of chips tries to predict what instructions it will need to use and fetches them and loads them in preperation......if the prediction is wrong the processor has to then stop, fetch the correct instructions and execute them instead!

This means, by nature, the pentium 4 will spike and slow down every now and agian due to brach prediction. The latest Intel chips use other methods to 'speed' up processing (ie made them smaller = electronic signal have to travel less distance).

Branch prediction is not a good thing, so if you are using Pentium 4 family processors and are experiencing spikes or random slow-downs, then switch to Mac, or a PC with a different chip!

You don't half see some rubbish posted on the internet.

I don't know what bit you are refering to and what makes you qualified to say that.

It's not rubbish, I know alot about CPU's internal workings, and branch prediction is good in theory, but sucks in practice.

Just google branch prediction issues!

sweetjesus · Post by **sweetjesus** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:44 pm

aqua

try this too
http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... ility+boot

robin · Post by **robin** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:47 pm

JamieG wrote:I don't know what bit you are refering to and what makes you qualified to say that.
It's not rubbish, I know alot about CPU's internal workings, and branch prediction is good in theory, but sucks in practice.

I know about computer chip architectures. I work in the computing industry.

A blanket statement like "Branch prediction is bad" is just plain rubbish.

It's the long instruction pipelines that's the problem with the netburst architecture. If you stall one of those you throw away lots of cycles.

Now I'm not saying that branch prediction doesn't cause a stall but I'm more concerned about the blanket statement and the implication that macs don't have this problem and/or people should ditch their P4s. Both flamebait statements.

That's all I'm gonna say.

Angstrom · Post by **Angstrom** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:52 pm

I'm going to say :

the IBM power PC chips useMORE branch prediction than P4 chips, so if it is bad by nature than you should avoid the PPC series?

aqua_tek · Post by **aqua_tek** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 6:04 pm

alright people thanks for your answers. to be honest i'm pretty much a "layman" when it comes to computer configuration. I know some basics and a few minor tweaks but my knowledge is still pretty superficial so all these replies can be a bit overwhelming. I'll go little by little trying some suggestions and see what advances can be made.

Thanks a lot!

Meef Chaloin wrote:how full is your hardrive?

i'd say about halfway.

sweetjesus wrote:aqua

try this too
http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... ility+boot

i'm not really sure what it is about (even after reading it twice), so i dont really want to take such a high risk just yet.

maybe once i've transfered all my stuff to the MBP. Then I'll be sure i wont be losing any important files and i can take the risk. thanks

OT: THIS is why I've grown increasingly tired of my PC...

ANSWER

Re: ANSWER

Re: ANSWER

Re: ANSWER