[Web4lib] measuring PC performance

[Mark Bardsley]

John,

I don't know of any simple equations to measure this. There is a free
utility that checks many measurements of performance. It is called Sandra
and can be downloaded from http://www.sisoftware.net/.

However, your question is complicated because it depends on how the
computers are used. For example, there are processor intensive operations
(photo rendering) and there are hard drive intensive operations (copying
large files). Additionally, motherboards only support a maximum bus speed
for RAM. A nice motherboard will support RAM that operates at a much higher
speed and can thus shuttle information to the processor faster. Another
thing to think about is not the hard drive size but the RPM and seek time.
You could buy a fast hard drive (if hard drive intensive operations are
slowing things down) but to get the fastest hard drives you might need to
buy a SCSI, Fiber Channel, or SATA controller.

To summarize though, there are many factors that influence computer
performance and it depends on what it is primarily used for. NT 4 was a lean
operating system that required little RAM. Upgrading to 2000 is expected to
decrease performance on most systems. The next Microsoft OS (for consumer
use) is expected to require even more RAM, hard drive space, and graphics
capabilities.

- Mark


On 11/18/05 3:47 AM, "John Fitzgibbon" <jfitzgibbon at Galwaylibrary.ie> wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> We upgraded the operating system of a number of our Internet PCs from
> Windows NT 4 to Windows 2000. We added some memory. In some cases
> performance dis-improved.
> 
> Given all the factors that affect performance, can it be predicted how
> changing one element will affect power. For example, RAM, Hard Disk
> size, and processor speed all affect power. But what is the relationship
> between RAM and power. For example, if I double the RAM what is the
> percentage increase in power? Is there an algorithm for determining
> this?
> 
> Finally, the operating system affects performance. The more recent
> operating systems seem to be more resource hungry and require more
> powerful computers. Can this be factored into the equation?
> 
> Is there a simple means of testing a PCs performance, e.g. getting the
> PC to perform a task and timing it? This would help us decide to
> increase RAM or not and once RAM is increased has it worked.
> 
> Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
> 
> John Fitzgibbon
> 
> Galway Public Library
> Island House
> Cathedral Square
> Galway
> Ireland
> 
> p: 00 353 91 562471
> f: 00 353 91 565039
> w: http://www.galwaylibrary.ie
> 
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