Dual core Notebook?

Question

I bought a new notebook about a month ago and here are the specs:

AMD Turion X2 TL-50
1024 MB of RAM
ATI XPRESS 1100
120 GB HDD

Even though it has good config, when I start up programs, the two cores jump to 100% for about 1 second and it takes quite long to open the program. I thought dual core was supposed to be very fast... By the way, I have NO spyware and have only my antivirus(AVG) and my wireless network started.

Thanks a Million!

I use Windows XP and my HDD spins at 5400

I have tried the RUN - MSCONFIG

Answer 1

the problem is the processor Turion X2 TL-50. this CPU has an extremely little L2 cache of only 2x256kB.

if you start up a program, a context switching takes place whereby the full L2 cache (except some parts of the OS) has to be swapped out and the context of the new started program has to be swapped in and these several times because programs are much larger than a L2 cache. this is the reason why you can see the CPU load going up to 100% for a short moment.

this is also the main reason why Intel has increased considerably the L2 cache of its processors to 2MB for single core and 2x2MB for dual core CPUs. even a Turion X2 TL-52 that is only slightly more expensive than the TL-50 already has 2x512kB L2 cache like its faster brothers TL-56, TL-60 and TL-64.

Answer 2

There is a possible chance you have a virus or some spy ware even tho you scan does not mean a thing. Now the bigger the hardrive the less rpm but 120 should get at least 5400 rpm for ata ... sata will be faster. And how are you so possitve that it jumps to 100% of your cpu that is probably impossible because if you do your cpu will proly crash or it will slow down the thresh hold. some times dual core has a hard time for the first few weeks because it isnt broken in.

Answer 3

Look at the hard drive spindle speed, it is probably 4800 rpm, this is usually the limiting factor with most laptops. Even with the faster SATA bus you still only get so much thruput with this drive.

Answer 4

you only have the two programs started where?
in the system tray

or

in startup?

have you tried START-RUN-MSCONFIG-STARTUP TAB and check what starts in there?