The document discusses testing the performance of several computers using Windows Performance Monitor and TreeSize software. It includes details of tests run on one computer to check processor and memory usage under normal browsing conditions. The results found the processor peaked at 66% during Photoshop use but was generally lower than expected, while memory increases were small. Upgrading the computer's memory and processor is recommended over buying a new system based on the lower cost of upgrading. Regular performance monitoring is advised to optimize computer usage and efficiency.

1. By Cassie HughesBy Cassie Hughes

2. WHAT?
My project is going to be on the Performance of several
Different PC’s,
I will be testing 1-5 different computers and their
performance,
I expect to find the computers running under spec, have little or no
space left, and have duplicates of files taking up needed space.
WHAT?
My project is going to be on the Performance of several
Different PC’s,
I will be testing 1-5 different computers and their
performance,
I expect to find the computers running under spec, have little or no
space left, and have duplicates of files taking up needed space.
WHY?
To find out how to actually test the performance of a PC,To make sure they are all running correctly and up-to-spec,I will be looking at how they are running and what disk space isbeing used up and where,
To make other users aware of the PC’s Performance and whatspace is on them.
WHY?
To find out how to actually test the performance of a PC,To make sure they are all running correctly and up-to-spec,I will be looking at how they are running and what disk space isbeing used up and where,
To make other users aware of the PC’s Performance and whatspace is on them.
WHERE?I will use performance manager and TreeSize to find
out all the data and information I need.
I will use the computers in ITeC.
WHERE?I will use performance manager and TreeSize to find
out all the data and information I need.
I will use the computers in ITeC.
HOW?
I will put all the data together double check it, Put it
into graphs and pie charts then present all my data and
information that I find out.
HOW?
I will put all the data together double check it, Put it
into graphs and pie charts then present all my data and
information that I find out.

3. To find this out I will use
Windows Performance
Manager and TreeSize

4. TreeSize Professional is a powerful and flexible hard disk space manager
Manage and clean up disk space efficiently
Visualize disk usage
Detailed analyses, down to all directory levels
Find and remove redundant files
Numerous export and reporting possibilities
Manage disk space and scan your hard disks:
Find out which folders are the largest on your drives and recover precious disk space. Use
TreeSize as a hard disk cleanup tool - It will find the space hogs and remove them.
Search for Redundant Files:
The integrated versatile file search helps you find old, big, temporary, and duplicate files on
drives, entire servers or the entire network. Search results can be moved, deleted or exported.

5. You can use Windows Performance Monitor to examine how programs you run affect your
computer's performance. both in real time and by collecting log data for later analysis.
Windows Performance Monitor uses performance counters, event trace data, and configuration
information, which can be combined into Data Collector Sets.
Performance counters are measurements of system state or activity. They can be included in the
Operating system or can be part of individual applications.
Event trace data is collected from trace providers, which are components of the operating
system or of individual applications that report actions or events.

6. Functionality - does it work
Peripherals anything that’s plugged in - mouse, keyboard
Performance - task manager
Resource Usage - how much memory is it using
Transmission - testing the signals in the wires
Connectivity - is the signal getting there okay.. Or getting
lost. PING?
Load Distribution - big servers sharing a network or
several networks
Security - passwords
Stress/Burn in - see if its stable
Diagnostic -

7. For this task I will:
Setup monitoring software to log PC performance (Processor and Memory).
Record the data for a realistic span of time, (How long will depend on your chosen sample rate). Make
sure the PC is in normal usage during this time to get realistic data.
Compile the data in a spreadsheet and present on a graph.
Label the graph to identify any spikes or rises and falls.
Decide what figures you want to find out about the data (Maximum
usage? Mean? Median? Percentage of time spent above a certain value?)
Decide what levels you think represent "normal" performance. State why. Draw lines on your graph to
illustrate normal performance.
What levels would indicate problems?

10. Test Reason Expected Result Actual
Result
Comments
Windows Performance
Monitoring
-% Processor Use
- % Committed Bytes
10 minutes sampling every 2
seconds
To check that system performs
normally.
How much time is tied up in
carrying out calculations – how
heavily loaded the system is.
Long enough to give general
idea, sample rate short enough
to catch brief spikes.
Processor use < 37% (less than)
Mean % Memory Use < 15 (less
than)
9%
23%
Was lower than I expected.
Maybe I didn’t do enough or
load enough things on at the
time of the test.
Was higher that I’d hoped
for.
I underestimated the
memory requirements.
Open up and browse
Facebook (firefox)
Used frequently
To check performance when
accessing the network/internet
Processor Usage Spike <80
Memory usage increased by <20
48%
Gone up by
2%
Lower than I expected it to
go.
Only gone up slightly
Open up Photoshop Common use and heavy usage Processor Usage Spike <Close to
max
Memory usage increased to 60%
66%
25%
Not close to max.. A lot
lower than I expected
Much lower than I expected
Open up Microsoft Word and
3 document
Processor Usage Spike <80
Memory usage increased by
20%
58%
23%
Much lower than I expected
Only gone up slightly
Launch a video on YouTube
and run for 3-4 minutes
To check performance when
accessing the network/internet
Processor Usage Spike x2
(launching the browser) <80
Processor usage spiky during
video
Memory usage increased to 60%
34%
27%
Opened up 3 videos and it
failed every time… came up
with a error
Eventually opened one and
it ran for 3minutes.
Close all applications Check that memory and
processor usage back to original
levels
Processor to drop back to idol
Memory use <20%
Dropped back down to
starting point.
Workstation Identification: TFT2-200

11. One of the main things that can impact on PC performance is disk space.
Use a tool such as TreeSize to collect data on the current usage of disk space.
Present the data as a pie chart (choose carefully whch data you will include)
What percentage is taken up by Windows itself? Applications? User data? Swap file?)
Make comments on your results. Could it be made more efficient or 'cleaned up'?
If possible carry out the clean up and optimisation tasks. How much space have you
saved? What percentage does this represent?

13. Identify the specification of the machine.
Identify the maximum memory it could take and the fastest processor the current motherboard
would support (i.e. the Socket Type).
Locate graphical benchmarking information for memory and processor performance
improvements. (e.g. From PassMark) Work out the likely percentage improvement over the
current setup.
Locate cost information for upgrading memory and processor.
Locate cost information for a new computer of at least that spec.
Examine the data - what would be the best value for money? Upgrading or buying new?

15. I used Crucial.com to run a memory scan my computer to
give me the information I needed,

16. As you can see after running the memory scan on
crucial.com it is able to tell me that my system is -
Your GA-H61M-S2PV System Specs
Scan id - 6E946BE331D926C3
Memory:
DDR3 PC3-12800, DDR3 PC3-10600, DDR3 PC3-14900
Memory Type: DDR3 PC3-12800, DDR3 PC3-10600, DDR3 PC3-14900
DDR3 (non ECC)
Maximum Memory: 16GB
Current Installed Memory: 6GB
Total Memory Slots: 2
Available Memory Slots: 0

17. Guaranteed - compatible upgrades for the PC - GA-H61M-S2PV
Would cost £79.99 ex. VAT £95.99 inc. VAT
For that price you would get:
16Gb kit (8GBx2)
DDR3 PC3 -12800, CL=11, Unbuffered, NON-ECC,
DDR3-1600, 1.5v, 1024Meg x 64, Part #: CT2KIT102464BA160B

18. GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 1155 - GA - H61M - S2PV (rev. 1.0)
The fastest compatible processor with a 1155 socket is:
Xeon E3-1290 v2 which is faster than the current G640 that is
installed in this PC.
To buy a Xeon E3-1290 v2 which is faster than the current G640 that
Is installed in this PC it would cost £692.38 Inc VAT

19. Cost Inc VAT
Memory 16Gb kit (8GBx2) £95.99
Processor Xeon E3-1290 v2 £692.38
Time About a hour £30.00
Total: 817.76
Cost to upgrade:
Cost of buying new:
Not many Places will sell a computer with this exact spec so I found a pc which isn't
exactly the same spec but its close enough with only a few differences.
• It has the same memory (16GB) but also can be upgraded to 32 at a later date which
is a positive,
• It has a 3 TB Hard drive, SATA, 7200 rpm, a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660, 1.5 GB GDDR5
graphics card
• 10 USB slots.
• The only down side is the processer would be lightly slower- ntel® Core™ i7-3770
processor (3.4 GHz, 8 MB cache)

21. Looking at that table you can see the differences in upgrading or buying a
new computer.
The new computer -
You get a new computer
Bigger hard drive
Better operating system
Newer version of windows
But you will be spending £212.23 more.
Upgrading -
Same amount of RAM
More Processor speed
Spending £212.23 less

22. Looking at the results even though the new computer looks better and you will be gaining a lot more from buying a
new computer, I think its best to upgrade, because its a lot cheaper to do that and your still gaining and making your
computer that bit better.
When I did the Windows Performance test and the TreeSise the computer wasn't and still isn't fully overloaded. So
an
upgrade at the moment isn't needed.
It is a good idea to do a Scan on your computer using Windows Performance monitor or TreeSize About once a month
just to keep up-to-date on how your computer is working and how it is performing when you have so many thing
running and when your doing a lot on the computer, Keeping a eye on how it is running and perfuming and how
much
space you have left on it.

23. At the end write a conclusion to include:
What you found out.
The value of monitoring performance (supported by figures)
The value of monitoring disk space and doing routine maintenance cleanup (supported by figures)
Relative value/cost/benefit of upgrading vs new pc Supported by figures
Were your results what you expected?