Lag chain.

[PBJ]

So, at the moment I'm still using my laptop, until about 2013 when I get another new desktop (outdated by 5 years by then, my dad's hand-me-down). It's a Toshiba Satellite L305, which used to run fine but now has built itself a "lag chain." Steam will lag Firefox, then Ventrilo will lag Steam, then iTunes will lag Ventrilo. So it's usually fine and dandy, except the lag between Ventrilo and Steam has become unbearable to the point of it become impossible to launch any games until I crash Ventrilo. Sometimes Raptr gives me minor trouble, but not often.

Any advice on how to fix this?

Extra Specs

4 GB RAM
Intel Core 2 Duo CPU
x64 Vista OS

Also, sometimes when I open Task Manager it says I'm using 100% CPU...do I need more RAM, a new hard drive, or a new laptop (that won't happen, but had to say it)? If it does, how would I go about buying it?

I've run CCleaner 5 times repeatedly, it helped some, and uninstalled some programs, but it didn't do much. Also, about two weeks ago when I found out the password for our old router, it broke thereafter and the new router doesn't work well. If my dad has to replace THIS one, any recommended routers?

 

[Fear Feathers]

reinstall.

 

[PBJ]

I don't believe I have the disc....

 

[5starGeneralAlphaSnake]

This is a beast of a router
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=643
(were sponsored by them)

 

[PBJ]

That is a beast, but I'm looking for something which just works well and without much lag, not necessarily a gaming router.

 

[Fear Feathers]

I could help u *find* one if its necessary

 

[PBJ]

Find one, as in...?

 

[5starGeneralAlphaSnake]

Some routers
http://www.newegg.com/Store/Brand.aspx?Brand=1015&name=D-Link
http://www.newegg.com/Store/Brand.aspx?Brand=1413&name=Linksys

both are pretty good companies that make great routers

 

[PBJ]

Thanks, my dad also said he would consider getting me a terabyte hard drive (Yay!) which will speed up my laptop.

 

[Ric]

Thanks, my dad also said he would consider getting me a terabyte hard drive (Yay!) which will speed up my laptop.

That doesn't necessarily mean it will speed up your laptop.

Hard drives are for storage, not speed.
I mean, in the sense your READ/WRITE delays will be significantly less, that's about it.

For the most part, speed has to do with how much RAM you have and the quality(clocks) of your RAM.
There's other factors to this as well, but RAM is a major one.

For your router, I use Linksys WRT54G Wireless Speed Boster, it works like a champ and it's been over 4 years since I got it.

For the lag chain, I'd look at the clocks of your RAM before I'd consider a reinstall, the lower the better.
The RAM's manufacture website normally has some .pdf file specifically for the RAM you're using.

EDIT: Now that I go over your post again, you say Task Manager reports 100% of CPU Usage for prolong periods? I'd try upgrading my CPU as well as the RAM. You will notice quite the difference between a single-core and a tri-core or quad-core.

 

[Rogue Sniper]

That doesn't necessarily mean it will speed up your laptop.

Hard drives are for storage, not speed.
I mean, in the sense your READ/WRITE delays will be significantly less, that's about it.

For the most part, speed has to do with how much RAM you have and the quality(clocks) of your RAM.
There's other factors to this as well, but RAM is a major one.

For your router, I use Linksys WRT54G Wireless Speed Boster, it works like a champ and it's been over 4 years since I got it.

For the lag chain, I'd look at the clocks of your RAM before I'd consider a reinstall, the lower the better.
The RAM's manufacture website normally has some .pdf file specifically for the RAM you're using.

EDIT: Now that I go over your post again, you say Task Manager reports 100% of CPU Usage for prolong periods? I'd try upgrading my CPU as well as the RAM. You will notice quite the difference between a single-core and a tri-core or quad-core.

He's on a laptop, upgrading the CPU isnt an option.

A bigger hard drive would help if your current HDD is full also de-fragmenting your hard drive at least once or so a week will help it run better if its the HDD that is causing it.

Scan for viruses, spyware, adware, etc. these tend to slow down your system.

RAM, you have 4gb you're fine for a while if you're just gaming and so forth.

If none of those work to speed up your system then a format and reinstall would be your last option, but is the best.

Seeing as your system crashes when it tries to load something it seems as its a hardware problem more than a network problem.

 

[Ric]

He's on a laptop, upgrading the CPU isnt an option.

A bigger hard drive would help if your current HDD is full also de-fragmenting your hard drive at least once or so a week will help it run better if its the HDD that is causing it.

Scan for viruses, spyware, adware, etc. these tend to slow down your system.

RAM, you have 4gb you're fine for a while if you're just gaming and so forth.

If none of those work to speed up your system then a format and reinstall would be your last option, but is the best.

Seeing as your system crashes when it tries to load something it seems as its a hardware problem more than a network problem.

?

I've upgraded CPU's in laptop's before..

In fact, http://www.pcworld.com/article/148910/replace_your_laptops_cpu.html is a great place to look about on upgrading the CPU on your laptop.

 

[Rogue Sniper]

?

I've upgraded CPU's in laptop's before..

In fact, http://www.pcworld.com/article/148910/replace_your_laptops_cpu.html is a great place to look about on upgrading the CPU on your laptop.

Oh yeah, sure if you have $350+ to spend on just a processor, then yes you can... for that much you might as well save up for a new laptop.

 

[Ric]

Oh yeah, sure if you have $350+ to spend on just a processor, then yes you can... for that much you might as well save up for a new laptop.

Hey, I'm not aware of his financial situation, just throwin' some ideas!

 

[NUFAN]

Scan for viruses, spyware, adware, etc. these tend to slow down your system.

Finally, someone said it, your CPU will never run at 100% especially if you're only running firefox.

 

[Ric]

Haha, I figured he already did that.

 

[Kevimaster]

Hey PBJ, some other things to try, first try checking programs set to run on startup and disable any unnecessary ones. The virus and spyware checks area also a must. If neither of those fixes it, open up task manager and go to the processes tab and sort by ones taking up the most CPU. The most if your system is 'idle' should be 'system idle process', that is completely normal for it to be a very high number. Other than that see what else is taking up so much processor power.

The other thing, Firefox seems to be very inneficient about running multiple tabs or more than one flash game/video at once. with 10-12 tabs of our forums on it is not uncommon for my processor (dual core @2.8 Ghz) to be above 50%, same with more than one youtube video. Try exiting out of firefox while gaming. Also, try to keep all unnecessary programs closed while not using them, ie while gaming only have Steam/Ventrilo and your game opened. Steam and Vent shouldn't lag each other out as far as I can tell because they both use a very small amount of system resources. Anyway, if you are still having problems shoot me a steam PM today when I get home and I might be able to give you more specific or better help