Dave,
Every action on your computer requires some function of the processor. =
To
get the attention of the processor your key or mouse action calls an
Interupt. Basically Attention calls to the processor saying I have
something to do.
Slow or locked Network situations will screech a computer to a HALT in =
the
same way.
Your internal home or office network is probably Ethernet and it is =
probably
10 or 100Mbit/sec. Many are now 1Gbit systems.
Computer to computer these networks proceed to chug along at a goodly =
pace.
The limitation to how fast the network can communicate to your machine =
is
limited by your PCI bus speed.
How fast the computer can "function" is usually limited by the disc =
drive
access speed.
Compared to the outside world your 3GHz (or even 350MHz) processor is =
like a
454 Corvette on ice with the gas peddle to the floor... The bus =
controllers
handling disc access, PCI coordination, Video, all the Interupt calls =
and
everything to link it to the outside world is like adding a little
posi-traction.... or a touch of sand....
Then in comparison your internal network or computer itself to your =
Internet
connection be it "dial up to a DS-3" is like trying to suck a whole =
malted
milk through a straw at the same time. Because of the slow VERY SERIAL =
flow
of data and continuous calls for processing the data as it comes in the
slower your machine reacts to basic functions.
Compared to the in house network it's almost LOCKED UP.
In my case, it gets even worse when I'm trying to refresh a heavy =
graphics
page on eBay for instance, while junior is chatting with 3 girlfriends =
at
once.
In regards to game boards verses the pictures, windows and type that =
DXBase
uses, if you look at any of the benchmark tests of video cards you will =
see
the 350Mhz 128 - 256Mb video cards excel in just about any function. =
(and
they are very cheap) Unless the card is super specialized you will =
always
see a performance gain with HP cards.
These days internally drawing the boxes and stuff on the screen is the
slowest function on your computer. That's why manufacturers throw
processors and large chunks of memory at the processes to run =
continually in
the background. Heavy memory on the video cards and fast processors - =
Disc
drive Caching cards with processors and caches. The video guys still =
have
the biggest processors because they are the super high load items.
Since DXBase is Access based, look at Winbench tests of Microsoft office
products to find the super card for the application. If you want to take =
the
time.
More seriously what most casual computer users fail to do is manage =
their
behind the scenes applications. DO a CTL-Alt-Delete and see what's =
actually
open and running on your computer!
You will be totally amazed at the crap using up your resources. I even =
have
a graphics assist program that will creep up to 1GB of my computer's RAM
while I'm not looking. Most of the time when I start seeing a slow down =
I
will halt that process to free the memory back up. I can get away with =
this
because I'm not using the board for gaming.
Knowing your way through a System Registry to clean up processes that =
are no
longer needed can free up memory and speed the system.
Old versions Windows like Win 98, NT4, have memory leaks. They will
actually hold memory of old processes or applications that are no longer
running. Fresh reboots of these every so often cleans up the issues.
So:
Have as fast a machine as you can afford.
Have as fast an Internet connection as technology allows, or you can =
afford.
Keep processes running in the background on your computer to a minimum.
Keep processes running in the foreground under control.
Since it is not a significant issue for you, minimize the window and =
reopen
it..... But understanding all the issues involved will help the guys =
that
it is an issue fix their problems and that's why we are all on here
discussing it.
One last thing, there is a sliding window effect happening here too. =
In
comparing apples to oranges... A 3GHz computer talking to a T-1 =
Internet
connection has more trouble with it than a 350MHz computer does to that =
same
connection... In other words, the speeds are more compatible so the 350
will actually communicate smoother.
"OH great" everyone says...
This is why 133MHz Linux machines still work as Servers on the net.
In comparison most Windows 2003 server machines have 4GB of RAM and =
multiple
processors.
The problem with these comparisons is you aren't just doing Internet
communication. You have this huge Access application running along with =
all
these other things (Background apps) that require processor speed and =
large
hunks of RAM.
I finality a blocked screen window on the 350MHz machine could be caused =
by
a completely different reason than the one on the 3GHz machine. Though =
both
look the same.
OK now I have a headache, I'm going to go relax and not think about =
these
machines any more tonight.
OUT
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] =
On
Behalf Of Dave Blake
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 8:50 PM
To: Robert B. Bonner; 'FireBrick'; 'Bob Main'; 'DXBase'
Subject: Re: [DXBase] Refeash
Couldn't resist jumping in here guys. I see this quite frequently, but
haven't
considered it to be a significant problem. I just minimize DXB and =
re-open
it and all is well. I first loaded DXB 2004 on an old 350Mhz box where =
it
ran flawlessly for some time. I then did an upgrade to an AMD 1600 with
512 meg DDR RAM. Again it ran very will and the speed really helped
some of the functions to run much faster and again never saw any video
problems. I have recently upgraded again to a Pentium 4 with HT running
at 2.8Ghz and a Gig of RAM. Again the speed is very nice when you run
reports or initialize tables. I'm not sure why internet bandwidth would
have
any effect, but for what it's worth but my cable company has recently
increased my average speed to well over 3 Mbytes/sec. I too have a =
128Mb
video card designed to handle fast, high resolution video games which =
DXB
is not and should have minimal video requirements. I do have a local =
LAN
within the house, however seldom are either of the other computers even
powered up. Again I don't consider this a problem, but I'm not sure =
speed
is the answer.
73
Dave -N4DB-
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Robert B. Bonner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "'FireBrick'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "'Bob Main'" =
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
"'DXBase'" <dxbase@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 7:49 PM
Subject: RE: [DXBase] Refeash
I totally agree with Bill, if you have a relatively high speed processor
with a lot of free RAM and a large Video card and quick Internet =
bandwidth
you won't have this issue.
Outlook is a memory hog. Load her up with a lot of windows open and =
you'll
have video card issues.
I cured most of it at XMAS when I built myself a new shack computer. =
The
$1000 fix.
2.8GHz, 2Gb RAM and a 128Mb gaming style video card... A 256 Video would
have been better. I very seldom see the previous window shadowing =
anymore.
I always did with my 850 with 640 Mb RAM and 32 meg dual port video =
card.
My only issue is now my 13YO has the 850 repackaged also for XMAS and =
has 3
different IM's running, AOL, a bunch of user names and ties up my =
Internet
bandwidth....
If you have Internet bandwidth issues this will bog the computer's
processor... Shoot the kids and pull their plugs and the rest of the =
issues
will go away.
My question is does Military school or summer camp fix all other family
related issues?
Man I'm glad I retired a couple more years of this computer stuff and =
I'd
have gone wacky. Ready for another beer?
Sincerely,
Bob K=D8DD
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] =
On
Behalf Of FireBrick
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 4:46 PM
To: Bob Main; DXBase
Subject: Re: [DXBase] Refeash
I see something similar every once in a while.
I use a high resolution setting on both monitors.
Occasionally if I open a window on top of DXBase I'll find some little
remnant after
closing.
I 'think' it's a video card thing. Maybe the memory needed to draw a =
large
Dxbase Screen
strains the video card and it can't rewrite properly.
As you said, minimize and re maximize the DXB screen clears that anomaly
which is why I'm
suspicious of a video issue.
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Bob Main" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "DXBase" <dxbase@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 4:32 PM
Subject: [DXBase] Refeash
Just wondering I have noticed that if I open another window on top of =
DXB,
for instance
Outlook Express, and then close it that I have a "shadow" left from =
where
the window had
been sitting. The way I do a "refresh" to bring everything back is to =
close
the window
and then reopen it. Is there an easier way, if not there should be.
Bob
KB4CL
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