Sluggish new computer

[Pacificus]

I’ve just installed a new motherboard (Gigabyte GA-X58-USB3), CPU (i7 960), 12 GB RAM (Kingston 1600 MHz), and a new Western Digital HDD. I’m using the same Antec 850 power supply and EVGA GTS 250 graphics card, and case, from my previous system.

I loaded a new version of Windows 7 (64), but straight away what should be a fast computer is a sluggish one; Firefox and Chrome both use huge amounts of memory and constantly freeze; YouTube videos do not run smooth; music often freezes/loops the same sound for a while (probably while another minor process is in operation); even dragging a window is slow and results in brief freezing.

I despair! I only purchased these components following three years of having a very sluggish computer with an EVGA 780i motherboard. I was never able to have anything run smoothly on my last setup (it ran slow with Win XP, Win Vista, and Linux); I sent back the motherboard and original GPU to EVGA, who replaced the GPU with the current GTS 250 but sent me back the 780i as being fully functional. (Could the GPU be to blame?)

I’m wondering what the hell it would take for me to have a properly functioning computer!

To try and remedy the problem, I’ve used Ashampoo WinOptimizer, CCleaner, Yamicsoft Windows 7 Manager, AVG (free), SpyBot Search and Destroy, and a Firefox RAM rescue plugin. But to little avail as the computer is still sluggish.

Please help me solve this as it’s depressing. Could the Windows 7 be damaged? How can I check?

Thanks.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome.

I think you should start from the beginning again and the next thing is to remove the motherboard from the case and test it on the workbench.

Make sure that you observe anti-static precautions.

Lay some cardboard or use the motherboard box that is non-conductive on the worktop and remove the motherboard/CPU/heatsink/fan/buzzer/one stick of memory/graphics card and PSU from the case and put it on the cardboard. Add the keyboard and mouse and try and boot. The system should try and make a beep or series of beeps. Please post what sounds it makes.  If it is one single beep then POST has gone through perfectly and we can move on to the next part.

[Aussie Allan]

  What are the window performance sub scores.........not usually relevant but in your case a good place to start!

  Aussie Allan

[Pacificus]

  What are the window performance sub scores.........not usually relevant but in your case a good place to start!

  Aussie Allan

If that's the same as the Windows Experience Index, it's 5.9.

[Dark Mantis]

5.9 I expect that is based on the HDD score isn't it ?  That is the highest score a magnetic drive can get and you need to move up to a SSD to improve the score at all. Even a Velocoraptor still only reads 5.9.