I often get asked some version of the following question, “What benefit is there to tweaking Windows”. To Geeks the answer to this question falls along the lines of “We hold these truths to be self-evident”. In other words we know why and have been doing it so long that the answer is obvious to us.
Why We Tweak Windows
1: To make the computer faster. It never ceases to amaze me when some self-appointed expert says tweaking does nothing for your computer.
2: To customize the interface (tweaking is about more than just speeding up the computer itself). This can be for looks or for organization. Either of these can speed up your computing experience by allowing you to get things done faster. Not to mention making the computing experience more enjoyable.
The purpose of this article is simply to show that tweaking can indeed speed up Windows. Specifically, Windows Vista.
Why I Don’t Like Benchmarks
1 – You can never post a benchmarks without someone pissin’ and moanin’ about it. Accusations of manipulation, cheating, incompetence, etc.
2 – To properly benchmark a computer, especially an OS, is an extremely time consuming, tedious, and often boring process.
3 – I do not believe there is a 100% accurate way to benchmarks an entire OS. (see next comment)
4 – There is no benchmark to accurately reflect how you use a computer, app, game, etc.
So why benchmark? To try and measure the effect of the tweaks as best we can. Despite the limitations of benchmarks some folks need some way to measure beyond look and feel.
The Benchmarks
| The Computer | |
| Motherboard | Asus P4C800-E Deluxe |
| CPU | 3.4GHz Extreme Edition |
| Memory | Corsair TWINX1024-3200C2PT |
| Video Card | Nvidia 6600GS |
| Sound Card | Audigy 2 ZS Plat |
| NIC | Onboard Intel Pro 1000 |
| Hard Drives | Raptor 150 WD 120 Maxtor 300 |
Why this system? It is my utility machine and the one I could afford to be without for the several days of this test.
The Tests:
Boot Time
PCMark Vantage
Passmark
Methodology:
The entire process took several days ( I have a job and a life). Reasons for this methodolgy and tips to benchmark Vista can be found here: Measuring Performance in Windows Vista
1 – Wipe drive and Install Vista
2 – Install SP1 and all updates.
3 – Install benchmark tools.
4 – Run benchmark tools (to put them in to prefetch).
5 – Cleanup and defrag.
6 – Make an image.
7 – Restore from image, run process idle tasks, run defrag (so that both before and after tweaks will have the same disk layout).
8 – Run benchmarks and document.
9 – Repeat step 7.
10 – Tweak it. I did a complete walk-through of my Vista Tweak Guide just as it is written except that PCMark Vantage requires the visual settings the be for “best appearance” and the start menu must be default not classic. The Services settings were the Networked + Sharing settings except that the Diagnostic Policy Service was left at Automatic to measure boot times.
11 – Run benchmarks and document.
Boot Times
This can be found in the Event Viewer > Applications and Services > Microsoft > Windows > Diagnostics-Performance > Operational
Before: BootTime 46610
After: BootTime 38896
PCMark Vantage
The results are the best of three runs.
You can view these results online:
Before – http://service.futuremark.com/compare?pcmv=85098
After – http://service.futuremark.com/compare?pcmv=85739
| Main test results | Before Tweaks | After Tweaks |
| PCMarkSuite | 2370 PCMarks | 2623 PCMarks |
| Memories Suite | 1481 | 1564 |
| TV and Movies Suite | 1589 | 1603 |
| Gaming Suite | 1586 | 1611 |
| Music Suite | 2888 | 3183 |
| Communications Suite | 2357 | 2506 |
| Productivity Suite | 2015 | 2411 |
| HDD Test Suite | 4172 | 4708 |
Passmark
Best of three runs.
| Test Name | Before Tweaks | After Tweaks |
| PassMark Rating | 399.6 | 429.8 |
There it is. Tweaking your computer obviously has valid and measurable results. The margin of difference will vary by configuration and hardware.
Eric