Mame slow after update to XP

[Klomper]

I was given a Dell Optiplex GX240 that had some issues and needs (P4 2.0Ghz/512MB).  It came with Windows 98 and ran MAME great, but it had some driver issues.  I loaded Windows XP to fix the driver issues and because I prefer it to 98. 

Anyway, now all MAME roms run slow (even old ones that ran fine on an old P3 500 I was using before).  MAME seems to be the only thing running slow; it boots fast and I can open the CP or IE with out much wait.

Any ideas?

[EwJ]

Are you using the same version of Mame that you were using on the p3?

Have you checked all the tasks running in teh background and disabled any not required?
Same for services - disable or set to manual startup all services not required (per Black Viper or other).
When running Mame, check all tasks(processes) and their memory usage, and the performace tab
in the task manager will tell you how much cpu and ram/memory usage is going on.

Just read another post where heat was causing the slowdown.
Run coretemp or other, check to see if your processor's running hot.  Maybe you need to blow all the dust off your
heatsink/fan and/or clean off and reapply some Arctic Silver5 or other thermal paste.  If things are dusty, good time to
clean out your power supply and other fans too.

edit: added check cpu heat, etc

[Turnarcades]

I had the same problem years ago.

Makesure you have the latest Directx and graphics drivers, use programs like 'Windows messenger remover' to get rid of in-built resource drains like messenger, and do some registry editing to stop certain background apps running.

[Klomper]

Thanks for the suggestions. 

I did need to install DirectX which helped, but the main culprit turn out that the graphics drivers.  The ones XP chose were not correct, now that I have the correct one's things are running as I would expect.

I'll also work on 'grooming' XP for best performance.

 

[Turnarcades]

Some good ways of freeing up RAM are increasing the page file size, and disabling remote assistance and system restore.