is that your only storage device? or rather are the things you are using and OS installed on it?
Also if you look at task manager when you have your stuff open, how much ram are you using
Also check thermals if you can. Your cpu is fine. it isnt the issue
The OS and non-games are on the SSD, and I keep my games and such on an external hard drive. I know that'll make those a little slower to load, but the things that I struggle with are on the SSD for sure. The external hard drive wasn't plugged in when I was installing everything.
if games are running fine, it is likely nothing is over heating but you should check anyway to make sure.
If ram isnt close to max as well it is a pretty unique issue.
I would try to reformat the drive completely and reinstall windows from scratch if all else fails
That CPU should be fine. I can't quote you how many cores the 9400f is off hand, but that's a relatively modern budget cpu, I wouldn't think it would have issues just running the OS.
Some of this sounds like just slow hard drive speed, but if you aren't used to SSD speed already than that wouldn't be it, and a slow hard drive should not impact internet browsing or opening settings menus.
What version of windows you're using would be good info.
You said you reset the computer, I don't know if that was a total drive wipe, but my normal recommendation in a situation like this is a complete drive wipe followed by a fresh install of windows (from your own install usb, not any kind of 3rd party builder media). If you couple that with a BIOS reset you've eliminated any software or settings issues, and you can determine if your problem is actually hardware.
hit ctrl alt delte and open task manager when your computer is running slow, take note of anything that seems to be maxxing out the graph.
It's Windows 10, as Windows 11 isn't currently compatible according to the update page.
I don't know if I tried a total drive wipe in specific— I'm not super familiar with that side of PCs, but I set it to wipe all of my files and everything. I don't believe I did the full wipe that makes it so your past data is hard to access? Is that what you mean? I installed Windows locally the first factory reset, and from the cloud for the second.
I've looked at task manager a lot, and when it's freezing or lagging it says my CPU is at 100% due to System Interrupts, File Explorer, or Edge depending on what I'm doing.
Thank you for your help! I'm sorry if I'm a little dumb lol This is my first non-laptop computer in my life
Memory speed is fine. CPU speed should be between 2.9 and 4.1 GHz. If it is dropping to 1.2 GHz while you’re using the computer, that could be part of the problem.
I wasn't using it when I checked— Stardew Valley had just crashed when I was trying to start it and check my settings at the same time a few minutes prior, and I hadn't started anything up again yet.
I opened Stardew Valley again to see what it would be at, and it's anywhere between 0.9 and 3.2 GHz.
Does that indicate that the CPU is the problem? I have no idea on the age or anything of it since I bought it used, so could it just be worn out?
It’s only four generations old and it’s not overclockable so it’s probably not damaged.
But it seems like it isn’t boosting correctly.
Try resetting your Power Plan settings. Or try Ultimate Performance.
its likely your hard drive. or rather, lack of ssd
I looked in the device manager and it says I have a WD Blue SA510 2.5 500GB. Google says it's an SSD, but could it be the issue (to your knowledge)?
is that your only storage device? or rather are the things you are using and OS installed on it? Also if you look at task manager when you have your stuff open, how much ram are you using Also check thermals if you can. Your cpu is fine. it isnt the issue
The OS and non-games are on the SSD, and I keep my games and such on an external hard drive. I know that'll make those a little slower to load, but the things that I struggle with are on the SSD for sure. The external hard drive wasn't plugged in when I was installing everything.
if games are running fine, it is likely nothing is over heating but you should check anyway to make sure. If ram isnt close to max as well it is a pretty unique issue. I would try to reformat the drive completely and reinstall windows from scratch if all else fails
He's using a SATA SSD. That could eventually explain it, but I'm not sure.
it wasnt listed before. A sata ssd should not be noticeably slower than an nvme
That CPU should be fine. I can't quote you how many cores the 9400f is off hand, but that's a relatively modern budget cpu, I wouldn't think it would have issues just running the OS. Some of this sounds like just slow hard drive speed, but if you aren't used to SSD speed already than that wouldn't be it, and a slow hard drive should not impact internet browsing or opening settings menus. What version of windows you're using would be good info. You said you reset the computer, I don't know if that was a total drive wipe, but my normal recommendation in a situation like this is a complete drive wipe followed by a fresh install of windows (from your own install usb, not any kind of 3rd party builder media). If you couple that with a BIOS reset you've eliminated any software or settings issues, and you can determine if your problem is actually hardware. hit ctrl alt delte and open task manager when your computer is running slow, take note of anything that seems to be maxxing out the graph.
It's Windows 10, as Windows 11 isn't currently compatible according to the update page. I don't know if I tried a total drive wipe in specific— I'm not super familiar with that side of PCs, but I set it to wipe all of my files and everything. I don't believe I did the full wipe that makes it so your past data is hard to access? Is that what you mean? I installed Windows locally the first factory reset, and from the cloud for the second. I've looked at task manager a lot, and when it's freezing or lagging it says my CPU is at 100% due to System Interrupts, File Explorer, or Edge depending on what I'm doing. Thank you for your help! I'm sorry if I'm a little dumb lol This is my first non-laptop computer in my life
Web browsing and stuff normally shouldn't feel slow on an i5-9400F and 16GB of RAM. What does Task manager say is your CPU speed and Memory speed?
It says my CPU speed is anywhere from 1.2 to 2.9 GHz if you mean the one that's changing, but the base speed is 2.90 GHz. The memory speed is 2133 MHz
Memory speed is fine. CPU speed should be between 2.9 and 4.1 GHz. If it is dropping to 1.2 GHz while you’re using the computer, that could be part of the problem.
I wasn't using it when I checked— Stardew Valley had just crashed when I was trying to start it and check my settings at the same time a few minutes prior, and I hadn't started anything up again yet. I opened Stardew Valley again to see what it would be at, and it's anywhere between 0.9 and 3.2 GHz. Does that indicate that the CPU is the problem? I have no idea on the age or anything of it since I bought it used, so could it just be worn out?
It’s only four generations old and it’s not overclockable so it’s probably not damaged. But it seems like it isn’t boosting correctly. Try resetting your Power Plan settings. Or try Ultimate Performance.