The computer I used to use for work was an HP ProBook 640 G2 running Windows 7 Enterprise. It had an Intel Core i5-6300U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and took a few seconds to complete common tasks.
My new work laptop is an HP EliteBook 830 G5 running Windows 10 Enterprise with an Intel Core i5-8350U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and has four cores and eight logical processors. However, despite being newer and more powerful, it takes several minutes to complete the same tasks as my old laptop.
I work for a large company and I suspect that they may have installed some additional software on the new laptop which is causing the slow performance. I have also noticed some unfamiliar security features in the system information, such as Virtualization-based security properties, Secure Boot State, and Device Encryption Support, which could potentially be contributing to the problem.
I would like to compare the performance of the two laptops in a measurable way so that I can raise my concerns with my employer. Ideally, I would like to use an official Microsoft method, but I am open to other options as well. How can I go about doing this?
3 Answers
Introduction
Comparing the performance of two Windows PCs can be a daunting task, especially when you are dealing with two machines that have different specifications and operating systems. In this blog post, we will discuss how to compare the performance of two Windows PCs in a measurable way, using official Microsoft methods and other options.
Using the Windows Performance Monitor
The Windows Performance Monitor is a built-in tool in Windows that allows you to monitor and analyze the performance of your computer. You can use this tool to compare the performance of two Windows PCs by following these steps:
1. Open the Performance Monitor by pressing the Windows key + R, typing “perfmon” and hitting Enter.
2. In the Performance Monitor window, click on “Performance Monitor” in the left pane.
3. Click on the green plus sign icon to add a counter.
4. In the “Add Counters” window, select the counters you want to monitor. You can select counters for CPU, disk, memory, network, and more.
5. Click on “Add” to add the counters to the monitor.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 for the second PC.
7. Once you have added the counters for both PCs, you can start monitoring their performance by clicking on the “Start” button in the toolbar.
8. After a few minutes of monitoring, you can stop the monitor and compare the results for both PCs.
Using the Windows Experience Index
The Windows Experience Index is a built-in benchmarking tool in Windows that rates your computer’s performance based on its hardware and software configuration. You can use this tool to compare the performance of two Windows PCs by following these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R, type “control” and hit Enter.
2. In the Control Panel, click on “System and Security” and then click on “System”.
3. In the System window, click on “Windows Experience Index” at the bottom.
4. Click on “Rate this computer” to start the benchmarking process.
5. After the benchmarking process is complete, you can compare the results for both PCs.
Using Third-Party Benchmarking Tools
There are many third-party benchmarking tools available that you can use to compare the performance of two Windows PCs. These tools provide more detailed and accurate results than the built-in Windows tools. Some popular benchmarking tools include:
1. Geekbench – A cross-platform benchmarking tool that measures CPU and memory performance.
2. CrystalDiskMark – A disk benchmarking tool that measures read and write speeds.
3. 3DMark – A benchmarking tool for gaming performance.
4. PassMark PerformanceTest – A comprehensive benchmarking tool that measures CPU, memory, disk, and graphics performance.
Conclusion
Comparing the performance of two Windows PCs can be a complex task, but with the help of built-in Windows tools and third-party benchmarking tools, you can measure and analyze their performance in a measurable way. By using these tools, you can identify any performance issues and raise your concerns with your employer.
There are several ways you can compare the performance of the two laptops:
- Use Windows Performance Monitor: This is a built-in tool in Windows that allows you to monitor various system performance counters in real-time. You can add counters for CPU, memory, disk, and network usage, and compare the results on the two laptops to see which one is performing better.
- Use a benchmarking tool: There are many benchmarking tools available that can help you compare the performance of the two laptops. Some popular ones include 3DMark, PCMark, and Cinebench. These tools measure the performance of the CPU, GPU, and other hardware components, and provide a score that you can use to compare the two laptops.
- Use real-world tests: You can also compare the performance of the two laptops by running real-world tests that simulate the tasks you commonly perform on them. For example, you can time how long it takes to open a large document, save it, and close it on both laptops. You can also time how long it takes to run a complex spreadsheet formula, or load a large database.
- Check the Task Manager: The Task Manager is a built-in tool in Windows that shows you which processes are running on your system and how much CPU and memory they are using. You can use it to see if any particular process is causing the new laptop to run slower than the old one.
It’s important to note that the performance of a laptop can be affected by many factors, such as the quality of the hardware, the version of the operating system, and the software installed on it. In addition, virtualization-based security and device encryption can also impact performance, as they require additional resources to run. It’s possible that these features are contributing to the slower performance on the new laptop, but it’s difficult to say without more information.
A commonly used benchmark test is Passmark, which can be found at passmark.com/products/performancetest/download.php
It appears that you have had success using Passmark.