Tutorial 9 Evaluating System Performance

1. Tutorial 9Evaluating System Performance

2. Objectives • Examine RAM, virtual memory, and the paging file • View virtual memory settings • Monitor changes in system performance with Task Manager • Use Resource Monitor to evaluate system performance • Create a system health report Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

3. Objectives • Use Performance Monitor to track performance changes on your computer • Analyze, save, and print performance measurements • Use Resource and Performance Monitor to examine memory usage • Examine Windows ReadyBoost and SuperFetch Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

4. Memory Usage Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 8

5. The Importance of RAM and Virtual Memory • Affects the performance of a computer • Paging file is used for supplemental RAM • Maximum size is three times the amount of installed RAM • Virtual memory • Memory is used: • For the operating system and startup programs • Each time you open an application or other program • Windows cannot always reclaim originally allocated memory • Memory leak Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

6. Viewing the Paging File • Locate pagefile.sys Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

7. Examining Virtual Memory Settings • Right-click the Computer icon, click Properties, click the Advanced system settings link • Under Performance, click the Settings button, and then click the Advanced tab • Under Virtual memory, click the Change button Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 8

8. Using Windows Task Manager to View System Performance • Right-click an empty area of the taskbar, and then click Start Task Manager Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

9. Using Windows Task Manager to View System Performance • Paged kernel memory is that portion of kernel memory that can be paged, or swapped, to disk so other programs can use that memory • Nonpagedkernel memory is available only to the operating system, and these pages cannot be paged to disk. • A thread is an object within a process that executes instructions • A handle is an ID that uniquely identifies a resource, such as a file or Registry setting, so a program can access that resource Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

10. Using Resource Monitor to Evaluate System Performance • Displays information about the use of CPU, disk, network, and memory resources Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

11. Using Resource Monitor to Evaluate System Performance • Resource Monitor can also: • View processes that are using the CPU • View processes reading and writing to files on disk • View processes and their memory usage Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

12. Using Resource Monitor to Evaluate System Performance Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 8

13. Creating a System Health Report • You can use Resource and Performance Monitor to create a system health report • Right-click the Computer desktop icon, click Properties, click the Performance Information and Tools link in the System window, click the Advanced tools link, click the Generate a system health report link Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

14. Creating a System Health Report Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

15. Creating a System Health Report • The System Health Report also allows you to: • View information on startup programs • View Hot Files that cause the most disk I/O Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

16. Memory Usage Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 8

17. Using Performance Monitor to Evaluate System Performance • A performance object is a broad category that contains a set of related performance counters for measuring the performance of some aspect of your computer system • A performance counter is a specific option for measuring the performance of an object • An instance allows you to sample a performance counter in a specific way • From the Start menu, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Performance Monitor Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

18. Using Performance Monitor to Evaluate System Performance Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

19. Using Performance Monitor to Evaluate System Performance • You can add performance counters by clicking the Add button on the Performance Monitor Toolbar Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

20. Using Performance Monitor to Evaluate System Performance Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

21. Using Performance Monitor to Evaluate System Performance • Monitor your computer’s performance as you open an application Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

22. Using Performance Monitor to Evaluate System Performance • Comparing changes in memory usage • Additional options on the Performance Monitor toolbar include: • Change graph type button • Properties button • Update Data button • Delete button Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

23. Using Resource and Performance Monitor to Examine Memory Performance • Reliability and Performance Monitor also provides information on the current memory usage by reporting on the values of key performance counters • Generate a system health report Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

24. Using Resource and Performance Monitor to Examine Memory Performance Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

25. Using Reliability and Performance Monitor to Examine Memory Performance • Preview the System Diagnostics Report using the Print Preview feature • You also may be able to export the performance data to Microsoft Excel Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

26. Using ReadyBoost with Superfetch • Windows ReadyBoostuses high-speed storage space on a flash drive to boost the performance of your computer by storing cached data on the flash drive, including the paging file Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

27. Using ReadyBoost with Superfetch Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9

28. Using ReadyBoost with Superfetch • Superfetch determines how you use your computer, and then preloads the programs so that they are available when you need them • Also performs other important functions when the computer is idle • Background processes Windows Vista for Power Users Tutorial 9