Am quite satisfied with my new workhouse which has 2.0 Ghz dual core, 667 Mhz FSB processor, 1 GB 667MHz RAM, 7200 rpm HDD and discrete nVidia graphics card.... good enuff to be a business workhorse and satisfy my needs of running different servers from time to time to play around with the latest technology. Plus its too silent. No Noise. Curious, I went about to benchmark my state of the art (at least on 32 bit platform) workhorse . Installed my trusted SiSoft sandra to benchmark my notebook and to look into each config in detail. With high expectations and pride , I started the CPU benchmarking suite and waited patiently for the results.

I was disappointed . The results were way below the expectation, even when comparing the benchmarks with the preset benchmarks for even single core 1.5 G CPU , the latter scored.

Curious, started my research (aka googling) and as advised by my research results , started the tests again with the power monument as Always ON. The idea being to reduce the CPU throttling used by Windows Power management and to extract the full performance.(Anyway my adapter being faulty and still waiting the replacement from Dell, my battery wont charge and hence can run only on AC power)/

Continuing my search , stumbled upon this article from MS

http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?id=896256

Apparently there is a bug in Microsoft XP, even in SP2. The OS was not designed for multi core or multi processor systems and hence cant extract the full performance. I was keen to see if MS can help me out of this glitch. Help was available, but not readily. Apparently this is a HOTFIX , which i guess means that you call up MS or contact them and then convince them to give the fix to you....Phew!!!!

Searching further found that this problem is much generic and quite widespread. Users have reported drasitc imprvement in performance after applying the fix and following the instruction in the MS article. The results from various sites were tempting me to try this out.

Some more googling and I could find that some nice soul had uploaded the hotfix on one of the servers . Now I am the bit adventrous type. I take the precautions, like scanning my downloads for malicious programs and the stuff an keeping backup of my docs in the external poertable USB HDD, because I like to try out the new things. So I went ahead and based on number of user inputs downloaded the hotfix and installed it along with the reg hack suggested by MS.

My results after that : I havent seen any noticeable improvement in my benchmarks , but there seems to be improved performance on MS Need for Speed Underground 2 Trial version. I am not sure, cause I havent been timing it much earlier or playing it too often.

So wat next!!! My search continues and am also looking for some notebok specific benchmarking tools.

A note though: Whatever be my performance benchmark results, I am happy so far with the performance. But if the statistics are true and I am able to extract more performance, I would be happier. All comments/suggestions are welcome.

Waiting eagerly for my dell notebook AC adapter.

I had commented about Dell in my last post. In all fairness, I should update the status, if there is any change. But some hectic work schedules and the fact that I am still new to blogging (so yet not a true blogger) I missed updating the blog....

As for my Dell notebook, luckily for me after a series of events : part to be replaced being out of stock , me waiting for dell technician to turn up on a promised date(taking off from work) , dell tech support apologising later in a call which i had to wait for 45 min in queue and then finally resolving the issue....But thankfully got my problem resolved and the resolution was to my satisfaction though it took 20 days to resolve the issue covered under Next Business day on site warranty...

Overall I would rate Dell personnel excellent in terms of customer service, but the process to reach them is way too bad.. takes all the sheen out of their hard work. Imagine being in queue for 1 hour on a premium rate number(0870), and the much publicised email support simply doesnt work. No replies whatsoever can be obtained . Even escalations the case (via have unresolved issue web link) will not help you.Even these escalations fail to elicit any reply from Dell.

My 2 cents: Dell still reminds of the great customer support it was famous for. The quality of their systems is in general excellent , but if you are like me, interested in support, then go for Dell UK , if and only if, you are ready to spend time waiting in queue for 60 mins on a premium rate number.

Incidentally had another issue with my notebook (faulty AC adapter). Same story. Waiting time : 60 mins. Resolution time : 5 mins(Hopefully this time the delivery will be on time). Excellent tech support backed up with poor,unresponsive, unhelpful systems to reach these people.

Life as they say in the developed countires is much more comfortable.. services are much more prompt..
It has been 8 long months since I landed in UK and I guess on many counts I would beg to differ...be it paying bills or getting a service, it seems either "quality" service is non-existent or not much better than what i receive in India...dont get me wrong, there are differences, laods of them , but its a pity , how the customer care is only a much hyped term and only the lip-service is being paid to it. Even a "developed" country can go by treating it customers shoddily........

Sample this:
1. I am paying the electricity bill... i wanna pay by phone and my wait time... 20 mins!!!!!! and i am paying the bills... i just shudder at the thought of logging complaints.........

2. Considerig hi-tech services: Bought a brand new-laptop from Dell.. cost me a fortune....Dell is a brand of international repute .. and what happnes when you discover that you have received products which are sub-standard...I mean faults are acceptable, but shouldnt you rectify them...

I have been chasing Dell (emails: no replies, complaints i.e. escalations : no replies,phone: waiting time min: 30 mins) . I am clueless whom do i turn to for help..... my brand new Dell Latitude D620.. keeps on giving constant buzzing sound.... and luckily as i discovered, the only cure is to keep your screen at the maximm brightness level !!!!! Is that a product feature!!! why dont they delcare it then? why arent any replies coming thru!!! Wake up dell!!!!

maybe going legal is an option... but not a very pleaseant way to solve the issues.. who wants to get into trouble because of a reputed co not living upto its promise... but then i guess thats the only option left...

Even in India my bank answers my call within 15 mins.....(truly 24x7)

Didnt want to start off my blog... my first post on a sour note.... but I aint in good mood anyway... hopefully better days ahead...