I recently put together an Athlon 64 based system and it seems to be acting much more sluggish than it should (slower reactions, low fps on webcam, etc.)

here are the specs, what could be the problem?:

-------------------------------------------------------

OS Information:
PropertyValue
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional|C:\WINDOWS|\Device\Harddisk0\Partitio n1
Service Pack 0.0
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS


Processor:
PropertyValue
Current Clock Speed 1799
Description x86 Family 15 Model 12 Stepping 0
Manufacturer AuthenticAMD
Name AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 2800+


Memory (RAM):
PropertyValue
Bank Label Bank0/1
Capacity 536870912

Total Memory Deteced in Hardware: ~512 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 510MB

Disk Drives:
PropertyValue
Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Maxtor 4R120L0
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 122935034880 (~114 GB)
Number of Partitions 1


Installed Printers:
PropertyValue

Motherboard:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer
Model
Name Base Board
Part Number
Product K8T800-8237
Serial Number
Version


BIOS:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Phoenix Technologies, LTD
Name Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Release Date 20050204******.******+***
Version VIAK8T - 42302e31


Monitor:
PropertyValue
Description Plug and Play Monitor
Name Plug and Play Monitor
Screen Height
Screen Width


Keyboard:
PropertyValue

Pointing Device:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Microsoft
Name PS/2 Compatible Mouse


Sound Card:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer VIA Technologies, Inc.
Description Vinyl AC'97 Codec Combo Driver (WDM)
Device ID PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_7671270F&REV_60\3&13C 0B0C5&0&8D


Video Card:
PropertyValue
Adapter Compatibility NVIDIA
Adapter RAM
Description NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000
Installed Display Drivers
Driver Version 6.14.10.5655
Driver Date 12/16/2001 5:55:02 PM
Video Mode Description


DirectX Installation:
PropertyValue
Version 6.03.01.0146


Modem:
PropertyValue

Network Adapters:
PropertyValue
Description IEEE 802.11b Wireless Cardbus/PCI Adapter - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport

External Ports:
PropertyValue
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator USB0

Expansion Slots:
PropertyValue
Slot Designation PCI0
Slot Designation PCI1
Slot Designation PCI2
Slot Designation PCI3
Slot Designation AGP
-------------------------------------------------------

Was the system ever better than it is? Or has it always seemed disappointing?

The Graphics Card is fairly old. The driver is very old.

Description NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000
Installed Display Drivers
Driver Version 6.14.10.5655
Driver Date 12/16/2001 5:55:02 PM

New driver here:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_77.72.html

See if that helps any.

_____________________________

Also if this is correct:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional|C:\WINDOWS|\Device\Harddisk0\Partitio n1
Service Pack 0.0

You have no Service Pack?

You should go to Windows Update & take all Critical Updates.

Also run virus scans & AdAware etc. Being online without at least SP1 is extreemly dangerous & self-destructive.


_____________________________________

although the graphics card isnt exactly top of the line, i havent tried running anything too graphic intensive on it, all critical updates were installed already, and SP2 actually happened to be installed shortly after i posted what I did. The system was recently built and was acting sluggish from day 1... I veeery highly doubt its spyware or viruses since the computer's barely even been connected to the internet... is there a possibility it could be the motherboard?

I would still get the latest nVidia drivers.

As to the mobo: who is the manufacturer?

I would definitly search for the latest drivers online: for a K8T800-8237

I see a few different manufacturers using that chipset:

http://www.google.com/search?q=K8T800-8237

I would go to the manufacturers site & download the latest chipset drivers & or BIOS.