Hello,

I have a dual-boot configuration running Windows 10 / Ubuntu 14.04 on a quad-core DELL Inspiron 5520. It also has 8GB Ram. This is a fairly powerfull system; but seems to run slower than it should. I'm sure that replacing the mechanical 1TB HDD with an SSD will improve drive loading times significantly; but I'm also wondering if upgrading the CPU or RAM with faster components will be of any help, if it's even possible. I'm including the system info below:

System information report, generated by Sysinfo: 1/25/2016 10:30:42 AM
http://sourceforge.net/projects/gsysinfo

SYSTEM INFORMATION
Running Ubuntu Linux, the Ubuntu 14.04 (trusty) release.
GNOME: 3.8.4 (Ubuntu 2015-12-02)
Kernel version: 3.19.0-47-generic (#53~14.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Mon Jan 18 16:09:14 UTC 2016)
GCC: 4.8 (x86_64-linux-gnu)
Xorg: 1.17.1 (11 September 2015 10:33:14AM)
Hostname: xxxxxxxx
Uptime: 0 days 7 h 46 min

CPU INFORMATION
GenuineIntel, Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3612QM CPU @ 2.10GHz
Number of CPUs: 8
CPU clock currently at 3006.281 MHz with 6144 KB cache
Numbering: family(6) model(58) stepping(9)
Bogomips: 4190.38
Flags: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe syscall nx rdtscp lm constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good nopl xtopology nonstop_tsc aperfmperf eagerfpu pni pclmulqdq dtes64 monitor ds_cpl vmx est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm pcid sse4_1 sse4_2 x2apic popcnt tsc_deadline_timer aes xsave avx f16c rdrand lahf_lm ida arat epb pln pts dtherm tpr_shadow vnmi flexpriority ept vpid fsgsbase smep erms xsaveopt

MEMORY INFORMATION
Total memory: 7886 MB
Total swap: 8093 MB

STORAGE INFORMATION
SCSI device - scsi0
Vendor: ATA
Model: ST1000LM024 HN-M
SCSI device - scsi2
Vendor: PLDS
Model: DVD+-RW DS-8A8SH

HARDWARE INFORMATION
MOTHERBOARD
Host bridge
Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor DRAM Controller (rev 09)
Subsystem: Dell Device 0569
PCI bridge(s)
Intel Corporation 7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev c4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Intel Corporation 7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 2 (rev c4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
ISA bridge
Intel Corporation HM77 Express Chipset LPC Controller (rev 04)
Subsystem: Dell Device 0569

GRAPHIC CARD
VGA controller
Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Dell Device 0569

SOUND CARD
Multimedia controller
Intel Corporation 7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 04)
Subsystem: Dell Device 0569

NETWORK
Network controller
Intel Corporation Centrino Wireless-N 2230 (rev c4)
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Centrino Wireless-N 2230 BGN
Ethernet controller
Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 05)
Subsystem: Dell Device 0569

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks, Hannibal

Slow compared to what? Your hardware is great but what are you expecting? I did note your drive is a 5400 RPM - very slow for this CPU. Even a 7200 RPM drive will show much improvement and an SSD will really boost everything...

It would be much more meaningful to everyone if you could quantify, "seems to run slower than it should". Otherwise we can't identify any problems and you won't be able to tell when it is improved.

Focus on a test application or two and a test case or two from which you can provide some meaningful measure of performance that you consider to be too slow.

At least use windows 10 performance tool to get a number for each unit of system.