Computer Loads Programs Way To Slow, Help!

[Vezra]

I just recently purchased a new gaming comp from AVA Direct and after playing with Vista Home Premium 64bit I couldn't take it anymore. There was just to many problems that I was having and unfortunately the problems outweighed the good things so I completely reformated my hardrive and started with a fresh install of Windows XP Home Editon 32bit. I figure I will give Vista another shot when the first service pack is released.
Anyway, I have noticed that my system isn't running like it should, mainly the loading times in my games because I seem to be getting really good FPS but the loading times are extremely slow. For example in World of Warcraft, I set my old computer side by side with my new one to test the loading time and the result wasn't pretty so I know something is wrong.

Old Computer: 5 Years old /w no new parts.
OS: Windows XP Home Edition 32bit
CPU: AMD Anthlon 1900+
Video: GeForce 3 Ti 500
Ram: 512mb
Hardrive: 80GB Western Digital 7,000rpm
Mobo: Abit KR7A

VS

New Computer:
OS: Windows XP Home Edition 32bit
CPU: Intel E6850 @ 3.00GHz
Video: EVGA GeForce 8800GTX
RAM: 4GB Corsair 6400C4 4-4-4-12 (System only sees 3.25GB however)
Hardrive: 74GB Western Digital Raptor 10,000rpm
Mobo: Asus P5K (Non deluxe)

Now like I said before, i'm getting really good FPS with everything maxed on my new system, but when I set these two computers side by side and loaded up Iron Forge in World of Warcraft (same server, same location) the old computer loaded up just as fast as the new one. I also tried loading up Quake 4 and Half-Life 2 and got the same results. Now I did notice something weird. The loading bar on my new computer loads up super fast for the first 80% but after that it stops for a second and then just streams slowly to the end like your watching the time bar on a MPEG video or something.
Does anyone have any ideas what is wrong? Is there something I need to disable/enable in Windows? What would I need to disable/enable in my BIOS settings? Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Also please note that when I had Vista installed it loaded up very fast but I have since found out that is a nice feature in Vista. So i'm thinking I might have setup my BIOS wrong or something when I reformatted.

 

[Gavin28x]

Are you running any addons with wow? I always notice that with more addons the load time gets slower and slower, also I'm not 100% but i think that it has something to do with internet connection as well at PC speed meaning that both your old PC and New PC have the same connection speed so while the new PC might load addons and PC side information relatively quickly the determining factor might be Wow server side load time and connection lag.


edit:

Also to find out if something really is wrong take a non internet based game, or something in a single player mode, where internet connection is not a factor and check level load times. The new computer specially with that Raptor should be hella faster then the old one.

 

[Vezra]

I don't have any addons installed yet, like I said this is a brand new system and I just did a fresh format and install of Windows XP and yes it is the same with other games aswell. Every game loads really really slow but i'm getting good FPS. Could a setting in the BIOS be causing this? Another person told me to take out 2 sticks of RAM since XP can't use all 4GB anyway. I'm really at a loss here...

 

[Gavin28x]

You dont need to take out the sticks of ram, Im not sure what would cause the slow load times, maybe check to see what IDE channel the Raptors on....iirc one of the two ide busses on a MOBO is slower then the other and is supposed to be used for the Optical Reader.....try and change that. other wise google slow Pc game load times and read a bit.

 

[RoBo]

...maybe check to see what IDE channel the Raptors on...

OP: Is your CPU @ 100%? HDD Activity?