Slow Site - Can someone advise?

[Renz]

Hi All,

Just a quick question about speed...I think I am pretty well optimized have followed the instructions and using gzip as well though my site loads slow at times and super fast at others...
Here are my test results:

Fire Fox

Parse Time: 9.215 - Number of Queries: 174 - Query Time: 0.12027876377869
Parse Time: 1.232 - Number of Queries: 159 - Query Time: 0.079170610565186
Parse Time: 9.362 - Number of Queries: 174 - Query Time: 0.38220527590942
Parse Time: 0.877 - Number of Queries: 152 - Query Time: 0.17381681373596
Parse Time: 0.119 - Number of Queries: 158 - Query Time: 0.046010853057861
Parse Time: 2.201 - Number of Queries: 159 - Query Time: 0.045453194259644

Internet Explorer

Parse Time: 4.434 - Number of Queries: 173 - Query Time: 0.54913670820618
Parse Time: 7.841 - Number of Queries: 174 - Query Time: 0.11132475942993
Parse Time: 1.089 - Number of Queries: 158 - Query Time: 0.046964696975708
Parse Time: 0.669 - Number of Queries: 158 - Query Time: 0.29538884892273


Sometimes the site loads fast sometimes slow, is this an over crowded server issue
Something to do with the images or Image handler? Any help would be appreciated.
http://www.adulttoys4u.com.au/shop


Cheers in Advance
Renz

[Kim]

If it is fast at times and slow at others, it is a hosting issue - Who is your host?

[Renz]

Hi Kim,

Its www.dutyfreehosting.com

Thanks
Renz

[Kim]

I have never had any dealings with them, but the old saying goes ... you get what you pay for ...

Zen Cart is a big, heavy, sometimes resource intensive program. It does need a host that is tuned for it to run optimally.

[Renz]

Hi Again Kim So your opinion of these yo-yo times which can range from 20 sec to 0.11 of a second is to do with a server response rather than my page. As it's not changing other than the scroller or the random new products....What does a zen tuned host do that's different and what's an approximate hosting cost?
Regards
Renz

[Merlinpa1969]

These hosts would have better allocation of resources,
( proprietary settings )
Would NOT overload the servers

that type of thing.....

[Renz]

Thanks for your help Kim & Merlinpa

Best As always...
Renz

[Renz]

Well....How's this sound.......it's the response from the server to my parse times.

Hello,

Thank you for contacting our Technical Support Department.

It is normal for a ZenCart distribution to load some pages faster than others - that depends on many factors, most important of which would be the content of the page(more products equal more parse time).
Additionally, it would be best if you tweak the script a bit, because an initial ZenCart installation is slower than an improved one. Optimization is an important part of running a successful ZenCart, optimizing images would help as well.

Best Regards,
Joey

[dbltoe]

Here's an example of what they show and why it's better to go with a good host.

http://private.dnsstuff.com/tools/dn...10319714509019

[Renz]

The guys at the server say this, is it right or is it a fob off for a slow sever?


Hello,

This is something commonly met when using Zen Cart, without using any kind of performance modules, etc. You should notice that this kind of result:
Parse Time: 17.441 - Number of Queries: 166 - Query Time: 0.57861009893799
only occurs at your first attempt to view the home page. The script is complex and actually needs quite some time to process all the inquiries. However, it uses cached files during the current session and deletes them afterwards.
Some modules implement smart way of caching - storing and reusing parts of page that take much time to load/generate.
It gives much higher speed-up than standard shopping carts caching due to the smarter approach.
First time when page is accessed - it is generated as normal (no speed gain), when page is accessed second time - it is taken from cache.
There is no actual issue with the server, it is just the way the script works when not tweaked as much as possible - the first load is apparently slower.

To improve performance, clients are advised to turn off Category Counts from the Zen Cart admin area > Config > My Store > Show Category Counts and to reduce the number of products shown on your main page as well.

You can analyze the website here:
http://www.websiteoptimization.com/services/analyze/
and see for yourself that everything is working properly.

Best Regards,
Joey
End Server guy...

Also I have a question out about the add on mod how did you hear of us but no one has replied to it if anyone reading this knows the answer to: Hi All, just building a new site on 138a and I wish to add on the "how did you hear about us" module, I am a little confused the one that states is for 138a rev2 has all the instructions for the 137 in the read me files..is this the right one?

Thanks Guys.
RR