You don't mention the memory on your system, the speed of the processor, what load you normally run, what you're doing in the VM's...Some of it might be in the links, but for the sake of the question it wouldn't have been all that hard to just post what your system has so people answering don't have to chase links.

Nor do you really say what's acceptable for speed (or perceived speed). That's the biggest issue that specs can't give...what do you consider acceptable?

Best answer I can offer is that 7200 RPM drives would help a little. SSD drives should really speed it up. Bump memory up as much as your system will accept and you'll see another nice boost.

Hard Disk Speed for Virt Laptop
For years I've been soldering with normal Sn60Pb40 solder wire. But now I try to switch to lead free solder. In many forums over the internet I found the Amasan BF32-3 solder wire. It's a Sn95Ag4Cu solder wire with 3.5% flux. 

So I tried it and was very disappointed. Nearly every solder joint was looking different. Some of them were (partially) shiny; some (the most) of them were dull. And the worst thing was, that even with additional flux, the solder didn't flow like the leaded. So there is no way, I could solder fine pith SMD stuff with it.

I’m using a JBC soldering iron station with a C245-907 2.2mm chisel tip and tried different temperatures starting with 290°C to 360°C. The best results I get with about 315°C, with 350°C I got the worst results. I used the Amtech NC-559 Flux – the original, not the fake from china. 

Some other guys told me, that maybe the solder wire is not the best. That's why I'm looking for other soldering wires. But there are so many on market. Some with copper, some are Sn96.5Ag3.5 like the Amtech ASN96A3.5-0.50.

So can someone tell me, with what type of solder wire or what product I can get nice shiny solder joints. And yes, I now that dull joints were not a sign for a bad or even cold joint.
