How to Make My Computer Faster
How to Make My Computer Faster
As computers get older, they start to slow down. Even the best models with the fastest processors can start to feel sluggish over time. However, you don't necessarily need to replace your computer with a new one. There are simple ways to speed up your desktop or laptop with easy maintenance or inexpensive upgrades.
In this article, we'll walk you through how to make your computer faster using hardware or software.
Get More Memory
Though it might sound complicated, one of the easiest solutions to how to make your computer faster is by upgrading its memory, or RAM. You can speed up your system considerably, and relatively cheaply, with this method. There are hundreds of types of RAM on Amazon.com, but not all of them will work with your machine. To find the right one, follow our easy memory upgrade guide.
First, you need to determine whether you can even upgrade your RAM at all. Some laptops, most notably ultrabooks, don't let owners access the inside of the machine, so you can't do the upgrade yourself. Plus, there's a limit to how much memory a computer can handle; if you have the maximum amount, it's just not possible to add more.
To find out how much memory you have, go to Control Panel > System on a Windows PC or Apple Menu > About This Mac on an Apple computer. Then check the user manual or the support site for your computer to find the maximum allowed RAM.
Once you know whether you can upgrade, making your computer faster is about finding the right kind of RAM to use. There are different memory upgrade modules for desktops and laptops, different speeds, and different pin sizes. It's important to buy something compatible; otherwise, you might waste money or even damage your computer.
Finally, when shopping for RAM, be aware of exactly what you're buying. If you want to add 4GB of RAM, for example, you might want one 4GB memory stick to install in one slot or two 2GB memory sticks to install in two slots--but if you only have one slot available, two memory sticks won't work. Product names can sometimes be confusing, so take care to read the product details, refer back to our memory upgrade guide for advice, and be sure you're buying exactly what you want.
Install Virus and Spyware Protection
You don't need to open up the system to make your computer faster. Simple software tweaks can add a lot of speed. Sluggish computers are often the result of viruses or malware that slow them down. Get rid of these, and you may be surprised how fast your system will run. Amazon.com offers a large library of antivirus and malware protection tools, and you can find them by type, operating system, and user ratings.
Uninstall Unnecessary Software
Unneeded applications may be using resources in the background and taking up space on your hard drive. So how can you make your computer run faster? Simply remove programs you don't use. Go to Control Panel > Programs in Windows, or drag the app from the Applications folder to the trash on Apple computers.
Run Disk Cleanup in Windows
The disk cleanup utility in Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 finds unnecessary files--temporary Internet files, setup files left behind after installing new programs, and items in the Recycle Bin - and lets you easily delete them. This may not seem like much, but the free disk space can really add up.
This type of cleanup will offer the most benefit as you get closer to completely filling up your hard drive. Most computers use a technique called virtual memory management to treat some of your hard disk space like RAM, allowing you to keep more programs running at the same time. When your drive is more than about two-thirds full, this process can be affected - resulting in a more sluggish computing experience than usual. Therefore, periodically "spring cleaning" your hard drive with this tip can counteract or prevent that kind of slowdown.
Turn Off Search Indexing in Windows
Search indexing in Windows uses up system resources without offering much benefit. Plus, if you have a system with an SSD inside (most ultrabooks do), this service doesn't speed up searching on Windows at all. Turn it off to make the computer a bit faster.
Search for services.msc from the Start Menu or Start Screen. In the window that opens, find the "Windows Search" service, right click, and choose Properties. In this window, find the Startup type dropdown menu and choose Disabled. Click OK, then reboot your computer.
It's Simple to Speed Up Your Computer
Making your computer faster is easy and, in most cases, inexpensive. Investing in a memory upgrade will give you a significant speed boost, but to supercharge your system, an SSD is even better. Running a few simple utilities and deleting unneeded programs and files are even simpler and faster ways to eliminate computer sluggishness. Using these tips you can extend the life of your computer at a fraction of the cost of buying a new one.
