Are you planning to buy a new computer because the old one is not giving you the performance you deserve? If you are upgrading the device to get better functionality, consider optimizing your old computer. Implementing a few things will help you make your laptop faster and smoother than ever.
From operating system configurations to hardware additions to routine maintenance, this article will include everything you need to know to optimize your setup. You can get more output while spending minimum and staying within your budget.
Uninstall Redundant Apps
When trying to improve the performance of your computer, deleting unnecessary applications is the first thing that you need to do. You will be surprised to see the volume of redundant software installed on your computer once you start finding them.
Use uninstaller tools to delete apps or any relevant files permanently from the hard drive, as removing them manually can leave app residue behind. Any such component remains stored on the HDD consuming its share of resources and making the computer sluggish.
Manage Storage Space
With more gigabytes of storage, you don’t have to worry about the low space errors that affect the overall functioning of the device. Every app you download on the hard drive consumes several megabytes or even gigabytes of space.
If your budget allows and the laptop is upgradable, add an SSD drive for faster retrieval of data read and write operations. Keep in mind that storage management is not only limited to deleting files but optimizing the hard drive collectively for better performance.
Upgrade Your RAM
Users often believe that having ample storage space will result in driving better performance from the computer. However, the fact is that having a higher RAM is more important than having more gigabytes of storage as the memory is responsible for rendering tasks.
The more computer memory you have, the better your computer will be at multitasking. With a higher RAM, you can throw more tasks at your device without experiencing delays. So, upgrade your computer’s RAM to improve its speed within your budget.
Disable Startup Programs
When your computer starts to lag over time, the login items or the startup programs might be at fault. These programs open each time you boot the device and access memory, processing power, graphics, and other resources.
The login items sit in the system tray, and users are not able to see them. Limit the login items to ensure the system resources are available and allocated to other useful apps. You can come back and set the startup items to auto-start again when the need arises.
Scan Your Computer
System slowdown can also occur due to the existence of a malicious software application. Install an antivirus application from a legitimate website only. Malicious apps often aim to use the system resources for nefarious activities or to annoy users.
Running an antivirus application regularly in a few days helps you ensure that no unauthorized program exists on your computer. So, scanning your computer will eliminate any risks that can make your computer slower.
Increase Page File Volume
The Windows operating system stores the temporary data in the Page File before the paging process. Paging is when the operating system moves data from the page to the RAM. The process usually depends on which service or application is most processing-intensive.
Maximizing the volume of the page file gives Windows more space to store this temporary data. By doing this, you can improve system performance and function stability while preventing sudden hardware crashes and breakdowns.
Defragment Hard Drive
If you are using a Windows computer with a hard drive installed, you need to defrag it often. The older mechanical disks don’t store data at a collective location; instead, it saves chunks of data across the disk. When needed, the disk reassembles data for processing.
When you delete a file, it forms gaps on the disk. Over time, the data reader has to work hard to gather all the chunks to recreate a file. Defragmenting the hard drive brings all the pieces of data closer, which accelerates the data read and write process.
Update Software & Drivers
Keep up with current updates as they improve the computer’s performance, functionality, and security. When installing updates, you need to install the operating system updates, driver updates, and application updates.
The OS updates are essential to get the most performance out of the Windows, macOS, Linux, or other platforms you might be using. Driver updates boost the functionality of the devices and peripherals connected to your computer, while application updates ensure the smooth functioning of installed programs.
Minimize Visual Effects
As an average user, you might not use graphics-intensive apps all the time. However, if you are a graphics designer or video editor, you will be using graphics-rich apps on your computer. You can minimize the graphics Settings when not required.
The system consumes more battery, processing power, and other resources when your computer is set to higher visual effects. So, keep the visual effects to a minimum to improve the system’s performance.
