| Optimizing PC Speed
Is your computer system sluggish? Before you
consider replacing it, find out if you can enhance your PC's speed with utility tools or
upgrades.
Disk Clean Up
Before considering new hardware, make sure you are
getting the maximum performance out of your system. You may have a large number of
unnecessary programs running in the background that are consuming valuable resources.
Investigate the many utility tools available that can be used to fine-tune your resources,
including hardware, systems settings and Internet usage, to boost your system's
performance and improve stability.
Spyware
Consider also that some of the programs
running in the background could be spyware. Spyware may be monitoring your Internet usage
and sending this personal information to remote servers without letting you know and
without asking for your permission. The information could be a list of websites that you
visit or even usernames and passwords. An anti-spyware program can detect and remove these
unwanted software programs. This will not only improve your PC's speed, but also improve
security and protect your privacy.
CPU
The PC's "brain" is the CPU or central
processing unit. Process speed is measured in megahertz (MHz) - for example a desktop
system should be at least 800 MHz and a notebook, 600 MHz. While the most obvious way to
improve the speed of your computer is to replace the CPU with a faster one, this is the
most expensive way.
RAM
Increasing the amount of memory in your PC is one
of the most economical ways to improve its performance. RAM (random access memory) is
measured in megabytes (MB) and is the place where the PC temporarily stores information
that is on its way to or from the processor. The more memory you have, the faster your
applications will run and the more stable your computer will be. As with the CPU,
generally the higher the number is for the RAM, the faster the computer. RAM also helps
determine how many and what size programs you can effectively open and run simultaneously.
Many desktops are equipped with a standard 256-MB
memory, the lowest memory required to run Windows XP. The problem with the lower memory is
that it forces the operating system to constantly transfer data between the hard drive and
the RAM. Thus, if large data files are being worked on, speed is compromised. For most
office applications, upgrading to 512 MB would improve speed. However, if you use high
quality graphics or large spreadsheet programs, then spend the extra dollars and upgrade
to a minimum of 1GB of RAM. It is even possible to increase memory to 2 GB, depending on
your PC.
While it is very inexpensive and relatively easy
to add more memory, be aware that every computer has a maximum amount of RAM that it can
accept. It also requires a specific format (e.g., SDRAM or DRAM). To determine the
required format, you will need your computer's make and model number, which can be found
in the System Information tool in Windows and in the System Profiler on a Mac. You can
then look up the memory requirements online or ask your computer supplier or technician.
USB
The USB port allows the use of, and the data
transfer to, a variety of devices from printers, to cameras, to external hard drives with
incredible convenience when compared to the slower parallel or serial port application. If
your system is more than a couple of years old, it probably is using the USB 1.1
application. If you want to boost file transfer speed, consider upgrading to USB 2.0.
Upgrading is as simple as buying and installing an
add-in card costing approximately $40 - provided that your current system's motherboard
supports USB 2.0. Installation is not difficult. Shut off the power, open the case,
install the card into an available slot, power up the system, and install the device
drivers and you are ready to go. If you are nervous about opening the box, have a
technician complete the installation.
Dual-core Processors
Dual-core processors are destined to make today's
processors history within five years. Dual-core technology is like having two processors,
and two working together is better and faster than one working alone. Effectively, this
allows unprecedented speed and instant access when running even the most
processor-intensive tasks at the same time. The dual-core processor allows you to be on
the Web downloading graphs or pictures while working on your accounting program and
searching a database, all without significant speed loss or risk of the system crashing.
Adapting the dual-core processor to your existing
system may be possible, but first determine whether the increase in processor speed will
benefit your workplace.
Assess Current System First
Before investing in a new system, take time to
determine if utility tools and/or upgrades will maximize your existing system's
performance. You may be able to achieve peak performance at much less cost. |
