Windows a little sluggish?
The new Windows operating systems need a lot of processing power and memory
to operate smoothly. One of the reasons being that it is designed to look
nice, thus featuring lots of goodies like icon smoothing, fade-in and
fade-out, slide menus and smooth scrolling, to name but a few. You have
a few options to make your Windows run slicker, the obvious being upgrading
your CPU and adding RAM. In the meantime,
do the following:
- Set your Windows for optimal performance: right-click on My Computer,
choose Advanced, choose Performance, choose Settings,
choose Adjust for best performance. In that window, you can click
the bottom 3 options to keep the traditional Windows look while still
gaining performance.
Do you search for files often?
Windows has a feature called Allow Index Searching which indexes
all files on an ongoing basis as you work with the computer, add new files
and browse the internet. This feature takes up a lot of processing power
and memory. You can turn this feature off by right-clicking on your C
drive, choose Properties and deselect the feature at the
bottom of the window. Then you can replace the feature with a freeware
program from Copernic
Clean your temporary folders often!
Temporary files are a waste of space and memory. Clean your computer regularly
by right-clicking on your C drive, choose Properties, choose Disk
Cleanup.
You also might want to consider to set your browser to delete files when
you're finished surfing the web. On your Internet Explorer browser toolbar,
choose Tools, choose Internet Options, under Browsing
history, choose Delete, under Temporary Internet Files
choose Delete files.
In Firefox, choose Tools, choose Clear Private Data.
ADD RAM!
The quickest and cheapest way to make your computer or laptop go faster
is to add RAM (Random Access Memory). For your 486 or Pentium 1
you'll need SIMM RAM. For Pentium 2, Pentium 3, some Pentium 4s and older
AMD computers you'll need SD RAM (Synchronous Data RAM). For your new
computer (less than 2 years old) you'll need DDR RAM (Double Data Rate
RAM). We also stock RIMM RAM, ECC SD RAM, ECC DDR RAM and DDR2 RAM. For
more info on the different speeds of RAM and pricing go to the RAM
page
Install a faster CPU!
Refer to your computer or laptop motherboard manual to see the maximum
size CPU it will take. (In some cases you will have to flash the bios
to take a faster CPU.)
1. Your Pentium 2 motherboard will most likely take up to a Pentium 3
CPU (refer to the motherboard manual).
2. If you have an Intel Celeron CPU, change it to an Intel Pentium
CPU (for Pentium 2, Pentium 3 and Pentium 4 PCs)
3. If you have an AMD PC with an AMD Duron CPU, change it to an AMD Athlon
CPU.
4. If you have an AMD Sempron CPU such as an AMD 2400+ Sempron, change
to the older, faster AMD 2200 Athlon CPU.
See the CPU page
Rendering
Are those DVDs you've been getting from your cousin's friend's friend's
brother's cousin writing a little slow even after you added RAM? It will
help if you get the latest DVD-RW
FSB speed
Your computer can only go as fast as its slowest component. Doesn't help
if a ton-load of RAM and raw CPU processing get bottle-necked at the front
side bus of your motherboard. You can read
about it at motherboards and then pick up the meanest, leanest board
bargain at the same time.
Have Tips & Tricks you would like
to share with others?
Go to the contact form, choose "Tips
and Tricks" and submit your advice. Many thanks. We'll inform you
when it is posted here.d
Windows Vista: Full Aero Glass with only Shared Video
RAM
