If you're spending your hard-earned money on a computer, you should get the most out of it that you can. Here are some simple ways to maximize your computer power.
Upgrade the Parts
The newest software requires more resources to run properly. Eventually, the amount of RAM, CPU power, or drive space you have isn't going to cut it. Rather than buy a whole new computer, upgrade individual parts instead.
Adding more RAM is a great place to start.
You can add an extra stick or max it out; looking up the exact model can tell you the maximum RAM you can add.
Older computers still have regular, spinning hard drives. Switching this out with a solid-state drive (SSD) is a huge upgrade.
SSDs are storage devices with no moving parts. They are faster, quieter, and more durable than HDDs.
More and more computers are being made with SSDs, but if you're one of the holdouts, it might be time for a change.
Overclocking
With the right tweaks, you can push the hardware in your computer to higher limits.
The best way to do this is by overclocking. Overclocking increases a component's clock speed so it runs faster.
Usually, the best components to upgrade are the CPU or graphics card.
Before you start the process, make sure your PC has proper cooling. You may need to add some extra fans.
Proper airflow is also important, so make sure your machine has enough free space so the air can move around and be blown out by the fan in your computer's case.
You'll need to become familiar with the BIOS of your machine. Go into your computer’s BIOS settings and increase the clock rate or voltage.
Increase it by a small amount, reboot your computer, then see if the system is stable. If everything is good, boot back up into the BIOS and add a little more.
Overclock little by little to ensure it’s stable, don’t just increase your clock speeds by a large amount at once.
Delete Bloatware
Sometimes computers come pre-loaded with software you don't need, or developers try to add apps as a package.
You might even have some apps installed that you haven't used in ages. It's best to delete them.
Head to Programs and Features and uninstall any unnecessary apps.
There might be some apps you need, but they don't need to run as soon as you boot up. It's a good idea to limit apps that start automatically.
Apps like Zoom and Spotify have settings that stop the apps from running on boot-up.
Even if you're done with an app, it can still run in the background. Unless you need it, look for the option to turn that off. Certain apps running in the background can waste a lot of resources.
Wrapping Up
A RAM or hard drive upgrade goes a long way, especially for older computers. You can breathe extra life into an older machine.
Overclocking is the best way to increase hardware performance.
And it's a good idea to remove any unnecessary apps and files.
Be sure to turn off any settings that force apps to run on startup or in the background.
