Why's My Computer So SLOW?
By
Staten Island, NY Posted: 8/20/2017 1:00:00 AM
Why do computers "get slower" over time?
People come to me all the time with their technical questions, and the most popular question of all time is "Why is my computer so SLOW!?". It doesn't sound all that complicated. You own a computer. The computer USED to be fast, so why not ask what went wrong, and how you can make it fast again? Unfortunately, it's not as simple as that.
First, let me explain one simple fact. The speed of your computer chips doesn't change over time. It can still do the same number of transactions per second that it did the day you bought it. Chances are, the real problem is that computer software and web sites get bigger and more complicated every day, and your older computer is simply not powerful enough to run the latest software.
For example, if you factory reset your computer so that has the same programs you had the day you bought it, it will run your original software just as fast as it did that day. As you begin to install updates and newer programs, it will have more work to do... and use more resources and get progressively slower.
The main point is that your computer is still capable of running your older software at full speed, but if you want to run the latest software, you're computer will get slower.
That said, there are a two things you can do to speed things up as much as possible.
1. Install as much RAM as possible. Some computers ship with only 4GB of RAM, yet they may be capable of a lot more than that. You can check a site like Crucial.Com to determine the maximum amount of RAM your model can handle. If you don't have the maximum RAM installed, you should definitely consider adding RAM. It's still the cheapest bang for the buck when it comes to improving the speed of your computer. It takes less than a minute to install, and most people see changes right away.
2. Another option is to upgrade your hard drive to a solid state drive. This isn't easy, but it's still less expensive than a new PC. Solid state drives are several times faster than mechanical drives, but as I said, this is not an easy option for most people to do on their own.
If those options aren't available, try to limit yourself to older software, and remove any software you don't use.
Joe Crescenzi, Founder
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