Why your computer is slow
Do you ever wonder why your computer seems to just drag on and on? Sometimes it starts out fast, but before long you are spending more time waiting than working on your computer. It’s supposed to make the things you do easier and faster, but when it is running slow it decreases productivity and wastes your valuable time. There are several things that factor into your computers speed (or lack thereof). Let’s discuss a few things you can do to speed up your computer.
Memory (RAM)
Memory or RAM (Random Access Memory) as it is formally named is probably the single biggest contributor to your computer’s speed. Without enough memory, your computer will be very slow to load and run programs, open documents or accomplish any of the numerous tasks that make your computer useful to you or your business. How much memory your computer actually needs is really dependent on what you use it for. A computer being used only for internet browsing will require much less memory than a computer being used for 3D Modeling. If you are on the lower end of this spectrum then you should make sure that you have no less than 2 Gigabytes of memory. If your computer is very old there is a good chance that your memory significantly lower that that.
Processor (CPU)
The CPU is considered to be the brain of your computer. It handles not only the data that you input into the computer, but all of the data for the software you have installed. Unlike RAM, it does not save data. It handles what is happening right now. Since your processor is involved in everything that happens, having a processor speed that is too low will in turn effect everything on your computer.
Hard Drive
There is more to a hard drive than just it’s storage capacity. Although it is important to get a hard drive with enough space to suit your needs, most computers come with large drives by default. Some important things to consider if you are buying a new computer or upgrading your existing drive are interface, drive speed (measured in RPMs), seek speed (measured in milliseconds) and buffer. We will discuss each of these in a little more detail.
- Drive Speed
This is the hard drives rotational speed. The faster the disk spins, the faster data can be read and written. Most current internal disks run around the 7200 RPM mark, but disks that run at 10,000 RPMs can be purchased if you are willing to pay the price. These are usually more appropriate for the enthusiast - Interface
Most new hard drives have a SATA interface, but some newer and most older have a PATA interface. The difference between the two can be seen in the image below. There are other diferences other than the obvious appearance. SATA has a data transfer rate significantly faster than PATA. What does this mean? It means that you can read, write and transfer files to and from a SATA hard drive much faster than a PATA drive. IF your computer can support it, you should always go with a SATA drive. - Seek Speed
This is not much of a factor for most poeple, however it can become important if you have a very large drive as these tend to have longer seek times.
- Buffer
When your system tells the hard drive to fetch data, the buffer will store information that might help the drive find and read the data faster. This helps to keep data flowing at a higher rate.
Clutter
This is a very large contributor to slow computer speeds. Don’t worry though, It’s also the easiest to remedy. So, what is clutter and how does it happen? I like to compare it to your own home. In the process of living in your home you generate clutter. Whether it is dust, dirt, trash from the kitchen or just things that you no longer need. Sometimes you have to clean the house and take out the trash. If you don’t, well, it’s not a pretty sight. This is not much different from your computer. A little preventative maintenance will keep your computer free from file clutter and running smoothly. Lets talk about a few of the things that we recommend
- Defragmenting
As you read and write files to a hard drive they are not always stored together. This is especially true when saving and moving large files. Large files tend to be stored in multiple areas on the disk. If these files get too fragmented it can significantly slow down the speed at which your drive is able to read and write data. Defragmenting is a fairly easy process. The only thing that is required is that you have some free space on your hard drive. - Delete temporary files
These files accumulate over time. Not only do they slow down your computer, but they waste away your valuable disk space. Cleaning them out on a regular basis keeps your system clean and running smooth. - Uninstall unused programs
How many times have you installed something only to use it once and never touch it again? I know that this is quite common for me. Even unused software can still be running in the background and slowing your computer. Not only that, your hard drive space is being wasted. - Cleanup your registry
The registry is essentially a database that stores settings and options on Windows systems. Registry keys are generated when you install software and sometime left behind when uninstalling software. These orphaned keys begin to clutter your registry and can cause issues.
Nearly all of these tasks can be accomplished using CCleaner. We highly recommend using this program. It is proven to be safe and effective. Not only that, it’s completely free and very simple to use.
Startup Programs
You may not know it, but the programs that you install onto your computer are all greedy and selfish! You might be thinking “how can this be?”. Let me explain what I mean. When you are installing software you are normally presented with several options during the process such as where to install and what options etc. One of the things that a typical program will try to do is have itself start up whenever you boot into Windows. The problem with that is this. As you install more and more software, you end up with many different programs all trying to start when you start your computer. This results in an extremely slow and long boot process. In order to prevent all of these programs from starting at boot we recommend using CCleaner. It’s free and very simple to use. It will allow you to select what, if any, programs you would like to start with Windows.
Viruses
Just hearing this word is enough to make you want to scream. Viruses are so common these days that you can get one just about anywhere. Some common ways to pick up a virus are opening an infected file or e-mail, browsing an infected website, using portable storage that is infected and downloading files from an unknown source. There are many other ways, but those are some of the most common.
How to avoid infection? Well lets list some things you can do to prevent infections.
- Keep your computer and installed software updated
- Never open e-mails from an untrusted person and never open chain mail
- Do not download from P2P (peer to peer) programs such as limewire or bittorrent
- Be wary of browsing “questionable” websites
- Use a firewall, anti virus and malware protection.
We are an authorized reseller of AVG product, however there are free product out there that can provide you with some protection. We recommend AVG Free edtion as well as Malwarebytes. These are both proven to be effective at keeping your computer safe from infection. Remember, any free solution may not be sufficient to protect you against all threats.
If you are infected you may need to look up a local repair shop to have it cleaned completely. If you are in the Mobile, Alabama area then just give us a call!
This article was written by Bryan Singleton of Mobile Computer Solutions. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments regarding this article.
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