Struggling with a slow PC? Check out this guide to boost PC performance

A PC is a critical device. It has a great impact on our daily lives, often affecting how we perform daily tasks. According to a survey, slow-running systems are a problem faced by 65% of PC users. Furthermore, 32%of respondents in the survey complained that slow computers were impacting their ability to perform.

Struggling with a slow computer? You don't need to throw it away and buy a new one! We'll walk you through a few quick fixes to update your PC to boost its performance without burning deep holes into your pocket.

A PC is a critical device. It has a great impact on our daily lives, often affecting how we perform daily tasks. According to a survey, slow-running systems are a problem faced by 65% of PC users. Furthermore, 32%of respondents in the survey¹ complained that slow computers were impacting their ability to perform.

Struggling with a slow computer? You don't need to throw it away and buy a new one. We'll walk you through a few quick fixes to update your PC to boost its performance without burning deep holes into your pocket.

Remove Unnecessary Programs

Start by uninstalling any unnecessary software or applications that you no longer use. These programs can consume valuable system resources, so removing them can free up space and improve performance.

Disable Startup Programs

Many programs automatically start when you boot up your PC, which can slow down the startup process. To boost performance, disable or remove unnecessary programs from the startup list. You can do this through the Task Manager on Windows or the System Preferences on macOS.

Perform Disk Cleanup

Use the built-in disk cleanup utility on your operating system to remove temporary files, cached data, and other unnecessary items from your hard drive. This process can help free up disk space and improve overall system performance.

Upgrade the Storage Drive

One of the most effective ways to get your PC to work faster is by upgrading its storage drive. An upgrade to an internal SSD from an existing hard disk drive (HDD) can improve your PC’s performance significantly. SSDs are faster compared to HDDs. Depending on the budget, one can opt for a SATA SSD or NVMe™ powered SSDs- which are faster still than SATA SSDs.

An SSD powered PC will offer higher speeds to do more, faster boot times, faster app loading times, faster speeds for launching games, and more responsiveness in programs that use large files such as video editing or RAW photo editing. What’s more, it will take less power, thereby extending the battery life of a laptop.

One of the SSD options you have is the WD Blue™ SN570 NVMe SSD, which comes in up to 2TB* of storage capacity. This powerful internal drive delivers up to five times the speed of Western Digital’s best SATA SSDs so you can let your imagination flow and worry less about PC lag or load times. However, if your PC motherboard doesn’t support NVMe technology you should opt for the WD Blue 3D NAND SATA SSD. Some of the options to look out for include:

Crucial MX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD, up to 560MB/s

Crucial P2 1TB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD Up to 2400MB/s,

SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus SSD 1TB NVMe M.2 Internal Solid State Hard Drive,

V-NAND Technology, Storage and Memory Expansion for Gaming, Graphics w/ Heat Control, Max Speed.

Crucial P5 Plus 500GB PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 Gaming SSD, up to 6600MB/s

SAMSUNG MUF-256AB/AM FIT Plus 256GB - 400MB/s USB 3.1

Upgrading your RAM

If you enjoy creating content and editing videos, then upgrading your random-access memory (RAM) is another way to improve your overall performance. A RAM upgrade delivers an instant performance boost to a slow PC. The cost of memory upgrades vary based on the PC and the amount of memory required. For tasks such as video editing or gaming, the more RAM you have, the better is the output. For casual usage the RAM enables you to have more apps working in the background and have more tabs open without causing a lag.

GPU Upgrades

A GPU upgrade makes sense while looking for extra performance or functionality for advanced games or computationally complex programs for statistics and data mining. GPUs are also useful for non-gaming applications, including video editing, as they can efficiently run other processes that involve manipulating large amounts of data in parallel. However, if you’re a professional gamer, then it should be among the first things you upgrade for quality 3D animation. While purchasing a GPU remember to check the resolution of your monitor for the best outputs. If your CPU is old, make sure your new graphic card is compatible with the processor.

Optimize Startup and Shutdown

Adjust your system settings to optimize the startup and shutdown processes. For example, on Windows, you can disable unnecessary visual effects, reduce the number of startup programs, and enable Fast Startup for quicker boot times.

Scan for Malware

Regularly scan your system for malware and viruses. Malicious software can consume system resources and slow down your PC's performance. Use reputable antivirus software and keep it up to date.

Remember to back up your important files before making any significant changes to your system. Additionally, consult your PC manufacturer's documentation or seek professional assistance if you are unsure about any steps involved in hardware upgrades or system optimization.