Improving PC Performance without Upgrading Your Hardware

Nine things that Chip Manufacturers and PC retailers don't want you to know!

Tired of a slow PC even though your machine is only under a year old? Upgrade!

Contrary to what people may tell you, you may still squeeze power from your computer (new or old) without having to spend too much money on costly upgrades. Here is how you can do it and save on time, money and stress.

Imagine this - you're playing a game, watching a movie, browsing the Internet or working on some document. After a couple of hours, when you try to switch to or start another application, your computer just lulls, seemingly inactive, sometimes even for over one minute. You freak and think: I just hope that the @%^& thing won't crash! Words probably flow out more passionately than this especially if your computer is new or if you've just reinstalled your system afresh particularly to avoid these problems.

With me, it's start-up times. My computer is 9 months old and otherwise very fast. But start-up times are a nightmare. Between the time I log on to my network and I can access my Outlook to read my emails, I usually make a cup of tea. As tea drinkers go, I am very particular about my brew- I let the tea bag sit for about 3 minutes before adding the milk! I am so used to long start up times that now it doesn't bother me any more. Should it? Shouldn't it? What should I do?

The problem is definitely related to my computer's memory. "Well, just go to a computer store and get some more memory - it's quite easy!" How many times have you heard this? I bet quite a lot. Then when you do spend that money to add your RAM, it seems that your computer flies like the wind but only for a few weeks and then goes back to its old state of slow downs, delays and frustration.

By the end of it, you are even more angry and would love to throw the whole thing out of the top floor of the Empire State Building. But what can you do? Go down the store and buy more RAM? No way! The solution to upgrading system performance does not involve shooting yourself in the leg by buying more RAM each time you start experiencing regular slow downs. If you do so you are only hiding the problem for a few weeks or a couple of months. And by then, your slow down will be even worse. Computer performance degrades for specific reasons and RAM will not solve the root cause of your problem. Chip manufacturers and PC retailers won't tell you all this because it doesn't pay them.

The solution is easy - you can tweak system resources and settings to inch out substantial performance gains thus improving your overall computing experience. And before being seized by panic, read "Why do Computers Slow Down?" and "What can You Do to Avoid Computer Slowdowns?". These two articles have been written in simple language to help novice users how to tweak system resources without spending a fortune on more memory or a new CPU/Mainboard.

Whether you are a novice or an expert, however, here are Nine Things that Chip Manufacturers and PC Retailers don't want you to know because they know that with this information you can drastically improve the long-run performance of your computer for next to nothing.