Unlock Your PC’s Full Potential: Optimize for Maximum Speed and Efficiency

Overcoming Slow Speed: Proven Tips to Supercharge Your PC's Performance 

A personal computer's speed and performance are crucial for delivering quality work efficiently. However, many users face the frustrating issue of slow PC speed, characterized by slow program loading, delayed command execution, and decreased performance over time. While upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD) and adding more random access memory (RAM) are common solutions, they may not be feasible due to hardware limitations or financial constraints.

Moreover, installing an SSD and RAM is not the only answer, especially for users unfamiliar with optimal PC usage. Proper maintenance and an organized approach are essential for achieving peak performance when working with complex applications. Our focus is on enhancing PC performance without additional hardware, instead leveraging existing system specifications through strategic setting adjustments.

Boost Your PC's Speed and Performance: A Step-by-Step Guide

In this post, we'll explore the simple yet effective ways to significantly speed up your PC by tweaking key settings. Follow these easy steps to unlock a faster and more efficient computing experience:

1. Limit Startup Processes
2. Adjust the Appearance and Performance of Windows
3. Manage the Page File Size
4. Use a USB Drive or SD Card to Expand Your Computer's Memory
5. Unlock Your PC's Full Potential
6. Limit Windows Search Indexing
7. Graphics Performance Preference Settings
8. Delete Unnecessary Files and Software/Crapware
9. Thermal Control and Device Fan Settings
10. Keep Your Device Up-to-Date
11. Scan and Remove Viruses from the System to Boost PC Speed
12. Helpful Tips That Can Speed Up Your PC and Save You Time

1. Limit Startup Processes

When you turn on your PC, several programs automatically start in the startup process and slow down your computer. However, limiting this process increases PC speed. There may be numerous programs that you don't want to start on auto. So, the best practice is to check which programs should start automatically and which should be turned off or disabled. 

To carry out these changes, use any of the following procedures to open startup:

(a) Press the control + Alt + Delete keyboard keys at the same time, click the Task Manager, and then Click the Startup Tab. Right-click the program you don't want to start automatically from the available list and then click disable, or  Select it and then click the disable button at the bottom of the dialog box.

(b) Press Control + Shift + Esc and then click the Startup tab. The next is as given above.

(c) Type Startup Apps in Windows search, hit the enter key, and then click on the button icon at the right side of each program in the list of appeared programs to turn it off or on.

2. Adjust the Appearance and Performance of Windows

It contains the visual effects (Animations, shadows effect, smoothness, etc) that determine how things should look or add beauty to the visual appearance of things on your computer screen. By default, in Windows, almost all of these settings are enabled. However, it slows down the PC in cases where your PC has a smaller amount of RAM. 

To adjust these settings, open Run Command, type "control sysdm.cpl,,3"  and press enter. When the System Property dialog box appears with the selected advance tab, click the settings button in the performance box. If you are not an expert user, click Adjust for best performance and apply. If you're an expert, select Custom and manually uncheck the settings option you don't need. Apply and restart the PC.

    

Another way to do this is to type adjust in the taskbar search box and click on Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows from the search option. The performance options will open and apply settings as given above that best suit your requirements.

3. Manage the Page File Size

The operating system uses paging file as if it were RAM. It is the amount of space on the hard disk. It can be managed automatically by Windows or set manually by users. The operating system recommends a size for a page file. However, the user can manually set its size as well. The maximum page file size recommended by computer experts is 1.5 multiplied by the total RAM. For example, if your PC RAM is 4 GB, the maximum page file should be 6 GB (4096x1.5 = 6144). The purpose is for the system to use the page file, whether by Windows to manage it automatically or by a user to set it manually.

To check and manage it, type Sysdm.cpl in Run and press Enter Key. Select the Advance tab in the system property. Click Settings in the performance area. Select the advance tab in the performance option, select Programs in the processor scheduling area, and click Change in the virtual memory area. When the virtual memory dialog box opens, you can set it in two ways:

1. check the box in front of Adjust automatically paging file size for all drives and click ok. In this way, the operating system automatically manages it.

2. Select a drive in the box under drive [Valume label], select Custom Size, and enter the amount of MBs for the page file size in the boxes. Click Set and then ok. Now restart your PC after applying any one of the above.

4. Use a USB Drive or SD Card to Expand Your Computer's Memory

You can do it with ReadyBoost feature that enhances device performance by using a USB flash drive or an SD card to store frequently accessed data. This benefits computers with limited RAM by providing extra memory for caching, resulting in faster data access compared to a traditional hard drive and enhances system performance by storing frequently accessed data on a USB drive or SD card, which acts as an additional cache. This can lead to reduced boot times and faster launch of commonly used applications. To use a USB or SD card as additional RAM, you can follow the steps in my separate blog post titled linked below.

Enable ReadyBoost to resolve a slow speed issue

5. Unlock your PC's Full Potential

Optimizing BIOS settings can dramatically improve speed and performance. Learn how to enable fast boot, turbocharge your processor, and supercharge your hard disk (Click the link How to Boost PC's Speed by Optimizing BIOS Settings) Discover the secrets to faster boot times, lightning-fast processing, and a smoother overall experience."

6. Limit Windows Search Indexing

The Windows Search Index is a handy feature that indexes all the properties of files, including their names, full path, and content. This makes searching for files faster, like an index book of items. However, if your PC has low hard disk space and slows down during use, it is beneficial to limit the search index.

To modify and change the settings, you can simply type "index" in the search bar next to the start button and click on "Indexing options" from the list of results.When the dialog box appears, click on "Modify" if you want to change the item's indexing location to save space on the drive. If you want to pause the search index temporarily, click on "Pause". To limit the indexing process, click on "Advanced", then "File types", select "Index properties only",   then unchecked the files you don't want to index. This will limit the indexing process and help free up some space on your hard drive.  

7. Graphic Performance Preference Settings

By following these steps, you can improve your computer's ability to handle high-resolution files and applications. You can manage and set individual programs to use a high-performance Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) or Integrated Graphic Processing Unit (GPU), or let Windows decide.

To access the Graphic Performance Preference Settings, type "graphics settings" in the search bar next to the start menu. Click on Graphics Settings from the results to open it. To add an app or program for preference setting, select Desktop app, then click on Browse. Select the program/app you want to add, and click on Add. The icon of the app/program will appear under Browse. Click the app/program icon or name, then select the option of High Performance. You can also add more apps and programs. To remove a program from the added list, select it and click 'Remove'.

8. Delete Unnecessary Files and Software/Crapware

It's important to regularly optimize and clean your PC's hard disk to ensure it runs at its best. Fragmented drives, unnecessary files, viruses, and malware can slow down your device and take up a lot of storage space.To fix these issues, you can run a disk clean-up, set up a storage sense schedule, and uninstall any software or "crapware" that you don't need. Furthermore, drive optimization can improve the efficiency of a device by defragmenting and relocating frequently accessed files to the front of the hard drive.The process is a bit lengthy to explain fully here; however, you can find a detailed procedure in the post linked below.

Fix Low Disk Space Issues & Errors Plus Optimize fragmented Hard Drives

9. Thermal Control and Device Fan Settings

Sometimes, laptops or PCs start to slow down without any apparent reason. This can happen due to the system's thermal setting, which is designed to prevent any damage to the device's hardware. However, the real cause of this problem is the high temperature of your system, which is a result of the pressure of work that uses a lot of processor power and RAM. If you experience this issue, you can adjust the fan settings to keep your laptop cool and prevent any performance issues.You can also set the limit of CPU Throttle.To access the thermal control panel, you can use any of the following methods:

(a) Press and hold the Fn key and Shift key together, then press the number 15324 keys (Fn+Shift+15324). This will activate the thermal setting panel. Now press the Fn key and R key together (Fn+R) to open it. To ensure optimal performance of your device, it is recommended that you enable the MSR CPU auto throttling and BIOS thermal control. You can also set a desired value for fan RPM, up to a maximum of 5000 RMP. However, the available settings may vary depending on the core and model of your device.To prevent your system from hanging, it is important to keep the CPU throttle between 10% to 20%. This is an automatic mechanism that reduces the processor's clock speed when the temperature reaches a certain level. By keeping the CPU throttle low, you can continue working on your device without any interruptions.

(b) Another method to adjust the fan and power settings on your device is to type 'edit power' in the search bar and select 'edit power plan' from the search results. After that, click on 'Change advanced power settings' and scroll down to 'Processor Power Management'. Under this, you will find 'System Cooling Policy' - select 'Active' for both 'on battery' and 'on plugin' options. This will ensure that the fan turns on when the device is being powered by both battery and plugin, keeping the device cool. Finally, click on 'Maximum Processor State' and increase the level to 100% for both 'on battery' and 'on plugin' options.

(c) To adjust the fan speed and CPU throttle of your device, you need to access the BIOS settings. However, not all modules and devices have the same BIOS, so the location of the settings may vary. Look for the Advanced Setup tab, Power Configuration, or any other tab that appears similar to these options. Once you find the settings, you can adjust the fan RPM (Rotation Per Minute) and CPU throttle to your desired level.

 

Please note that the changes mentioned above may enhance the performance of your PC. Increasing the fan speed can help prevent overheating and setting the power state to 100% will boost performance. However, these changes may result in increased noise levels. It's important to understand that making modifications to the Thermal Control Panel Settings without proper knowledge may cause hardware damage or other errors.

10. Keep your device up-to-date

It's a good idea to upgrade your device's operating system to the latest version and regularly install new updates to ensure optimal performance and productivity. Maintaining your apps and software up-to-date is likewise critical, as it can help improve their quality and increase device security to prevent threats from viruses and malware. To learn the update installation procedure a separate post link is provided underneath. 

How To Install Update

11. Scan and Remove Viruses from the System to Boost PC Speed 

Viruses, malware, or malicious software can slow down your PC and corrupt the data stored on its hard disk as well as the installed programs. For more information about computer viruses and virus removal, please click the link below.

Scan System for Viruses & Malware

12. Helpful Tips That Can Speed Up Your PC and Save You Time

Discover how to optimize your computer's performance and save time with these simple yet effective tips:

• Tame Tab Chaos: Avoid memory overload by closing inactive browser tabs. This simple habit can significantly enhance your PC's speed and prevent freezing.

• Master Task Manager: Monitor and terminate resource-hungry programs that are not essential to your current tasks. This ensures optimal RAM utilization and prevents slowdowns.

• Streamline Applications: Close unnecessary programs to free up RAM and minimize distractions. Only use essential applications to maintain focus and efficiency.

• Harness Hibernate: Utilize the Hibernate feature for complex projects that require multiple applications and extended work sessions. This feature saves time by allowing you to resume work where you left off. However, remember to regularly restart your PC to maintain its overall health.

          Enable Hibernate With Following Easy Steps:

• Open Control Panel
• Navigate to Hardware and Sound > Power Options
• Click 'Choose what the power buttons do' on the left sidebar
• Click 'Change settings that are currently unavailable'
• Check the box next to 'Hibernate' and click 'Save changes'

By implementing these measures, you'll enjoy a faster, more responsive, and more efficient computing experience.Thanks for reading.