If you use a computer or laptop for work, school, gaming, or streaming, then you know how important speed and efficiency can be. But, what makes a computer fast, and how can you maintain optimal speed throughout its life? It’s a widespread question that most people have and the solutions may not be as complicated as you might think. In fact, there are over five major parts of your PC that help with speed and performance; we will cover them in more detail within this article.
It’s essential to understand the elements of your computer that work together for efficient performance. So before we dive into the ways that MyCleanPC can help your computer, let’s take a quick look at exactly what makes a PC fast.
CPU/Processor
The central processing unit (CPU) or processor is one of the most critical elements of your PC. Think of the processor as the brain of your computer; it processes data and program instructions as well as your software, operating system, and any other component of your PC. So how do certain processors work better or faster than others? It comes down to the number of cores in your PC.
Let’s say you only use your laptop or PC for school, daily use, or browsing the web only; in that case, you only need a dual-core processor. However, if you use your PC for more serious programs requiring a ton of speed, you would definitely want to choose a processor with more cores. It’s important to make sure that you have a suitable processor for you and your PC needs. The proper CPU will make your PC much faster and more efficient.
RAM
Even if you know absolutely nothing about computers, you most likely have heard this term used before. RAM stands for random access memory and can be thought of as short-term memory or storage within your PC (hard drive would be long-term, but we will get to that later). It is also the primary storage within your computer and is much faster to read and write from when compared to the other storage devices in your computer.
Investing in additional RAM can be a great idea because this would prevent your PC from sending and storing unused RAM to the hard drive, which creates an extra step that might affect computer performance and speed. This is why many people suggest increasing the size of RAM if you plan on using multiple programs.
Hard Drive
The hard drive on your PC plays a critical role in speed, performance, and efficiency. If your hard drive is full or almost out of space, then you will one hundred percent notice a decrease in overall speed and performance. There are a few options that you have at this point. You can opt for a larger hard drive, but traditional hard drives (HDD’s) contain moving parts that may eventually slow down your computer.
In newer PC’s and laptops, you might find more up-to-date Solid State Drives (SSD’s) that use flash memory and contain zero moving parts – so you might consider using a cleaning program like MyCleanPC before upgrading. The lack of moving parts tends to make SSD’s faster than HDD’s and can be the solution to your question of what makes a PC fast and efficient?
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
A graphics processing unit – often used interchangeably with the term graphics card – is a specialized circuit that rapidly manipulates and alters memory within a PC to accelerate computer graphics workloads. Although this may not be completely necessary for some individuals, installing a GPU in your PC can help it to run faster and smoother when it comes to game performance, creative production, and speed.
Operating System (OS) & Software
The operating system or OS that you have installed onto your PC can significantly impact its speed and performance if it is not up to date. Checking for system updates – and installing them- can help keep your PC running smoothly and quickly. Not keeping your computer up to date can cause background processes to constantly check for updates and really slow down the PC.
The software that you have installed on your PC can also make your PC faster or slower. You should regularly monitor the applications installed on your computer and uninstall any programs that you no longer use. If you are having trouble uninstalling programs, then MyCleanPC can help clean up applications that you are no longer needed, delete unnecessary files and even improve security for your PC.
The bottom line is that many elements make a computer fast. Improving the various aspects of your computer that we mentioned above can help with improving speed and performance. However, we understand that it can be overwhelming to do so on your own; if you want to clean your computer and increase speed, learn more about how MyCleanPC can help.