Upgrading Your Computer

Most likely that snappy computer you bought a couple years ago has begun to show signs of aging. Technology moves forward at an ever-increasing pace, and as the capabilities of computer hardware grow, software continues to place more and more demands on systems, rendering them slow and laggy. Fortunately, with some small investments you can upgrade your computer and return it to its old pep while future proofing it for the next few years.

Upgrade Your Processor

While a bit more costly, your computer can see a serious boost in performance when you install a new processor, but choosing the right type is a challenge these days. In the past, the chip with the most gigahertz was the easy choice, but as increases in raw processor speed have slowed, other developments warrant consideration. The first step in choosing a new processor is easy. Your motherboard will likely hold one of two brands: Intel or AMD. Simply put, if you have an Intel now, you must choose another Intel, and the same for AMD. Multiple-core processors are common now, with a single chip of silicon playing host to two, four, or even more cores, and the number you need really depends on the requirements of the programs you use. Nowadays, dual-core processors are often found in budget machines and are sufficient for most basic computer tasks, but serious gamers and digital media creators will want a quad-core or greater. Socket type is another important consideration, and this essentially means that the new chip must be able to physically fit into the motherboard. A bigger cache size can improve performance quite dramatically, as the processor will be able to store and access common tasks directly from its cache rather than from RAM. Finally, some chips are more power hungry than others, and if energy conservation is important to you, consider a chip with a smaller power requirement.

 

Upgrade Your RAM

RAM, or Random Access Memory, is where your computer stores current tasks, and the general rule is, the more memory you have, the more tasks your computer can handle at once, and the faster it will run. Applications and operating systems increasingly demand more, and a growing number of applications running in the background consume their fair share as well. Whether you are a casual or heavy user, if you add and install RAM you are making a solid yet cheap investment in performance. Before you buy more RAM, however, you must ensure that it is compatible with your machine. For example, if your computer currently uses DDR3, you must only buy DDR3 - this information can typically be found in your computer's system settings.