How to accelerate the speed of your PC

In this day and age, it seems as though our busy schedules allow for less and less time to get things done. And, ironically, it seems as though our "to do" list is ever-growing. So, when you sit down to finally finish the last bit of research you needed for that term paper, or you want to unwind by playing an intensely realistic game with superior graphics, the most frustrating thing is a slow PC.

Not surprisingly, the health of your computer contributes directly to it's speed. So, it is crucial that you are taking precautions to keep your computer healthy. At least once a month, it is a good idea to defragment your hard drive(s), clean your registry, and run virus scans. All of these
can be done manually. Defragmentation and virus scans can be done by the most inexperienced users, while registry cleaning may require a bit more knowledge and is recommended for advanced computer users. You can also download a free registry cleaner, or purchase one at varying costs. Just remember, as is almost always true, you get what you pay for.

One of the easier things you can do to keep your computer running smoothly is to manually clean your hard drive(s) of unwanted clutter. Any programs that you no longer use are simply taking up space and causing your computer to slow down and run less smoothly. The more free space
your hard drive has, the easier it is for your computer to navigate smoothly. Simply go into "Add/Remove Programs" and begin the process of elimination.

If you find few things available for elimination, then perhaps you should consider purchasing a backup hard drive to store some of the clutter. As far as hard drives go, Western Digital is one of the leading manufacturers. You can purchase a Western Digital Caviar SE 500GB SATA that reads at 3GB per second for as little as $99.99 as quoted on www.newegg.com. This will free up your primary hard drive, giving your operating system the space it needs to operate smoothly.

If you are willing to invest a little (or a lot of) money into your computer in return for speed, then internal modification provides the most noticeable benefits. Before you invest your money, however, determine what programs you will be utilizing the most, and which of your computers
problems are most prevalent.

If your computer is opening and running programs slowly even after the monthly checkup, then a RAM upgrade may be in your future. The first thing you need to do, is determine what type of RAM your computer uses and/or already has. This can be easily done by simply shutting down your computer, opening the case and removing the RAM stick. From here, it should be easy to determine the type and speed of your RAM, as it is written directly on the stick. You are not always obligated to purchase like RAM, however, a total upgrade is only recommended to an advanced user.

The type and speed of your RAM determines just how pricey this purchase might be. For example, a 1GB stick of ddr pc3200 will run you as low as $26.99 as quoted from www.pricewatch.com. However, there are much faster sticks such as the ddr3-1800 that run as high as $228.90.

If your primary interest is gaming, then I would suggest upgrading your graphics card first. The two leading companies that provide graphics cards are Radeon and nVidia. These companies provide both quality and value. In my experience, nVidia offers products with fewer problems and recalls, and are usually faster. My personal recommendation is the nVidia GeForce
8 series. These cards can range from $80 to $1,000, depending on how serious you are about upgrading. GPUReview.com currently has the nVidia GeForce 8800 GT listed as the weeks #1 pick. This particular card is priced starting at $259.99.

If you have eliminated the need for more RAM, or a graphics card, then the last avenue to explore would be a new processor. Once again, there is a wide range of prices. Expect to pay from $50 to $2,000 and up for this upgrade. This kind of modification is recommended for the most advanced users, as it requires intense familiarity with your computer and it's internal
parts. If you still think this option is for you, it is important to make sure that all of your computer's current hardware and software are compatible with the new product that you are purchasing.

In the end, there are few helpful tips and tricks for making your PC go faster, and those that do exist and truly work are only meant to be performed by the most computer savvy individuals. Just remember, in an attempt to perform one of these quick tricks, without proper knowledge,
you may permanently damage your computer. And, there is only one thing more frustrating than a slow PC- a broken PC.

How to clean your computer

The inside of the computer is the most important part of the computer that needs to be cleaned. A computer case can get clogged with dust, lint, pet fur, bugs and other undesirables. Removing dust from the computer vents increases air circulation and helps to keep the system cooler and last longer.

If you don't remove the dust the circuit boards the system can slow down and over heat as the dust will interfere with air flow and circuitry connections. Allowing the system to overheat will eventually lead to component failure or complete system failure.

Supplies needed

Screw driver - to open the computer's case

Canned Air or Air Compressor

Dust Mask (optional)

Vacuum Cleaner or broom (to clean up the area afterwards)

Steps to Clean your Computer:

1. Turn off and unplug the computer. Alternatively turn off the system and then turn off any surge protectors or UPS's. The last thing you want is to shock yourself or the system while working on it. Disconnect everything connected to the computer once it is shut down. This includes things like speakers, monitors, printers, keyboards and mice.

2. Remove or open up the casing of the computer (directions should be in your computer manual or even on the back of the case). Most computers have a few screws holding a side panel in place. Some systems have a little tab or switch to open the sides. After this the panel can be simply slid off.

3. Take the computer outside or into an area you can sweep or vacuum after you are done as often a lot of dust will come out.

4. Place one hand on the outside of the case. This helps to release static electricity and prevent transfer inside the case if you bump something. With the other hand use the can of air to clean out the dust from the vents and the fan in the back of the computer.

* An alternative to resting one hand on the case is to wear a Antistatic wrist band.

5. Use the canned air or compressor to blow the dust out of the computer going in one direction while using short bursts of air. Start with the upper part of the computer and work your way down, this sweeps out all the dust that has settled on lower components all at once.

If the air causes any of the fan blades to spin, don't worry. That's harmless and actually a good way to get them clean.

* Doing a second sweep from top to bottom will ensure that all dust is removed.

* Some technicians will vacuum out the inside of a system. This must be done with great care and is not recommended.

Computers for kids

There are some effect that made from using computer for kidsI believe that there are both pluses and minuses to kids being allowed to possess a computer solely for themselves. I have found there are a few solutions for the minuses. I will start with the pluses, then the minuses, and finally the solutions.

PLUSES:

If a child has their own computer, it will usually leads to less selfishness. For instance, my younger brother is semi-addicted to our one family computer.

Before we even leave from after school care to go home, my siblings have the knowledge that if they want a chance on the computer, they have to call it early on. But, when we are at our after school care, TechPlayzone, they really don't care about the computers. I am led to believe that if my brothers know they are going to have access to a computer whenever they want (at TechPlayzone) then they will be less likely to spend time on it. But, when we are going home, they realize that if they don't claim the computer, then they might never get a turn. This means that they will keep trying to get the computer until they feel like they are addicted and need to have the computer to survive. If my brother had his own computer, he wouldn't be so addicted and would feel like he didn't need to always be on the computer to get a turn computer.

Another plus is the security of files. If a child does any kind of work on a computer and someone else comes along and uses the computer, then there could be a problem with the deleting or over-writing other people's files. With a computer just for one person, the child can have all the files they need without anyone disrupting them, or them disrupting anyone else. They can also have special upgrades to their computer that will help them with work but will make work harder for others. I am currently using Florida Virtual School, and I would enjoy the safety of knowing that my siblings would not be able to mess with any of my files.

MINUSES:

When someone has a computer solely for themselves, they could be doing anything. The Internet provides unlimited resources, not just good, but also bad. A child today can accidentally find inappropriate pictures on the internet as well as doing research on the computer. They can start spreading viruses, meeting people online that they shouldn't be talking to, giving away personal information, buying things with your credit cards, the possibilities are endless. The challenge is the fact that you may never find out about this until it's too late. There are passwords and other things that will keep you off someone's computer, much less checking the history or installing programs to send you the history through email.

The next minus is under use. If you buy a computer for a child who uses the computer an hour a week, then you have wasted your money. A computer should not be over used, but it should be used. I would recommend about 10.5 hours a week. 10.5 hours per week is about the same as 1.5 hours a day. This amount is good for a child who uses the computer for playing and one class of homework. This number can be adjusted for a kid who takes multiple classes online or classes about the computer.

SOLUTIONS:

For my first minus, you must have trust. You must trust that your child knows the difference between right and wrong, and won't do anything just because he/she thinks you won't find out. Some of this trust can come from how your child uses other computers.

The solution to my second minus is in the actual minus: make sure your child is actually going to use a computer but not over use it.