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.