Slow Computer? 5 Upgrades That Actually Help

A slow computer is not always an old computer. Very often one part is holding everything back. Here are five upgrades that give the most speed for the money.

1. Replace the hard disk with an SSD

If your computer still starts from a hard disk (HDD), this is the biggest improvement you can make. Start-up, opening apps and copying files become many times faster. Most desktops and laptops can take a SATA SSD; newer ones also have an M.2 slot for an even faster NVMe SSD.

2. Add more RAM

When many browser tabs or apps are open, a computer with 4 GB of RAM keeps waiting for the disk. Going to 8 GB or 16 GB keeps everything smooth. The RAM must match your motherboard or laptop (DDR3, DDR4 or DDR5, desktop or laptop size).

3. Clean the dust and refresh the thermal paste

Dust and dry thermal paste make the processor run hot, and a hot processor slows itself down. A cleaning and new thermal paste often fixes sudden slowness, loud fans and shutdowns.

4. Check the power supply

Random restarts and freezes under load can come from a weak or ageing power supply. A good branded SMPS keeps the system stable and protects the other parts.

5. Fresh Windows and updated drivers

Years of software, start-up apps and old drivers add up. A clean installation with current drivers can make a big difference — back up your files first.

Which one do you need?

• Slow start-up and slow file opening: SSD.
• Slow with many tabs or apps open: RAM.
• Hot, loud, shuts down: cleaning and thermal paste.
• Restarts when gaming or editing: power supply check.

You can browse SSDs and hard disks and RAM, or book a check-up with a service request and we will tell you exactly what your computer needs.