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A Guide to Upgrading your PC
If your computer is sluggish to start upand slow to move between applications, a PC upgrade might be in order.
Read about howto improve the speed of your desktop computer before you start looking for newcomponents.
For a hardware upgrade to be effective, considerthe age and condition of your computer. If your system is more than five yearsold, it will be hard to find compatible parts. You will be better off buying anew computer.
Upgrade your memory
If youre having difficulty loading pagesor switching among applications, consider increasing or replacing your computermemory [RAM]. RAM is where your data is stored while youre using it. Morememory means you can store more data. Many computer manufacturers put in theminimum amount of memory, but there is usually room to add more memory modules.
If there isnt room for more modules, you can replace your existing memory withlarger-capacity modules.
The Crucial® Advisor tool orSystem Scanner tool can tell you which memory modules are compatible with yourcomputer.
Find outhow to install memory in your desktop computer.
Upgrade your storage drive
If your current storage drive is nearly full or if it is just too slow, upgrade it. If you have a traditional hard drive [HDD], this is a good time to look into a solid state drive [SSD]. SSDs start up faster and are more reliable and durable than HDDs. They also produce less heat when they run, a big plus if your computer fans are having trouble keeping up with your hard drive.
See how easy it is to install an SSD with our guide.
Compare the current capacity of your storage drive with newer models. Both hard drives and solid state drive manufacturers are always increasing the storage capacity of drives. You can get a faster drive with more storage space relatively cheaply.
The Crucial® Advisor tool or System Scanner tool can tell you which SSDs are compatible with your computer.
Upgrade your graphics card
If youre an avid gamer and youre having trouble with lag or freezing graphics, consider upgrading your graphics card. Unless a computer is built specifically for gaming, manufacturers will frequently put in a low-end graphics card. If the rest of your computer is functioning well, a graphics card upgrade can really improve your gaming experience.
Upgrade your processor
Although upgrading your processor [CPU] can improve the efficiency of your computer, it can be quite involved. You need to make sure that your motherboard and memory are compatible with the new processor. Also, check that your current cooling system will accommodate the upgraded CPU.
To determine if a processor upgrade will help your computer, there are a variety of third-party benchmark tests you can run. These tests will indicate if your CPU is underpowered.
If youre considering upgrading your processor, you might want to get a new system instead.
Upgrade your peripherals
Another way to give your system a boost is to upgrade some of your peripherals. If youre using an older monitor, a new one can improve graphics and readability in all applications.
For gamers, a gaming mouse and keyboard can make a big difference in your play. If youre using a standard mouse and keyboard, even for occasional gaming, upgrading to gaming-specific tools can enhance your play.
Its not hard to upgrade some of your computer hardware and it can make a big difference in the speed and responsiveness of your system.
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