Is your computer running slowly? You may be able to fix it up for a fraction of the price of buying a new one.

One of the most common questions I receive from customers is regarding their current computer suffering from a lack of performance. Although 10 to 20 years ago, computers were modernizing at such a rapid rate that upgrading your hardware was a must every 2 to 3 years in order to ensure the latest access to current software and computing trends. This is really no longer the case in today's landscape. Maintained computers today can often last 5 to 7 years before they need to be replaced. I hope that this blog post will help give some insight into some of the steps that can be taken in order to make your computer feel like new again.

Hard Drive:

One of the most common issues that I see is customers still using a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) over a solid state drive (SSD) to run their operating system and programs. A hard drive is a more traditional approach to running and storing your programs. It consists of an enclosure made of metal with spinning discs inside that have to physically move in order to read your data. Due to the physical nature of using a hard drive, oftentimes speeds are limited by the rate at which the disc can spin. Most commonly, hard drives found in laptops can spin at 5400 revolutions per minute (rpm), whereas traditional desktop hard drives can spin at 7200 rpm. Although this may sound like a lot, with the amount of processes modern operating systems are running in the background consistently, the physical mechanics of the hard drive can often not keep up.

An SSD, on the other hand, operates much like the storage found in modern phones and tablets, using flash memory that does not have any moving parts used to read and store your data. In turn, the SSD does not have any limitations regarding the speed at which it can provide information due to the physical limitations of moving parts. Thus, an SSD is able to provide speeds that are around 20 times faster than a traditional drive. This speed is especially recognizable when turning on your computer after a complete shutdown or opening a large file. Thankfully, some programs are readily available that assist in making a complete copy of all of the information on a user's existing HDD and moving it to an SSD, making the switch a smooth and easy transition.

Thermal Throttling:

Imagine you are about to run a marathon. The weather is cool and crisp. You are fully hydrated and ready to move as fast as possible. You hear the horn buzz, and you begin running as fast as you can. In the beginning, you can keep up a really good pace while passing all of your competitors; however, the harder you run, the more your body temperature internally begins to heat up. However, the weather isn’t changing; your body is just working much harder. As you reach a critical temperature, you feel that you can no longer continue to sprint for fear of collapsing. You don’t stop moving entirely, but instead, you drop from a sprint to a light jog. This allows your body temperature to stabilize.

The central processing unit (CPU) in your computer is very similar to the marathon runner. This chip needs to constantly be cooled off in order to perform at its maximum potential and keep your computer fully optimized. As years go by and you continually use your computer, a compound that sits between the central processing unit and the heat sink (a metal structure that serves as a cooling element for the CPU) begins to harden and degrade. Dust starts to build up inside the fans and the heat sink, causing air to not properly flow through your computer. Both of these occurrences result in the CPU and other components of your computer heating up much faster than they would have originally when new. In turn, this causes your computer to overheat, even without any demanding tasks being performed.

In order to save itself, much like the marathon runner, the computer will send a signal to work at a reduced capacity in order for the internal components not to overheat and suffer permanent damage. This is the result of thermal throttling, which causes your computer to run very slowly even with minimal applications open. Many people often mistake this as the computer having an issue or simply being too old to keep up with modern tasks; however, having a professional open up your computer and dust out the inside, as well as replacing the thermal compound, can cause your computer to function at a speed similar to when it was brand new.

Before you head to the store to spend $800 or more on a new computer, consider if your current machine just needs a “tune-up”. It is better for the environment, and your wallet!