How to make your pc faster!

[TheRock]

Introduction
Hello there, most of you know me already. For those who don't, I am just another nerd! quite active in the section already and I am currently aiming towards gaining certification of IT Administrator in real life too. My aim is to make a very good topic about solving problems with your computer. Any advise or question is welcome ATtech is my personal facebook page where I share videos I have uploaded on YouTube regarding PC Issues.


Section 1: Hardware

Get to know the core components of your computer.

• Motherboard aka MB
• Power Supply Unit aka PSU
• RAM - Random Access Memory
• Central Processing Unit aka CPU
• Graphics Processing Unit aka GPU
• Sound Card
• Hard disk drive aka HDD
• Case (Essential)

Motherboard Alternatively referred to as the mb, mainboard, mboard, mobo, mobd, backplane board, base board, main circuit board, planar board, system board, or a logic board on Apple computers. The motherboard is a printed circuit board that is the foundation of a computer, located on the back side or at the bottom of the computer chassis. It allocates power and allows communication to the CPU, RAM, and all other computer hardware components.

Power Supply Unit converts mains AC to low-voltage regulated DC power for the internal components of a computer. Modern personal computers universally use switched-mode power supplies. Some power supplies have a manual switch for selecting input voltage, while others automatically adapt to the mains voltage.

Random Access Memory (RAM) is a hardware device that allows information to be stored and retrieved on a computer. RAM is usually associated with DRAM, which is a type of memory module. Because information is accessed randomly instead of sequentially like it is on a CD or hard drive, the computer can access the data much faster. However, unlike ROM or the hard drive, RAM is a volatile memory and requires power to keep the data accessible. If the computer is turned off, all data contained in RAM is lost. DIMM, RIMM, SIMM, SO-DIMM, and SOO-RIMM are common of examples of memory modules.

Central Processing Unit A computer's CPU handles all instructions it receives from hardware and software running on the computer.
The CPU is often referred to as the brain of the computer. However, it is more appropriate to refer to software as the brain and the CPU as a very efficient calculator. A CPU is really good with numbers, but if it wasn't for the software it wouldn't know how to do anything else.

A Graphics Card or GPU (also called a display card, video card, display adapter or graphics adapter) is an expansion card which generates a feed of output images to a display (such as a computer monitor). Frequently, these are advertised as discrete or dedicated graphics cards, emphasizing the distinction between these and integrated graphics.

A sound card (also known as an audio card) is an internal expansion card that provides input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs.

A hard disk drive (HDD), hard disk, hard drive or fixed disk is a data storage device that uses magnetic storage to store and retrieve digital information using one or more rigid rapidly rotating disks (platters) coated with magnetic material. The platters are paired with magnetic heads, usually arranged on a moving actuator arm, which read and write data to the platter surfaces. Data is accessed in a random-access manner, meaning that individual blocks of data can be stored or retrieved in any order and not only sequentially. HDDs are a type of non-volatile memory, retaining stored data even when powered off.

Section 2: BIOS/UEFI

Basic Input/Output System is pretty much a firmware used to initialize hardware during your computers boot. On old computers there is certainly BIOS, on newer there is UEFI which is made in a friendlier GUI interface. BIOS or UEFI stores the following critical information:

• Date & Time
• Boot Priority
• CPU & Ram Frequency (OC)
• SATA/IDE Configuration-Controller
• POST Options

Date & Time are critical so your computer is synchronized, it can cause issues with Browsers whereas it can not display a webpage correctly as cookies missmatch.
Boot Priority was as simple as a few PINS on ATA/PATA drivers, nowdays you can configure which driver your system wish to power from. Configuring this correct will assure a faster boot!
CPU & Ram Frequency are certainly options for advanced users. It's good to know the limits of your PC's hardware but keep in mind that wrong options can fry your components and avoid your guarantee.
POST Options are really important. There is a variety of options including Logo or POST specs preview, USB and I/O initiliazation. Boot only from last HDD, PS2 etc. Having an SSD wins here.


Section 3: Windows Tips

I don't need to introduce Windows. It's a really great and wide known OS.

First of all, to achieve this you need to clean services from start-up, or programs.

1) Press Windows + R > type "msconfig" (without quotes ofcourse), navigate to tab Startup and disable anything non related to drivers. (Ex; Do not disable Nvidia-AMD, intel, ctfmon, sound)
Pictures from Google:
Step 1:

Step 2:


2) Delaying Services on startup (For more advanced users) - You can google this one, and I do not recommend it. Can cause loads of BSOD if you just stop wrong services.
3) Clean disk cache - Defragmentation - Clean Windows Update

Step 1:
My Computer>Local Disk (Often C:) > Right Click > Properties

After loading for a bit.. you will see this:

Make sure to click on all of these. After finishing, repeat the process but this time press Clean Up System Files
Warning: For those who have formatted over an old Windows installation, be careful to not click to erase old windows installation if you wish to keep your files. Otherwise it will wipe C:/WindowsOld

Step 2:
My Computer> Local Disk (Often C: unless changed driver letter) > Right Click on that and hit properties. Navigate the tabs:

Click on C and either Analyze or Defrag disk


Step 3:
Delete all folders - C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download


Step 4: BIOS Boot order..
For more advanced users: See if your Windows boots via UEFI or Legacy(BIOS) mode..



Few of these details explained on the topic uploaded on my youtube channel. For those TL;DR just watch the video

[ahmedXD]

Defragmenting SSD will lower its life span

[Surena]

Spoiler for Hiden:

Step 2:
My Computer> Local Disk (Often C: unless changed driver letter) > Right Click on that and hit properties. Navigate the tabs:

Click on C and either Analyze or Defrag disk

Just a tip for people that own a Solid State Drive (SSD) or any other kind of non-mechanical hard drive;
DONT defrag your SSD`s!!!

Why... should you ask?

Defragmenting a traditional Hard Disk Drive (Mechanical HDD) is considered standard maintenance due to the way the spinning platters and read/write heads move when searching for data. This is because the process essentially ‘reorganises’ all file information, allowing it to be stored in an unbroken sequence of blocks on the drive and this means the heads are able to read the data faster.

This is NOT the case with a non-mechanical drive. With a Solid State Drive however, it is recommended that you should not defragment the drive as it can cause unnecessary wear and tear which will reduce its life span. Nevertheless, because of the efficient way in which SSD technology functions, defragmentation to improve performance is not actually required.

Defragmenting SSD will lower its life span

You know what I mean. 

[TheRock]

Yea, that's a known fact, TRIM is there

Plus Windows prevents you from defraging SSDs

[James]

Eventually your tutorial fucked up my gta sa files.

[TheRock]

Unless you followed the steps letter by letter, there's nothing to blame me about
The "tutorial" if you would like to call it, does not touch anything in C:/Program Files etc whereas program installations exist. So your argument is invalid my friend!

Moreover the only thing that would actually decrease your performance would be disabling graphics card driver start-up at the msconfig.