What are your go to ways to speed up a computer?

[PliotronX]

The processor has really become less of a focus for lower level productivity since multithreading software has complimented multicore processors. These office users typically fubar their OS when they inevitably install something they shouldn't have. Next to a reload, an SSD would be the next logical upgrade and can be less invasive with a cloning, unless we're talking about a single core Athlon 64 or Pentium 4 (I still see these rocking WinXP in the field). The AutoCAD engineers and artists generally have the horsepower they need from what I am seeing, their companies usually ensure they have a Core i5 or along those lines. The vast majority of office users would benefit highly from an SSD and you will get more wows and thank yous than a CPU upgrade would, and which may or may not function in a prebuilt computer thanks to BIOS weirdness in them (ex: I want to upgrade a stingy head of a company's old Vostro 200 with a Q6600 or Q9300 but I have read it will not POST with anything but a dual core).

 

[alkemyst]

Haven't needed to do this since XP, what OS?

 

[C1]

Depends too on what the work involves.

Of all things, Ive found that when doing creative complex work (eg, work that requires creative thought such as new design or innovation), a machine that's not too fast is actually an advantage. The phenomenon involves pace matching thought (or thinking) versus feedback of visual result(s) or implementation of the thought process. If a machine/process is too responsive when trying to create/invent, too much of the action is spend undoing spontaneous impulse. During the creation process, there is a best time delay between action and feedback that facilitates the creative thought process.

Remember, a faster computer allows you to screw up faster.

What is actually desirable is reliable and predictable operation, amount of available functionality and interoperability of applications. (For example, ability of graphics, audio, video applications and converters to be fully and readily available. Show stoppers more so relate to overly complicated software applications and/or whose results/products are not interoperable or readily useable/importable into subsequent software applications.)

 

[vbuggy]

^wut

 

[AkumaX]

This always works

http://www.downloadmoreram.com

 

[Tamron]

Depends on your end goal.

OS/Application usage - SSD
Games - the beefiest GPU you can afford.

Both are cheap fixes for a slower machine, providing the framework is already there to make the most of them.
If the motherboard is old, for example, and has only sata1, or a slow cpu, or god forbid, no PCIE port, upgrading single components will only get you so far, in such situations if you want a genuine leap in performance it's time for a rebuild.

 

[John Connor]

You should not use msconfig to turn off auto startups. Try Autoruns from M$ or StartupCPL which will install to the control panel. I maintain my parents computer and have that thing locked down! No slow downs to speak of. It's a Dell Optiplex 780 duel core 3.33 GHz. All they do is surf the net and print crap with it. LOL