What makes a computer run fast? Is it its memory?

Answer 1

Everything. Memory/Processor/Hard drive free space/systemboard, etc.
If you are looking to speed up the computer, to the "free" stuff first

1) Check for spyware. Run both Ad-aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/) and Skybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/) to remove any spyware. Run both as one may caught something the other missing. Then go to microsoft.com and download Defender to protect against future infections.

2) Check that you have a least 10% of your hard drive free. Go to My Computer and right click on the Local Drive (C:). Look at the properties. If it has less that 10% free space, you will need to delete some files, or move them off the hard drive and on to a CD or DVD. Start by running the disk cleanup, which will remove temporary and other unneeded files. Go to Start, then All Programs, then System Tools and click the Disk Cleanup icon.

3) Run the msconfig utility. Go to Start, then Run and type in: msconfig
Go to the startup tab
You will see a list of all the programs that are loaded when your computer starts up. Uncheck any that you do not have to have. (Usually you can uncheck them all). If you decide you to need one, you can go back and recheck it.

4) Defrag the hadr drive. Go into My Computer and right click on the Local Drive (C:). Select Properties and go into the Tools tab. Click the Defragment Now button to start the defrag program. If you have not defrag recently (or never) it may take several hours for the program to complete.

After that, if you want to upgrade, memory is the cheapest and easier to install. Start with that.

Answer 2

Many things, like.....

1. Higher CPU (processor) clock rates can process intructions faster...
Example: 3.4 Ghz P4 is twice faster than a 1.7 Ghz

2. Bigger memory can hold more intructions and don't have to wait for the memory to cache.
Example: Having 256 MB of RAM takes more time to process than having 1 GB. Why you ask, because when 256 is used up, your system must cache this to your HD in order to free the RAM
So when you have 1 GB, your system doesn't cache too often.

3. Bigger hard drive cache and faster RPM can improve disk access time, meaning it will take your hard drive quicker to access the files.
Example: If you had a HD that has 10,000 RPM... It takes it quicker to read/write files because it spins faster...

4. Bigger FSB limit (Front-Side Bus) can quickly transfer information from RAM to CPU, reducing processing time

5. Faster GPU (video card) can process multimedia, graphics, etc.. a lot quicker.

6. A second CPU can help the primary CPU to process intructions by splitting the load.

7. Having less programs installed, will allow the HD to access files faster.

8. Defragging your partitions will keep your files continous thus allowing your HD to access them a lot quicker.

9. Running a 64-bit system is better than 32-bit because it can process twice the speed.

Answer 3

Tons of things.

The more memory you got (1 GB is great)

Processor clock speed (above 2.0 GHz is pretty good)

The type of processors (AMD, P4, AMD makes better and NEVER get an intel Celeron, they slow)

Hard drive speed, type of hard drive, how much stuff u got on your computer, graphics card (at least 128MB from nvidia is good) all these things/.

Answer 4

Memory, (RAM) and Processor...... with it's Clock Speed like 2.0 Ghz (2000 Mhz)

Answer 5

Also, a fast hard drive helps.

Answer 6

it is a combination of RAM and processor but without the right amount of RAM even a good processor will seem slow.

Answer 7

speed of the motherboard, width of the bus, amount of memory

Answer 8

mainly processor. memory helps (ram)

Answer 9

ur mom makes it fast

Answer 10

When you pour hot water on it.