How do I make my computer faster?

Question

i have a dell DEMENSION XPS T500 desktop, windows XP, pentium 3, 498 MHz, 640 MB of ram. it is a few years old,

well, it has about 50-60 gigs of free space but it is still very slow for gaming and even on IE,

[it is not my connection because i have an new dell and it runs fast on the same connections]

i would like to optimize my old computer to its full potential for gaming

Answer 1

Be patient and do the following steps:

1. Run Disk clean-up. Then delete unused files. (start>program>accessories>sys... tools> disk clean-up)
2. Check for disk errors. (right click on a disk-drive>properties>tools >error checking)
3. Run disk defragmenter.
4. Delete cookies. (you can do it from your browser options: tools>internet options)
5. Delete cache or temporary files. (you can do it from your browser options) or, click on 'start", 'run', type 'temp' then click ok. Whatever shows up, just delete.
6. Delete all history files. (you can do it from your browser options, or, CTRL + H, then delete)
7. Empty recycle bin.
8. Delete unused icons & short-cuts from anywhere including desktop.
9. Uninstall any software or game that you use only once or twice in a week.
10. Delete temporary internet files. (you can do it from your browser options: tools>internet options)
11. Delete all recent files. (click on start, click run, then type "recent", delete all the files which show up)
12. Run a full virus scan. If any threat found, eliminate that completely.
13. Run a software which can remove any spyware or adware.

If you did these all at the same time, restart your computer. All these to be done once in a week if possible, depending on the frequency of use of your PC.

* Updating: (Needed only when updates are available)
14. Update your Windows by installing latest updates.
15. Update your audio & video drivers.
16. Update softwares, browsers, games that you use.

You may also get much help from these links:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10165_7-5554402-1.html
http://digitalliving.cnet.co.uk/asktheeditors/0,39030511,49267544-1,00.htm

Answer 2

Well the P3 500Mhz is your biggest blocker. It's more than a few years ago. They haven't made P3 500MHz since late 1999. I would suggest looking into a buying a newer computer more upto date. Atleast a P4 2.6Ghz or above or AMD 3800 or more with atleast 512mb or even 1Gb ram and your system uses PC-100 sdram which is way outdated and hard to find any pc100 unless you want to pay more for it than newer ram for a newer system. A 512mb stick of pc100 will fetch upwards of $100-$125 on ebay all day long..thanks

Answer 3

Truley there is not much you can do with and old computer... But what it probably really needs is a system reload. Formatting and reinstalling windows.... This is your best bet.. You can also

Try These great programs to install and run to remove spyware and other such harmful things, which should speed things up for you.

AVG free antivirus
http://www.download.com/avg-anti-virus-f...

TrendMicro (online)
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/......

Ad-aware
http://www.download.com/ad-aware-se-pers...

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.download.com/spybot-search-de...

Windows Defender (for registered windows users)
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security...


Also for start up slowness you can turn off certain things from your start up.. This takes a little technical knowledge but..

Start
Run
type msconfig
enter
new window opens click the tab that says start up
and anything in there that looks weird or is not something you use, you can deselect... Things that have weird names like just random letters can be viruses and you will want to uncheck those and run a virus scan.. Trend micro is good for that which is in the list above


A Registry cleaner might help to0
http://majorgeeks.com/Always_Right_d4026.html
this is one i always trust.

Answer 4

First if you are into gaming, try considering the following:

Faster Processor - 2GHz or higher
High end video card - 128MB or higher
Memory - 512MB or higher

If you're into simple applications like publishing, just defrag your system since i think you're system is getting slow because of the location of the files. Delete or remove unused program.

Answer 5

By asking a extra specified query. Generally? Add extra reminiscence (RAM) - Windows XP works first-rate with a minimum of 1GB. If it is an older laptop, (like Nineteen Nineties), purchase a brand new one. Defragmenting often is helping. If your tough force's nearly complete (move to my laptop, proper-click on in your tough force, and click on on homes.) If it is most commonly complete, it is gonna be gradual. Get a better tough force. If the web's gradual, get a quicker connection. If you might have dial-up, get DSL. If you might have DSL, get quicker DSL. If you might have quicker DSL, get cable. If you have already got cable, get quicker cable. If you might have quicker cable and it is nonetheless gradual, get DSL!

Answer 6

Add more RAM windows xp needs 128mb for itself.

Answer 7

Buy a Intel D processeser chip

Answer 8

buy more ram try 1024mbr . clean up pc remove what you donot use anymore

Answer 9

high speed connection

Answer 10

you need more RAM