Why do PCs gradually get slower with usage?
Has your computer become notably slower over time? The answer is probably yes, and it can be frustrating to have your once speedy PC grind to a halt during the simplest of tasks.
Top Reasons Your Computer is Running Slowly
There are all sorts of reasons why your laptop may be running slow, but some of the top contenders include:
Software Rot:
Software rot is either a slow deterioration of software quality over time or its diminishing responsiveness that will eventually lead to software becoming faulty, unusable, or in need of upgrade. Windows has a major problem with this-which is why it’s generally a rule of thumb that heavy PC users need to reinstall windows once a year. More experienced technical users can forgo reinstalling windows, but for the average end user the Software Rot is so bad with Windows, and users generally are advised to reinstall the operating system every year or perform effective PC health check and maintenance.
I recommend readers of this post to google the terms “Software Rot”, and other terms such as, “code rot, software erosion, software decay or software entropy.” to gain a deeper understanding of this very prominent software problem which has only gotten worse as coders and software companies keep lowering the bar in software development to keep up with corporate quotas, and such.
Heat:
Overtime as we continue to use our computers, they start to collect dust and dander on their circuits, fans, and heat sinks. This is why it’s important to clean your fans and heat sinks a couple of times a year depending on how dusty your region is. It’s very hot and dusty down here in Nigeria, so it’s good to clean your PC several times a year.
As dust begins to build up, it will clogs up your heat sinks needed to dissipate CPU, GPU, and Chipsets, and the dust on the components create a blanket of dust which works as blanket insulating and retaining heat in the system.
Often times if you reinstall your operating system or clean it out, and the situation doesn’t improve, it’s because there’s a layer of dust on the system or the heat sinks are clogged, heat definitely makes computer electronics run slower.
Too Little Storage Space:
As you add more files to your PC, your hard drive space will get full up. This can have an impact on your computer’s performance. Spring clean your storage once in a while to make space.
You Might Have a Virus:
You could have picked up a virus that is hogging your computer’s resources and putting your personal data at risk. Even secure systems like Macs can get viruses. Run anti-virus software to get rid of it.
Out of Date Software:
Dismissed that software update pop-up one too many times? Yes, it’s annoying, but running out of date software could be slowing you down.
You Have Too Much Software:
Your computer might be struggling to run several programs at once. Check which programs it boots on start up and remove the non-essential ones.
You Need More RAM:
A good quick fix, increasing your computer’s RAM essentially gives it a bit more thinking space and improves speeds considerably.
Your Computer Is Too Old:
Sometimes, your PC is just too old to keep up. If you can’t speed it up, it’s probably time to invest in a new computer.
Time for a new computer? Get in touch with
iCore Digital Business Limited
email: desk@icoredigitalbusiness.com.ng
Tel/Whatsapp: +234 803 922 2930
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