Updated November 27, 2024
One of the most frequently asked questions is, "How can I make my computer faster?". It may seem like a simple question but does not have a simple answer. Let's look at how you can make your computer faster by upgrading the hardware.
In previous articles, I have discussed how to use software to speed up a computer. This time, I will talk about how to get a computer run faster by upgrading the hardware.
Now, when it comes down to what makes a computer fast, it boils down to how quickly all the different components process data. Let's look at all of the parts of a computer that affect the speed and see what we can upgrade.
Note: Some of these upgrades may require complicated disassembly of your computer. If you are uncomfortable performing any of these upgrades, don't hesitate to contact a local computer repair company.
Motherboard
The motherboard has the most bearing on the performance of a computer. The motherboard bus oversees the transfer of data between the various components. The faster the bus speed, the quicker the data travels through the motherboard.
The motherboard has the most bearing on the performance of a computer. The motherboard bus is what oversees the transferring of data between the various components. The faster the bus speed, the quicker the data travels through the motherboard.
The motherboard bus connects the Central Processor Unit (CPU) to the Northbridge and Southbridge chipsets. The Northbridge handles the graphics bus and memory bus. The Southbridge handles all of the Input/Output (I/O) components, such as SATA and M.2 drives, USB ports, onboard audio, and network adapter. And the speed of the CPU and memory are based on multiplying the bus speed.
Upgrading your motherboard
This is one upgrade that requires serious consideration. If you have a laptop, all-in-one, or a brand name desktop computer (like Dell or HP), a motherboard upgrade is impossible. Only machines that use off-the-shelf components can have the motherboard upgraded.
The first thing to think about is your existing hardware. Will the CPU and memory work on a new motherboard? You would probably get better performance if you upgraded the CPU and memory at the same time.
The second thing to think about is software. When you install Windows, it creates a unique product key that is specific to your computer. It generates this code using the serial numbers from the different components and the MAC address from the network adapter(s).
When you replace the motherboard and connect your existing boot drive, Windows will find the new hardware and install drivers from the built-in driver library. Once you log on, you will need to check the Windows activation status. If you need to reactivate Windows, follow the instructions in the following article.
Reactivating Windows after a hardware change
Technically speaking, you can upgrade any component that attaches to the motherboard without having to reactivate Windows. Change out the motherboard, and Microsoft sees that as a whole new computer. It is in the EULA (End User License Agreement).
So upgrading the motherboard maybe out of the question. But there are a few other components that you can improve to get better performance from your computer.
CPU
Upgrading a CPU is an excellent way of gaining some speed on a desktop computer. Sorry laptop owners, the majority of laptop computers have the CPU soldered to the motherboard. The same holds for some all-in-one systems, too.
Upgrading your CPU
If you are thinking about upgrading the CPU on your motherboard, you will need to do some research. The first thing to do is find the manual/specifications for your motherboard. It would be best if you found out what CPU socket type it has. For example, Intel CPUs use LGA 1151, LGA 2066, etc. socket types, and AMD CPUs use sTRX4, AM4, etc. socket types.
The second thing you will need to do is verify with the motherboard manufacturer what CPUs the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) supports. Installing a new CPU may require updating the BIOS firmware. And you will need to do this before installing a new CPU.
All of this information should be easy to find on the manufacturer's website. If you can't find it, give them a call. Once you have a list of supported CPUs and the BIOS versions to run them, you should be ready to go.
Remember to get some thermal compound when you order the new CPU. Since the general rule of thumb is that thermal compound has a average life span of three (3) years, its best to go ahead a clean off the existing thermal compound from both the old CPU and the base of the cooler/pump and apply some new compound to the new CPU and then reinstall the cooler.
Memory
Upgrading the memory in a computer has always been the biggest bang for the buck. This applies to all types of machines: laptops, desktops, and all-in-ones. And the majority of the time, it is pretty simple.
I usually recommend looking at the existing memory and seeing how to get the maximum amount in the computer. This time around, I recommend looking at the speed of the current memory, and if you can install faster memory.
Installing faster memory could mean having to replace all of the existing memory modules. But doing that would make your computer run faster. Remember that you can not mix memory of different speeds; they all have to be at the same speed and clock timings.
Upgrading your memory
There are three things you will need to find out. The first and most important thing is the type of memory your computer takes. The majority of computers nowadays can use memory that runs at different speeds. Remember that the memory speed is a multiple of the motherboard bus speed.
The second is memory slots: how much memory can each handle, and how many does your computer have. Again, you can find all this information in the motherboard/system manual. It would be best if you were able to find these on the manufacturer's website.
The third is how to access the memory slots. Getting to the memory slots in a desktop is pretty straightforward. Laptops and all-in-one systems may be tricky. I have seen some MSI laptops that had to be completely disassembled to access all of the memory slots.
For more details on memory upgrades, check out the following article.
How to upgrade or add more memory to your computer
Drives
Having a drive that has a fast transfer rate will make a difference in the speed of a computer. Merely upgrading from a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) to a Solid State Drive (SSD) can be a game-changer. You would be amazed at the difference in performance between them.
Now HDDs and some SSDs use a SATA connection on the motherboard. The standard SATA connection has a transfer rate of up to 6 Gigabits per second. An HDD doesn't come close to that transfer rate, but most SSDs do.
And then there is the M.2 drive. It does require a particular slot on the motherboard, as it requires direct channels to the Southbridge chipset. But the transfer rate of 32 Gigabits per second will blow your socks off.
Of all these recommendations for making your computer faster, this procedure will take the most time. Depending on the upgrade route you choose, the total time can be a few hours to a couple of days.
Upgrading your drive
There are two ways of upgrading your primary boot drive; cloning the existing drive or a fresh installation of the operating system. Each of them has its pros and cons.
Cloning your existing drive
- Pros: This can be the fastest way of upgrading your drive, and you do not have to reinstall the operating system and programs.
- Cons: You may run into a problem with resizing partitions and getting your computer to boot correctly from the new drive.
There are two ways to go about cloning a drive: disk-to-disk or disk-to-image / image-to-disk. If you have a desktop computer, you can do either type of drive cloning. If you have a laptop or an all-in-one computer, cloning to an image is the only option. And if you are upgrading from a SATA to an M.2 drive, cloning to an image is recommended.
For more details on disk cloning, check out the following article.
How to upgrade the hard drive in your computer
Fresh (clean) installation
- Pros: You get a brand-new operating system and programs with that right-out-of-the box experience
- Cons: This can take some time to get all of the software installed and personal files restored
This is the most time consuming of the two cloning procedures, but it has some significant advantages. What will take the most time is finding all of the software that you will want to reinstall. For more information on performing a clean installation of Windows, check out the following article.
How to perform a clean installation of Windows 11
How to perform a clean installation of Windows 10