How to breathe new life into an old PC

Make your computer run faster, you can in many ways. Some of them are easier, some harder, but they are divided into hardware and software. The first implies the optimization of the operating system, the second - an upgrade of the computer components, ie, the replacement of parts more productive. We will look at all of them, but by tradition start with the most simple.

When we turn on the computer, you want to work, not watch the endless downloading. OS itself is loaded relatively quickly, but the applications that start immediately after the start, forcing us to wait at least a minute or two. Many applications automatically during installation prescribed in startup, and inexperienced users often do not notice this, but in the end a few months Startup list swells to two or even three dozen applications. In addition to our time, and they take more memory, which on older computers is at a premium.
On a PC, you can clean out the startup list using the same CSleaner. In the "Service" is the item "Startup", which displays a list of applications that are started automatically during system startup. It must be very carefully review and leave only those programs that you really need immediately after the operating system is loaded.

On a boot disk system stores a huge number of different files that constantly turns during operation. When the disk is full, the reading process takes more time and things are starting to slow down, so it is very important to have the disc 10-15% free space.
Part of the place should be released when removing the debris of the system, but if that is not enough, you can do something else. In Windows, remove or transfer large files from the desktop, from the "My Documents" folder and downloads. Be sure to look into the Program Files on drive C: and check to see if any of the programs wormed some kind of game, mistakenly installed the wrong drive. If the games do not need to do an audit of applications and leave only the most necessary.

On the Mac operating system takes up the entire disk, so to throw files into folders does not make sense. Hunting gigabytes should begin with the folder "Downloads", then inspect the "Programs" and the entire Home folder. If there CleanMyMac, large files are easy to find with it. All that it is a pity to delete have to be copied to an external drive. In another way.

RAM - it is literally a computer brain, and if it is small, then it will work very slowly, especially when running multiple programs. In good, the memory should be added (as we'll discuss below), but you can cheat a little and as a temporary measure only increase the paging file, or as it is called, a swap (swap). This is a special partition on the disk on which the system while working with the application writes data will not fit in memory.
In Windows, use the option of the paging file located in the "System Properties" (right click on "My Computer» → «Properties»). On the "Advanced" has a section "Performance", we need to open the parameters and on another tab, the "Advanced" click on the button "Change". Disabling the swap on drive C: (choose the option "No paging file"), you should enable it on the D: drive or other. Size recommended to be twice larger than the volume of RAM. For example, if it is determined 512 MB of memory, the field "source ..." and "maximum size" should enter "1024MB". After these manipulations need to restart the computer for the changes to take effect.
On the Mac, nothing do not need to, because OS X dynamic swap file, and the system itself determines its size.

Drivers are often updated only when you install the OS and safely forget about them. However, manufacturers of "iron" are constantly working on the optimization, so it makes sense to be updated.
The first and most important rule: Never use applications for automatic driver updates. Such programs do more harm than good. Knowing the manufacturer and model of the video card, drivers can easily find and download from the official site.
Determine the manufacturer and model of your graphics card in two ways:

With each new version of Windows becomes more functional, and at the same time demanding on system resources, so not always the latest version is the best for old computers. The same applies to Mac. Apple for a long time maintains its computers, but despite this, new not always mean the best. Sometimes, though, there are exceptions and new operating systems run even faster than the previous ones, as, for example, Windows 10, but if your computer is barely the minimum system requirements, it is unlikely to be updated worth.
Experiment. Windows XP is still "afloat", though already outdated and order, but you can try Windows 7 or even Windows 10, if your computer dual-core processor, and not too little memory. With OS X is even easier: Apple has long been expanding its desktop operating system for free, so you can just go and try to install any of the versions.

If you are willing to go further in experiments, or your computer is so old that you simply have nothing to lose, there is another great option - installation of Linux-distribution. The idea is that, in Unlike Windows, OS on the Linux kernel have a more modest appetites for resources, so the computer, braking on Windows, on Linux will be able to almost "fly".
There are many Linux distributions, different appearance, components and system requirements. For simplicity, consider two embodiments.

The first step is to identify weaknesses in your computer, the removal of which will help without too much hassle to increase productivity. The easiest way - to open the "Task Manager" by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc on the tab "Performance" view of resources. On the Mac, there is a special application "Monitoring System". It can be found in the "Programs" folder → «Utility».
Usually older computers "lame" memory, especially when running multiple applications. CPU-intensive programs are often fully loaded yet, and a processor. Disk performance is also very important, even though it is not obvious at first glance.

Memory - this is the "brains" of a computer, and a very valuable resource. Fortunately, it is fairly easy to increase the volume. The essence of the upgrade is to purchase additional or more by volume of the memory module and install it into the appropriate slot. "Relaunch" the memory, you get rid of the nasty delays when switching applications and can simultaneously open more programs. Here's what you need to know about RAM replacement.

SSDs are the next stage of development after the hard drives and are far superior to their speed. SSD are more expensive than conventional hard drives, but the price is fully justified. After installing the SSD really come to life, it would seem, the old computers.

The old computers were installed drives, volumes of which by today's standards are too low. But it's easy to fix, the benefit of available drives have mass. This option is worth considering an upgrade to owners of desktop computers as the motherboard in the case surely there's space, which is well fit an additional drive. In the notebook, if the additional slots for drives not, better to install the SSD, and keep large files on an external drive.

In the desktop computer to replace the video card is easy: the whole process is reduced to remove the cover, remove the old graphics card out of the slot and install a new one. In notebooks, all very different: the video card can be replaced by no means all models, besides easy, this process will not name. The meaning of such an upgrade is only in the case when your computer is quite old and it is possible to buy inexpensive compatible, but more powerful graphics card. Otherwise ovchinka will not be worth the candle.

Not the least role in the configuration of the computer is playing and the processor. His replacement is rather complicated and fraught with many nuances even in desktop computers, not to mention laptops. The meaning of the processor upgrade is that in every generation processors have a whole range of different models, from beginners to top. With the release of the new generations of the price of the previous drop significantly, and for a modest sum can be a good upgrade.

Usually older USB-port on your computer if there is, very few of them, and a high speed, they do not differ. Old standards by several orders of magnitude slower than modern, so it makes sense to upgrade. However, this improvement is more concerned with stationary computers that have PCI Express expansion slots.
The idea is to use a special charge controller, add additional, and more importantly, USB high-speed ports. It is worth it inexpensive, prices start from 700-900 rubles. For the money you can get two or more USB 3.0, which significantly increase the recording speed to external hard drives and flash drives. After installing the controller will have to install the driver, but it usually comes.

Same story with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: in old laptops they can be, but only the earliest and thus slow versions. On the desktop, and does not speak - there is wireless modules simply luxury. Now it is difficult to imagine life without Bluetooth and fast Wi-Fi, but fortunately, these interfaces are very easy to add to any PC.
Price issue is not so great: Wi-Fi-adapter that supports the most current standard 802.11ac, costs from 500 rubles, and Bluetooth, and even less - from 200 rubles. In size they are no longer the stick, sometimes equipped with an antenna signal for better reception. Drivers usually such Soup uses standard, but if the OS itself will not be able to install them, you can always use the complete ones, or download them from the manufacturer's website.

Peripherals quickly becomes outdated, so your old PC can be quite useless modem and floppy drive, but will not be in demand right now the card reader, microphone and webcam. With peripherals problems never was, their choice in the market is very broad, and the installation will not cause any difficulties.

This point is perhaps worth to put in the very beginning. Since you will still open the computer, why not clean? In the most advanced cases because of too contaminated cooling laptops overheat, hang and can even be switched off. About the noise pollution generated by a layer of dust covered fans in general can not speak. Like it or not, and by cleaning one catch, the more time and any special skills to do not need to be.
If you are too lazy to disassemble all the screw, which is especially important for laptops, can confine removing the cover. Take a soft brush and brush away all the dust, to which can be reached. Carefully remove the toothpick compressed dust from the radiator, and then blow out all this dirt compressed air from a container (standing RUB 500) with a vacuum cleaner or "reverse traction".
The program maximum - to do the same for all parts of the cooling system, with a complete disassembly. If you decide to do so, at the same time, you can replace the thermal paste on the CPU and the graphics card (in the notebook). Over time, it dries out and loses its properties, so that the update it is a good idea. Buy a tube with fresh thermal paste, it costs 100 rubles, and apply a thin layer on the surface of the chip. Just be sure to first remove the remnants of the old paste and degrease the surface.