Before moving on to recommendations for improving the performance of your Windows operating system, you and I should familiarize ourselves with the system requirements for your hardware that are necessary for the comfortable operation of your computer with Windows 7, in order to understand what exactly the problem of slow computer operation may be.
So, regardless of the bit depth of the system, your computer will need a processor with a clock frequency of at least 1 Hz and a DirectX 9 graphics device. For 32-bit (X86) OS, 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of free space on your hard drive are required, and for 64 -bit (X64) OS these values will increase to 2 GB of RAM and 20 GB of free hard disk space minimum. To reassure you, I note that almost all modern computers equally withstand this recommended minimum. However, if the values of these indicators on your PC differ to a lesser extent, then you should consider upgrading (improving) some parts of your computer for further more comfortable work.
You should also not forget that the speed of operation of specific applications may differ significantly from the minimum requirements of your operating system, so if a specific program is slowing down for you, you should refer to the instructions and find out what its system requirements are, perhaps this is the case .
In addition, your computer may be technically quite usable, but infected with a virus that slows it down, so before making any changes, I always recommend starting with a virus scan (at the end of this note I will give you a link to popular free antivirus programs) .
If your computer/laptop is just at the level of minimum system requirements and you would just like to speed up your PC a little without spending money, then this article is especially for you.
So, right-click on the “My Computer” shortcut on the Desktop or in the “Start” menu and select “Properties”:
In the window that opens, on the left, select the “System Protection” item, in the “System Properties” window that opens, go to the “Advanced” tab and in the “Performance” field, click “Options..”:
In the “Performance Options” window that opens, on the “Visual Effects” tab, set the checkbox to “Ensure the best performance” and click Apply:
After this, the appearance of the icons, taskbar and windows will change a little (simplify), some of the “beauties” will disappear and the operating system will consume a little less resources than before and will make your work a little more enjoyable.
Also in the same “Performance Options” window on the “Advanced” tab, by setting a checkbox, you can “Optimize the performance” of programs (for example, your browser) or services running in the background (for example, an antivirus) and .
Thus, with a slight movement of the hand, we will improve the performance of Windows 7 and allow our computer to work faster.
In conclusion, I would like to note the important role of antiviruses in the constant load on hardware and invite you to consider the options for free antivirus programs presented in this article. In addition to classifying them by reliability, I also took into account their load and resource consumption in the background. For example, it has been noted that the most voracious paid antivirus is Kaspersky.
If problems with your computer persist even after all the above changes, you still experience inconvenience when performing simple actions due to their slowdown, perhaps the problem is in the operating system itself, for example, as it happened on one of my old computers due to the constant load on the OS by the search and installation service Windows updates (read the note for details).
Every user always wants his computer to work as quickly as possible, but he has absolutely no idea how to do this. There is a risk of downloading virus programs onto your PC for overclocking or cleaning, but they will not speed up your equipment, but on the contrary, will only cause harm. Let's look at how to configure and improve the performance of a computer on Windows 10 using already proven methods. Popular methods to help increase PC performance.
Overclocking to full speed: setting up Windows 10 for maximum performance
Computer startup
When you start your PC, in most cases the programs you installed start working. Some of them may be completely unnecessary and harm your operating system. Programs greatly slow down your computer when running in the background. You may not even realize that some of them are enabled, and the speed leaves much to be desired. To improve performance, you just need to disable some programs in the startup menu.
Clearing the Temp folder
In the Windows 10 operating system, which stores files both temporarily and temporarily, a lot of unnecessary files remain. In other words, it slows down your system due to the large presence of services and various programs that fill the Temp folder.
How to clean up a disk
How to turn off services that are not needed
These are the main quick ways to speed up your computer. Disabling services and programs that are not useful, but only slow down the system.
How to correctly configure the settings in Power Options
How to increase computer performance on Windows 10: professional tips
- Be careful about what you install on your computer. Sometimes some programs do not connect together and they very often turn out to be antiviruses. Especially if there are two of them on the computer, otherwise the entire operating system may crash.
- Sometimes the problem may not be hidden in dangerous programs or even viruses, but in the contamination of the computer components themselves. You should carefully clean the PC from dust with a dry cloth. Try not to touch small parts. After cleaning, the computer runs faster and overheats significantly less.
- Keep in mind that performance improvements are not always good for your computer. For example, the “High performance” setting entails high battery consumption. This applies to laptop owners. It is better to use such functions on a computer that does not need to be charged.
- Reinstalling the operating system, as a rule, always has a good effect on the performance of the computer. Unwanted programs, those that you do not use, viruses that were undetected during scanning, or various applications that only slow down the operation of the system itself will be completely removed.
- Be sure to choose the right PC components. If something is chosen incorrectly, or, for example, the RAM does not match the data, and sometimes it is completely loaded. In this case, it is better to purchase new components.
- You can use special programs to clean unnecessary files, caches and other garbage. They increase the speed of the computer several times in all cases. The main thing is to download from a trusted source. And never forget to check the list of what the file cleaning program wants to remove!
- Updating drivers is a great help for your PC. Especially the update for the motherboard chipset. New versions are also relevant for other devices.
- Regularly scan your computer for viruses. It is best to be in the hands of a reliable antivirus. In this case, you will not risk losing all your data and information.
Setting up desktop graphics
Visual effects in the Windows 10 operating system use a lot of resources. If the user has an old computer, then disabling effects will speed up the PC somewhat.
First way
Second way
Video: How to configure maximum performance in Windows 10
There are many ways to improve computer performance. The methods are simple and you can always apply them to take care of your equipment and clean up unnecessary files. In addition, convenient and fast use of a PC brings pleasure and does not cause irritation, which is important. And most importantly, do not resort to untested methods, otherwise the computer’s situation may worsen.
It's not uncommon for problems in games to appear over time and literally appear out of nowhere. It also happens differently - the computer slows down even at the beginning, immediately after installing an application. There are reasons for everything, but both of these cases have one thing in common - they interfere with the enjoyment of the Windows 7 user. To eliminate this, you can try to increase the performance of the PC.
Why games slow down on Windows 7
First, the user needs to pay attention to the settings of the game itself, in particular the graphic ones. The thing is that players are trying to install and play games whose system requirements do not correspond to the technical characteristics of the device. This is the simplest and most obvious problem that every PC or laptop owner may encounter. You can easily fix this problem - change the graphic settings of the application you are using, set all values to minimum.
Often, PC and laptop users simply forget to keep up with updates to video card drivers and other system components, which naturally has a negative impact on the optimization of the computer as a whole and leads to problems in games.
Laptop users, unlike those people who sit at personal computers, may experience problems associated with strong heating of the device. For laptops, this is very important, since most often they are not used as they should be. Surely it is unlikely that if you have such a device, you will put it on the table and sit at it the same way as at a desktop PC. Most likely, you will make yourself more comfortable, for example, lie down on a sofa or bed and put the laptop on top of you. In most models of such devices, the cooling system is located at the bottom or on the side. This means that when working on various soft surfaces, the device can “absorb” dust in large quantities, and this is extremely harmful to the cooling system and, as a result, to the entire device.
Stationary computers can also overheat, but usually this is due to other reasons - high performance of the central processor and other components and the lack of an effective cooling system - a cooler, which simply physically cannot generate all the heat coming from the CPU.
Optimizing your computer: how to increase performance
Operating system optimization in our time is available not only to highly qualified engineers, but also to absolutely ordinary users. It will allow you to achieve the best performance of the entire system as a whole and improve the performance of games both on a desktop computer and on a laptop.
Working with the system registry
The registry is present in every computer. This is a kind of database that contains various types of information about the configuration of a personal computer or laptop, settings of the operating system used, and software parameters. It is quite natural that a fragmented and cluttered system registry can cause errors in the computer’s operation and a significant deterioration in PC performance. Information is written to the system registry every time software is installed and uninstalled, so unnecessary garbage can remain here. You can find problems in the registry using special programs, in particular CCleaner:
Finding problems in the registry
Fixing registry problems
Removing unnecessary data in the registry
Remember that the registry of this operating system is subject to fragmentation, which is why the performance of computers on Windows 7 regularly deteriorates. System utilities, unfortunately, cannot work effectively with the system registry, so you will have to install an additional program, for example, Auslogics Registry Defrag.
Defragmentation and cleaning of the hard drive
To clean your hard drive and defragment it, you do not need any additional software. Everything can be done using traditional Windows 7 system tools. To perform defragmentation, perform the following manipulations:
"Computer" in the "Start" menu
Select “Properties” of the disk
Disk defragmentation in the “Service” tab
We defragment the selected disk
This procedure allows you not only to defragment to improve performance and optimize the entire system, but also to change the disk file system (usually NTFS is used).
The time it takes to complete defragmentation directly depends on the size of the selected disk, the amount of information on it and the degree of file fragmentation. Thus, the process can take from several minutes to several hours. It is advisable to stop using the computer at this time, as this will lead to a significant slowdown of the PC.
Cleaning and freeing up RAM to speed up processes
The number of programs and applications running has a significant impact on performance. All of them have an impact on the computer's RAM, so before running software that requires system resources, you should close everything you can.
First you need to close those programs that you do not currently need. Typically, all active applications are displayed in the task manager. You can open it using a simple key combination Ctrl + Alt + Del or click on the taskbar at the bottom and select “Task Manager”.
Launching Task Manager
A window will immediately appear with a list of all running applications. Select the one that you do not currently need and click on the “Cancel task” button.
We clean RAM by disabling unnecessary applications
Of course, in addition to active and visible applications, the operation of the computer also involves others that work in the so-called background mode. All these programs can be seen in the same task manager if you go to the “Processes” tab.
Disabling processes to free up memory
As a rule, some of them can have a significant impact on PC performance and optimization, but remember that disabling processes unknown to you can lead to data loss or deterioration of the computer (especially if you terminate the system process). It is for this reason that it is advisable to disable only those processes that you know.
Optimizing visual effects
Windows 7 has an updated graphical interface - Aero, which consumes an impressive amount of system resources. Accordingly, it can affect system optimization, and disabling it will allow you to achieve the best performance. Problems with this interface usually occur only on weak computers and laptops with an integrated or simply old video card. In all other cases, changing the visual effects will practically not change anything.
In order to reduce the consumption of system resources, it is not necessary to completely disable Aero. You can change some settings in a special menu:
Open the “System” parameter
Click on the “Advanced system settings” tab
Performance settings
So, here will be a complete list of special visual effects. If you do not want to completely disable the Aero interface, you can uncheck only the following items: animated controls, fading, casting shadows, displaying them, displaying a rectangular selection.
Disabling interface visual effects
Disabling these options will optimize the system and leave the operating system interface looking nice. Of course, you can turn off other settings, but remember that in this case the effect will be much more noticeable.
BIOS setup
BIOS is an integrated environment designed to change computer hardware settings. By tweaking the BIOS you can achieve the best performance of your PC or laptop. Flashing the BIOS or changing parameters such as processor frequency, bus speed, etc. is not recommended, as you risk that your CPU will simply burn out. Therefore, we will consider the simplest options that are optimal even for ordinary users.
First, pay attention to the settings of the cooling system (depending on the BIOS version, the names of the items may change). For this:
Enter the BIOS settings
Setting up the cooler in BIOS
Secondly, if your device has two video cards (integrated and discrete), then in the BIOS Advanced menu you can change the switchable graphics settings. To do this, select the VGA Mode SELECT item and in the list indicate what you need: dGPU Mode - the built-in video card is activated or Power Xpress Mode - the discrete video card is activated.
Switchable graphics settings in BIOS
Setting up the swap file
The paging file is a kind of addition to RAM. We can say that this is virtual memory that the user can configure independently. The paging file is taken from a hard drive of a size specified by the user. As you know, the transfer speed of a hard drive is much lower than RAM, so it is impossible to say that the page file can completely replace RAM, but it has a beneficial effect on overall optimization. To change and configure the paging file:
Open the “Control Panel”
Open the “System” parameter
Performance settings
Click “Change” in the “Virtual memory” section
A settings window will appear where you select the disk partition whose paging file you want to change, click on the “Specify size” button and set it. Remember that the page file essentially represents a specific area occupied on the hard drive. It is not recommended to set a large value, because the system will automatically place data about programs in this file, and access to it is much slower than to RAM, and accordingly, performance may drop. The optimal size is approximately 30% of the amount of RAM. The last step is to click the “Set” button and restart the computer for the changes to take effect.
Setting up the video card
Reduced performance on Windows 7 may be caused by incorrect graphics adapter settings. This problem is most relevant for laptops, since they have integrated and discrete video cards. It will be no secret that modern manufacturers regularly release not only drivers, but also system settings for their products. For example, for Nvidia - Geforce Experience, and for ATI Radeon video cards - Catalyst Control Center. With this software, you can change many settings, including optimizing the device as a whole.
So, if you have a discrete and integrated video card, then you need to change the options in the software you are using. For Nvidia video cards:
Open the Nvidia panel
Setting up an Nvidia video card
Nvidia Software Settings
This way you can configure any application, and now after launching it, all work will be redirected to the video card that you specified.
For video cards from ATI Radeon, everything is a little different:
Open Catalyst Control Center
Changing the Catalyst Control Center View
Performance Tuning in Catalyst Control Center
Thus, the system will automatically launch the most powerful graphics adapter after activating a certain application.
ReadyBoost function
Few people know, but the Windows 7 operating system provides the ability to use flash drives as an additional data caching device. This way, users can significantly increase the speed of data reading and writing functions, accordingly, optimize their computer or laptop, and improve performance. You can activate ReadyBoost in the following way:
Launching the ReadyBoost option
Configuring ReadyBoost parameters
Everything is ready for use, a special file will be created on the flash drive, which will contain information about programs and applications. Remember that the flash drive should never be removed, at least until you finish working on the computer.
Using additional software
Most of the above manipulations can be performed using special software. In addition, such programs often have additional functionality and advanced settings that allow you to optimize the system in the best possible way.
Razer Game Booster
Razer Game Booster is one of the most popular applications that provides a wide range of options for optimizing games and other programs installed on your computer. The utility is free and can be easily found on the Internet. To work, you will need to register on the developers’ website, which will not be difficult for anyone, and then log into the program interface using your username and password.
The setup is completed in a few clicks - just specify “Game Mode”, after which system resources will be directed only to the game launched by the user:
Of course, everything would be fine, but the program works ideally only with powerful computers. Therefore, on older PCs it is better to use other optimization utilities.
This program appeared a long time ago and has a good reputation. It is used everywhere, as it has a pleasant and understandable interface, as well as all the necessary functionality to optimize the system. The program is distributed free of charge. Therefore, any user can easily find it on the Internet and download it. CCleaner allows you to analyze your system, including finding information that may be hidden in some applications. This information can be viewed after launching the Cleanup function. Also, using such a utility, you can scan the registry, as was mentioned a little earlier; accordingly, this tab is selected. This program has few disadvantages, in fact, that is why many PC users resort to using it. Perhaps the only thing that can be noted here is the ability to delete important data from the registry, but even here the user will be notified in a timely manner about the creation of a backup copy.
GameGain
GameGain is software that allows you to get the most out of your computer or laptop. It has a very pleasant and understandable interface, a minimum of settings, which means that almost no one will have any difficulties working with GameGain. This utility is also free and can be easily found on the Internet and downloaded. After launch, a window will appear asking you to select the operating system, as well as the type of processor. As you enter this information, move the slider until you get optimal performance. It should be said that running the computer at maximum “overclocking” parameters, and in the case of this program it will be “overclocking,” leads to a decrease in the operating time of the computer or laptop. You risk losing your “iron friend” ahead of schedule.
System Care
System Care is a program designed to clean the system files of the operating system from various debris. Unfortunately, the program is paid and does not have the ability to change the language, and for some Russian-speaking users this may be an obstacle. In addition, System Care has a rather complex interface, vaguely reminiscent of CCleaner, but unlike this program, users will have to figure out what and where it is. Unfortunately, this program is of no use. It is spread virally, fraudulently, and after the first scan of your computer, during which viruses and a huge amount of unnecessary junk are allegedly found, you are given the opportunity to buy it.
Driver Booster
Driver Booster is a program that automatically searches for the latest drivers for key elements of a personal computer or laptop. This utility will be useful to everyone, since you need to update drivers regularly, but searching for them every time for your model of components is a very boring task. This free software can be easily found on the Internet and installed on your computer. Driver Booster has a clear and simple interface, quickly and conveniently checks for updates, and does not require constant user control. Unfortunately, batch updating drivers with this utility often takes a lot of time and regularly requires a system reboot. Nevertheless, it is a very convenient and good program.
What can I do to prevent games from slowing down again? How to keep the system in order?
To stop games from lagging, you should regularly maintain your computer or laptop in good condition. Try to avoid installing many unnecessary programs, completely clean the system of software, and also do not forget about the system registry, which may contain residual files and data even after removal. To do this, use CCleaner and make it your “best friend”. Once a month, defragment and analyze the system, then games on your computer will stop slowing down.
Performing these operations will allow each user, regardless of the configuration of the personal computer, to optimize the operation of the device and increase performance both in online and single-player games. Regularly check for residual data and files and delete them, then your computer will work efficiently.
Computer and operating system settings are not always aimed at the highest performance of hardware and software components. Manufacturers and users often sacrifice performance to reduce the load on the processor and RAM, save battery consumption and increase stability. In addition, a significant part of the resources is diverted to ease of use: graphical interface, startup, secondary services. Let's look at what actions you can use to speed up Windows 7.
Why Windows 7 performance drops
There can be many reasons why Windows 7 starts to work slower than the user expects, since the speed of the computer is determined by both hardware and software components.
The graphics system in a modern computer has become so important that a separate unit is allocated for it: a video card, which is a specialized multiprocessor system, and video memory, physically separated from the main RAM. The purpose of this component is to remove some of the load from the CPU when working with computer graphics and video playback. By default, Windows 7 does not use the video card for other purposes, but this can be fixed. Using a computer's video card or other special hardware to take some of the load off the central processor is called hardware acceleration.
Checking the operation of the video card
This step is necessary if the video card has been installed on the computer recently, but no increase in performance has been noticed, or there are doubts about its correct operation. In any case, there will be no harm from additional verification. Windows 7 has a built-in system for measuring the performance of critical components. It is logical to expect that a powerful video card will have high performance. If this is the case, then there should be no problems with hardware acceleration, otherwise you will need to find and eliminate the cause.
Press the key combination Win (with the branded Windows icon, usually located between Ctrl and Alt) and Pause/Break (one of the three service keys, usually located next to PrintScreen). The System window opens, with a numerical Windows performance rating highlighted in the middle section.
Performance scores stand out
Next to the rating there is an active inscription “Windows Experience Index”. If the index has not been calculated in the current computer configuration, the message will read: “You need to update the performance index for this computer.” In any case, click it with the mouse and go to the next window.
To calculate the Composite Performance Index, Windows 7 tests each component under extreme load tasks. As a result, five separate estimates are determined, and the smallest one is considered to be aggregated based on the bottleneck principle.
The overall score is the lowest
If the video card does not work correctly or the test has not yet been carried out after installation, the system will assign it the lowest possible score - 1.0 and notify you of the need to run testing.
New equipment is given a minimum rating
If the evaluation was carried out, but the result was still 1.0, most likely the problem is in the video card software. You need to update your drivers.
Update video card drivers
Click the “Start” button and type “Device Manager” in the search bar.
Required line at top Windows 7 will show the active line “Device Manager”, clicking on which we will see a window of the same name with a list of all installed hardware components.
Complete list of computer hardware components
We are interested in “Video adapters”. By opening the corresponding tab, we find the installed video cards, including the one we are interested in. Open the context menu on it.
The context menu is called up with the right mouse button
The option you are looking for is at the top, select “Update drivers...”
Select automatic search
From the proposed options, select “Automatically search for updated drivers”, after which Windows 7 will independently search for and install the latest updates. The second option will be useful if the necessary drivers are previously saved on the computer or available on disk.
Updating the driver will also solve the problem if, instead of the video card, an icon that says “Standard VGA Graphics Adapter” is shown. This means that software has been installed that supports minimal performance. If the installed video card is not in the “Video Adapters” tab at all, then most likely it is in the “Other Devices” tab, designated as “Unidentified 3D Device”. Updating the driver will help the system recognize the device and use its power resources.
Turn on acceleration
Press the on-screen “Start” button and type “Display Settings” in the search bar. In the search results, go to the bookmark of the same name.
Select “Screen Settings”
In the pop-up window with monitor settings adjustments, find the “Advanced settings” option and click on it.
We need a single active row on the right
The monitor properties window is organized into several tabs. Let’s go to one of them named “Diagnostics”. In the main part of the tab there is only one button “Change settings”. If it is not illuminated, then most likely the video card does not have enough power for hardware acceleration.
The video card on this computer is too weak
If the video card has sufficient performance and the drivers have been successfully updated, the button will be active. By clicking it, we go to the window with the “engine” shown. The slider should be moved to the far right position, and then click “OK”. The changes will take effect after a reboot.
Windows 7 is a complex set of interactions between many programs, so the speed of the OS is influenced by a huge number of factors. You can't just disable a couple of programs or change one setting to get a significant increase in system performance.
System optimization is a difficult task that requires care and an integrated approach. This article covers the basic steps you can take to improve the performance of Windows 7 64-bit.
Using an SSD
If you use not a regular hard drive (hard drive) as the system disk, but a solid-state drive, then this alone will quickly and significantly increase (64 bit). The main advantage of an SSD disk is its many times faster data storage and playback speed (500 MB/s) compared to hard drives.
Even loading the operating system from this media takes only a few seconds. Currently, all the equipment used in computers is high-speed; the only weak link in the interaction chain is HDD hard drives, which slow down the operation of the entire system.
Install a new BIOS and check the software is up to date
It is necessary to perform the following analysis: are the drivers updated, is the PC's BIOS up to date? When installing drivers, you should take into account the bit depth, i.e. For a 64-bit OS, you need to download the appropriate software for your computer hardware. If there are no drivers for a specific device for Windows 7 (64), you can download the appropriate software for Vista. 
Increase RAM
Often the problem of slow operation of a PC with Windows 7 is a simple lack of RAM. The best method to fix the problem is to increase the RAM. This event always significantly increases the speed of the PC and leads to optimization of the OS. In order to ensure comfortable operation of Windows 7 (64-bit), you need at least 4 GB of RAM. 
Optimize the interface
Startup programs can be seen in the system tray on the taskbar. However, not everything is displayed there. A special application for Windows “AutoRuns” has been developed, which is distributed freely from the Microsoft Corporation resource. "AutoRuns" shows a complete list of downloadable applications. In the window of this application, you just need to uncheck the boxes next to the unnecessary program. 
Disable unnecessary services
By disabling the start of some services, you can improve your computer's performance. To do this you need to log in "Control Panel", further in "Administration", where in the “Services” tab select the unnecessary service and click “Disabled”. 
Defragment your disks periodically
With increased data fragmentation, the hard drive is forced to do extra work, and this affects the performance of the PC. It is recommended to run defragmentation manually to organize files for optimal functioning of the hard drive. 
Turn off automatic defragmentation
The creators of Windows 7 provided background defragmentation, during which the computer's performance is significantly reduced. You must configure the process through the “Start” button. In the “All Programs” tab, select the “Standard” line, then enter “Utilities”, where you can find "Defragmentation". To increase the speed of Windows 7, a prerequisite is to regularly perform defragmentation manually.
Get rid of old, unnecessary or outdated applications
Some PC manufacturers release their devices with already installed applications that the user does not need. They slow down Windows 7 by using memory and disk space.
It is advisable to rid your computer of all unused applications. This list should be supplemented with programs that the user himself installed, but which have lost their relevance over time. The simple act of removing these programs will improve system performance.
Remove unused gadgets
In Windows 7, gadgets increase the comfort of using a PC, but they all require system resources to start and function. By using only the gadgets that are necessary for regular use, system performance will increase.
Restart your computer
This recommendation can be easily followed by any user. Regularly rebooting your PC is easy. It is recommended to perform this simple procedure once every 7 days. This cleans up memory and shuts down some failing services, resulting in improved system performance.
