How to increase computer performance: software, system and technical methods. Is it possible to increase the processor frequency on a laptop? Defragmentation and free disk space

When you buy a laptop, based on its price, you expect good performance. And still it is not enough. But you can increase the data processing speed of the central processing unit (CPU) from that declared by the manufacturer. Therefore, the question arises: how to overclock the processor on a laptop to get more efficient performance for the same money. There are several affordable and safe options that we will look at in this article.

Let's start with the question "why"

It seems that the laptop is only 3 years old and it has never failed in performing any task (playing a new shooter, watching the latest video rental products, transcoding videos).

But now he can’t cope with half of his needs. What will you have to do - change your laptop? But you can try to “revive” your electronic friend by overclocking the processor. Productivity will increase slightly. If you do everything correctly, the results will please you. In addition to increasing the clock frequency, the memory starts to work faster, and as a result, the speed of applications increases slightly.

But overclocking a laptop processor is half the battle. For everything in this life you have to pay:

• Performance will increase, but at the same time energy consumption will increase. This means that battery life will inevitably decrease.
• In addition, the laptop will now heat up much more. You'll have to think about the cooling system or, at a minimum, not block the special slots on the bottom and sides.
• The lifespan of the CPU will likely be reduced.

Windows also increases productivity

Overclocking the processor in a laptop is a little difficult, but possible. Manufacturers of mobile devices, of course, thought about protection and took care in advance to ensure the best performance at the maximum frequency when it is necessary to speed up the work. When the processor is idle, the frequency automatically drops. But you can increase performance without harming the laptop using system means by changing the power supply mode.

For this purpose, the Windows operating system has a software tool - “ Power supply" You can find it by going to Control Panel. The figure below shows the window that will appear in Windows 7 or 8.1.

You need to go to the section " Power supply" and select the item " High performance».

This is how you can “overclock” a laptop processor without the risk of breaking something. The performance gain will be immediately noticeable.

Overclocking via BIOS

In some models, it is possible to overclock the laptop processor using standard means from the BIOS. To get into this system, you need to turn on the laptop and press a certain key on the keyboard. A hint about which button to press will be visible for a few seconds on the monitor screen. For example, the inscription shown in the figure below will appear on the hp monitor screen.

After this condition is met, the initial menu will appear, which will indicate the key that must be pressed to get into the BIOS.

Let's look at the sequence of actions that need to be performed to overclock the processor:

It is necessary to warn that most often manufacturers lock the CPU to prevent the user from independently changing the clock frequency.

Overclocking using special applications

For relatively old laptops, it is possible to overclock the processor using a small program paired with the program Prime95.

Continuing to perform any overclocking method carries the risk of damaging the laptop. All actions must be performed with extreme caution, in small steps.

You need to understand that the maximum you can achieve is a slight increase in processor frequency - within 10–15%. A further increase is possible if you prepare the cooling system and change the power supply to the chip. Since during acceleration, along with an increase in frequency, heat generation also increases. By the way, modern processors have a two-level overheating protection system. If the temperature threshold is exceeded, the processor automatically forcibly reduces the frequency and voltage, which leads to a decrease in heat dissipation. If the temperature does not drop below 95–110º, the laptop either turns off or freezes.

CPU-Z program

Before overclocking, you need data about the chip installed in the laptop. The utility will help with this CPU-Z. This information is necessary for the program.

SetFSB utility

Deliberately designed for quick and easy CPU overclocking. With its support, you can safely change the system bus frequency without rebooting the operating system, bypassing the BIOS.

The program has a very easy-to-use interface, and the entire overclocking process occurs step-by-step by moving just ONE slider.

If this laptop is supported by the program, the chip frequency data will be visible in the lower right corner.

The sequence of actions is extremely simple: increase the bus clock frequency in small steps and test with the program Prime95.

Prime95

A small utility that can measure computer performance. The measurement process is based on performing calculations of Mersenne prime numbers. This action uses all the capabilities of the laptop.

Optionally, you can check both the RAM and the processor itself. While the program is running, you must be prepared for the computer to slow down noticeably.

The frequency is increased in small steps until a freeze occurs. Once the performance data has been saved, Prime95 testing should be stopped and the CPU setup program should be exited.

Conclusion

If everything went well, you can stop there. But this is not the whole complex of work. Performance depends not only on the processor frequency, but also on the memory frequency. It can also be increased by selecting the necessary timings. Advice from friends and searching on the Internet will help you set up your laptop. Overclocking without prior preparation can cause harm. For game lovers, the next step is to overclock the video card. The main thing is that all actions are thoroughly thought out, and then the efforts will not be in vain.

Video on the topic

Low-power computers or laptops are undoubtedly cheaper - the majority of the population buys them.

At the same time, Windows 7 holds the lead, although Windows 10 is confidently moving forward, gradually displacing the seven.

They are suitable for viewing websites, no doubt, but there are problems with games. Is it possible to somehow increase their productivity?

The amd or Intel processor is responsible for the power - this is what you need to pay attention to first, in other words, you need to increase the performance of the processor.

The GPU can be overclocked, which will undoubtedly increase performance. But this idea is unsafe.

I suggest another option - a program that increases processor power: “ThrottleStop_600”

Program to increase processor performance

I knew about the existence of this program that can increase power, but just today I did some tests with a computer and laptop.

The computer has amd installed, and the laptop has Intel. After testing, it turned out that the program for many PCs deserves attention.

It turned out that ThrottleStop is a free utility that can improve the performance of Intel Core 2 and Core processors.

With its help, you can configure the processor to the maximum power set by the manufacturer. In other words, ThrottleStop regulates the power of compatible processors.

You can set the optimal values ​​at any time - an extremely useful utility in laptops. You can even reduce the processor power to save energy.

How to use ThrottleStop to increase CPU power

ThrottleStop does not require installation. After downloading (link below), unpack it with any archiver and click on the launch icon.

In order to select one of four profiles, it is enough to activate the corresponding button on each profile. Use the F5 button to stop and start the application.

Among the most interesting options, ThrottleStop also keeps us informed about the recorded CPU and GPU temperatures.

To access the instructions, right-click on the application icon located in the system tray and select “Manual”. It's in English, but can be translated by automatic translation.

In conclusion, we can say that the program significantly increases processor power for higher performance, just use with caution! Good luck.

Developer:
www.techpowerup.com

OS:
XP, Windows 7, 8, 10

Interface:
English

It happens that the hardware resources on a low-power computer are not enough to ensure smooth operation of graphically complex games or programs like Adobe Photoshop. The power of the device is largely influenced by such an indicator as the processor clock speed. If desired, you can increase it a little by doing some manipulations. You will learn about these manipulations and how to increase the processor on a laptop (that is, its clock frequency) in this article.

General information about computer processor frequency

Before you start following the instructions, it is advisable to have at least a little understanding of the theoretical issues about processors and their clock speeds.

In short, the processor frequency is a value that shows the number of simultaneous operations performed by the processor per unit of time. Most modern processor microchips have a nominal frequency of 1 to 4 GHz. It is a mistake to believe that if you “overclock” the processor, that is, increase its frequency, the number of simultaneously performed actions will increase. No, the number of tasks will be the same as before overclocking, but the computer will cope with them significantly faster than before. The number of operations performed is influenced by the number of processor cores (most modern laptops are quad-core), and the frequency is responsible for performance (information processing speed).

How to increase the processor frequency on a laptop - consequences

Here are some other key points to consider:

• Increased energy consumption. The higher the frequency, the more energy the computer needs to perform the same operations. If you have a desktop PC, this indicator is not particularly important, but for laptops, autonomy is one of the main characteristics.
• Increased heat generation. The compactness of laptops is not only an advantage, but also a disadvantage: all parts, unlike the system unit of a desktop PC, are located close to each other, and the cooling system is also not particularly reliable. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid prolonged overheating or use special cooler stands for laptops.
• Not warranty cases. If the user performs any manipulations with the processor incorrectly, which will result in critical overheating of the computer components, this situation is not considered a warranty. That is, you will pay for repairs out of your own pocket.
• Before overclocking the processor frequency, think about the consequences of the work, especially if you are not a professional in computer matters. All actions are performed at your own peril and risk, so strictly follow the instructions.

Change your power plan

This is the safest way to increase productivity using system tools. Change your power plan to provide more power to your PC's components while improving the performance of your entire device. Do the following:

Of course, in this way you will not overclock the processor frequency several times. However, this method allows you not to lose the factory warranty, and is absolutely safe for computer components and the operating system as a whole.

Changes in BIOS settings

Another way to increase processor performance on a laptop is to change the parameters in the BIOS routine. Go to the BIOS menu when you start the device again (F1-F12, Delete or Escape keys on different laptop models, depending on the manufacturer). You can find the right key using the “poke method” or find information on your model on the Internet. After you enter the BIOS, look in the sections for the item “CPU Frequensy” or “CPU Lock” (also depends on the manufacturer) and set the computer system bus frequency to the value you need. Confirm your actions, exit the menu and restart the device.

Check whether the processor temperature has increased significantly as a result of the manipulations you have performed. Download and install one of the programs designed for this (for example, Aida 64). Without opening other programs, check the temperature at minimum load. If it rises above 50 degrees Celsius, it is imperative to reduce the set processor frequency.

How to increase processor performance on a laptop: an easy way

If you do not want to understand the BIOS interface, install a program that can slightly increase the maximum frequency. They automatically perform the necessary actions for you. You need to choose software depending on the processor manufacturer:

• AI Booster or AMD Overdrive (for laptops on the AMD platform);
• Intel Desktop Control Center (for laptops on the Intel platform).
• Read the instructions carefully before operating the programs.

There are different methods for overclocking a computer processor, but each of them is quite a serious risk. You can simply burn out the processor if something goes wrong. Therefore, it is best to decide before purchasing a laptop what exactly you need it for and select a computer with sufficient power.

Perhaps all PC users sooner or later encounter a situation when the computer starts to slow down.

Moreover, according to Murphy's laws, this happens at the most inopportune moment.

In this article, we will look at possible reasons why a computer may slow down, as well as ways to solve them, in ascending order of the monetary investment required to resolve the issue.

What actions to take to increase computer performance.

Step 1. Install new drivers

Installing new drivers can help increase PC performance, especially in cases where either standard Windows drivers or outright old drivers are installed.

The motherboard driver has the greatest influence.

You can find drivers on the websites of the corresponding hardware manufacturers or use one of the programs for automatically updating drivers.

One of the best such programs for automatic updating is .

If you are a user of any version of the Windows operating system, you must remember that for correct operation it is necessary to ensure communication between the hardware and software components of the system.

This interaction can be configured by drivers - a separate type of software that serves as a “link” between the motherboard and the operating system.

Drivers can be installed manually, however, you can often encounter the problem of conflicting versions of the OS and driver software.

To avoid such problems, you should use special programs that will help you select and install a driver for the connected device as quickly as possible.

Carambis Driver Updater is one such program. It allows you to quickly download the necessary drivers, as well as update versions of previously installed drivers.

Features of the utility:

• Ability to search for driver software for all types of connected devices;
• Work in the background. This ensures minimal consumption of OS resources;
• Availability of a current driver database for all versions of Windows OS;
• Full user support from developers. Program owners can receive personal advice on any issue.

Step 2. Clean the startup list

Perhaps the first point from which you need to start increasing your computer’s performance is cleaning your startup from unnecessary programs and services.

Some programs (for example) add themselves to startup during the installation process.

This is done so that the program starts itself, without user intervention, immediately after turning on the computer.

The problem is that, firstly, the computer begins to slow down at the operating system loading stage, launching all startup programs, and secondly, programs that were launched when the computer was turned on, as a rule, remain running throughout the entire working period. session, using up RAM.

It should be noted that if you carefully monitor the installation process or install the program manually, this problem, as a rule, does not arise.

So, you need to go to Start - All Programs - Startup and delete all unnecessary programs. Very often, there are no programs in the startup folder, but, nevertheless, they continue to launch.

You can also use the built-in Windows utility; to launch it, you need to press the " Win + R", then enter the command "msconfig" in the window that opens, in the system configuration window go to the "Startup" tab and uncheck the programs that do not need to start automatically.

It should be noted that you must understand what programs you are removing from startup.

Step 3. Optimizing your computer's performance

During the operation of the operating system, programs and applications, a significant number of unnecessary files, registry entries, etc. appear on the computer, which affect the performance of the system.

This phenomenon is especially typical for a computer on which programs are often changed - new ones are installed, old ones are removed.

The fact is that most modern programs are not removed from the computer correctly, i.e. after deletion, some files still remain on the system disk, as well as entries in the registry.

As a rule, reinstalling the OS solves all the previous points, with the exception of viruses, which may be located in addition to the system one on other local drives.

Step 6: Clean your computer

After we have tried software methods to increase PC performance, let's move on to hardware ones.

As a rule, the procedure for cleaning a PC from dust should be carried out once every six months.

Open the cover of the system unit and look at the dust level on the boards. Clean your computer with a brush. Check your computer's cooling system.

Step 7. Upgrade your computer

The last step you can take to improve your computer's performance is to upgrade it. (from the English upgrade - modernization).

To improve PC performance, it is recommended to replace the RAM, hard drive, processor, and for game lovers, also the video card.

In most cases, increasing RAM gives a good performance boost, and the cost of the upgrade compared to replacing other components will be lower.

Before purchasing, you need to find out what type of memory is already installed (most likely, it is DDRII or DDRIIII), as well as the frequency, and purchase additional RAM modules of only larger capacity, focusing on these indicators.

The total RAM capacity of 2 GB is quite sufficient to solve most tasks faced by the average user.

HOW TO Increase Computer Performance

How to increase computer performance?

The topic is always in demand - ways to improve computer performance. Recently, the race for information has become increasingly intense, everyone solves the problem as best they can. And the computer plays a decisive role in this matter. How wrong he turns on the brakes at the most crucial moment!
To a lesser extent, this problem concerns those who regularly encounter well-known office packages or simply surf the Internet. For example, browsers start to slow down out of the blue.

Replacement of parts (components)

The very first thing that comes to mind is completely replacing the computer with a more powerful model, but I don’t see any point in considering this method in a specific article.

But searching in the system with further replacement of a certain part (component) looks like a completely affordable option. You just need to find out what can actually be replaced at an affordable price, while getting the optimal resource to increase the speed of your computer.

A. A new processor is worth buying only if it is at least 30% faster than the previous one. With other indicators, do not expect a noticeable increase in work speed, and the costs will be considerable.

Desperate users may risk squeezing all the juice out of their processor.
The technique is not for mass use, but at the same time it provides a chance to postpone the purchase of a new processor for several more years, if only the processor and motherboard have overclocking potential. The method consists of expanding the number of standard operating frequencies of the video card, CPU (central processing unit) or RAM . This method is complicated by the individual capabilities of a certain configuration and the likelihood of premature failure. There is a separate portal that is tailored to the topic of hardware overclocking.

B. RAM. In any case, it requires expansion if during operation most of the memory is occupied. You can see it using " Task Manager", when the work rhythm is busy (when many different applications are open) and about 75-85% of the RAM is loaded, then it would be nice to increase it by 50-100%.

C. HDD. The point is not in the volumetric indicators of your disk, but in its speed qualities. If you have a weak budget hard drive with a spindle speed of about 5400 rpm, then looking to replace it with a faster model with a spindle speed of about 7200 rpm will improve performance. In most cases, switching to SSD drive completely justified - the level of speed before and after is noticeably different.

D. Video card. Everything is very clear here, for heavy games we choose a more productive option, but be sure to take into account that the processor must “match” the power of the video card.

You can approximately find out the weak point in the computer’s peripherals through the standard Windows 7 health assessment tool. To do this, select the menu “ Control Panel -> System and Security -> System».

The overall performance ratio is based on the lowest score, so it won't be too difficult to pick out the weakest link. For example, if the hard drive rating is an order of magnitude lower than the video card and RAM rating, then you should think about purchasing a more productive hard drive.

For Windows 8.1 and 10, you can use the WSAT program to evaluate performance

Computer repair and preventative cleaning

The computer sometimes performs its functions slowly due to some kind of malfunction, and a quality repair will help restore the required performance. For example, if there are deviations in the operation of the processor cooling system, its clock speed is significantly reduced, and then performance suffers. Also, the speed of a PC may simply decrease due to increased heating of the motherboard elements due to dense dust! In any case, a good cleaning of the system unit will not hurt.

Defragmentation and free disk space availability

If this is the first time you've heard this term or you've been putting off defragmentation until later, this is the first task you'll need to perform to improve your computer's performance. Defragmentation is the merging of individual fragments of hard disk information blocks into one; thanks to this operation, the number of read head movements is reduced and performance increases.

If the reserve does not have at least 1-1.5 GB of clean space on the system disk (where the OS is located), then a noticeable decrease in overall performance may follow. Regularly monitor the load on your disks, especially those on which system information is installed.

Reinstalling the Windows XP/7/8/10 operating system

Reinstalling the OS at 80-90% can improve the performance of your computer. Moreover, an increase in speed is possible by 2-3 times, depending on the degree of “clogging”. This is how the operating system works, that after a while there is a need to re-install it. I know specific people who “reinstall the OS” several times a month. I don’t support such insistence; it’s better to try to optimize the system, determine the true source of the PC’s slowdown, but in any case, I reinstall Windows at least once a year, and then based on the fact that some components are constantly changing. By and large, if I didn’t have such a need, then I could easily work for 8-10 years without reinstalling the system. But such a period of stable operation can be found quite rarely, for example, in private offices where only 1C: Accounting and the office suite are used, and nothing changes for a long time. In most cases, reinstallation is a proven method if you are unable to increase the performance of your computer.

Using operating system state optimizer programs

Sometimes you can significantly increase the quality of work by resorting to the help of certain software packages. Moreover, in some cases this is almost the most accessible, fastest and most effective method.

You can use a fairly good PCMedic utility.

The highlight of the program is the complete automation of the optimization process. The entire application works in one window, within which you should define your operating system, indicate the name of the processor manufacturer and the desired type of optimization - Boost (acceleration) or Maximum Boost (maximum acceleration). Select the “Optimize now” button and go ahead.

And Auslogics BoostSpeed ​​is recognized as one of the most popular system programs, although it is paid. This is a real “beast”, which consists of several utilities to increase the speed characteristics of the computer in all directions. It has a fast optimizer, a powerful defragmenter, cleaning your computer from accumulated garbage, working with the registry, an Internet accelerator, and many more tricks. Among other things, in the program menu there is an advisor who is ready to give a large number of tips on any topic to improve your work with a PC. But you should always analyze his advice; you should not apply everything at once indiscriminately. For example, one of the tips suggests turning on automatic Windows update mode. Those who have installed a not entirely licensed Windows product can guess how an open auto-update can end...

To perform optimization, other cleaning programs have also been developed, such as CCleaner, which free the computer from unnecessary temporary files and thoroughly clean the registry. Cleaning disks of debris can really help determine free space. Registry optimization work does not cause a significant increase in performance, but often leads to unpleasant consequences if important keys are deleted (damaged).

Necessarily check all files, especially large ones that the cleaner intends to erase! I scanned my computer with the Auslogics Disk Cleaner utility and was a little surprised that my recycle bin contained about 20 GB of junk. But remembering that I had recently emptied the recycle bin, I looked at the files suggested for deletion by this program and was a little shocked! This list contained ALL my most valuable documents and files, all my work and life recently. Moreover, they were not in the recycle bin on the computer, but in a separate directory on drive D. That’s how I would have cleared them if I hadn’t checked.

Windows 7 has a specific resource for improving performance: select “ Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Settings" and uncheck some of the checkboxes or select "Ensure the best performance."

BIOS

BIOS contains the main computer settings. You can get into it while turning on the computer by pressing certain keys (Delete, F2, F10 - indicated on the screen when the computer boots). Usually the BIOS is configured correctly and tampering with it is not worth it, and sometimes even harmful.

Autostart optimization (disabling unnecessary services)

More than half of modern programs and applications try to gain a foothold in startup during installation. As a result, the loading speed of the operating system drops, and the work itself slows down. Look at the system tray (near the date/time), how many icons are collected there? It is advisable to remove unnecessary programs or disable their launch from startup.

This procedure can be performed using the useful Windows System Configuration utility. To activate it, press the key combination “Win ​​+ R” and in the task window enter

msconfig

Next, go to the “Startup” tab and uncheck unnecessary applications. If after a reboot you find that something is missing, you can check the boxes again. You must clearly understand why a specific program is needed and whether the system can work correctly without it.

One proven way to dramatically increase performance is... disabling the antivirus. It’s risky, of course, but in the process of implementing resource-intensive tasks, I sometimes take advantage of this opportunity.

Driver Update

This method can also help, because outdated drivers are often installed. The motherboard chipset drivers are the most important, but others can also interfere with the normal operation of the computer. Official websites of manufacturers will help you find the latest versions of drivers.

It is advisable to update drivers manually, but this will require a certain set of knowledge. An update is also available using a special Driver Checker program; it will scan devices and determine drivers that are recommended to be replaced with new versions.

A smart approach to choosing an operating system

If you are still using Windows XP with 2 GB of RAM, then I recommend switching to Windows 7-8 as soon as possible, performance will increase noticeably. And if your RAM has a reserve of 4 GB or more, then immediately install Windows 7-8, 64-bit version. Now the performance of your machine will increase by 1.5-2 times!

Viruses

Although they occupy the tenth position, viruses can also spoil the overall picture of a computer’s operation. Trojans can not only significantly reduce the performance of a computer, but also completely “freeze” it. If strange system freezes occur, you need to scan your computer with one of the scanners; DrWeb CureIt is perfect! But it is better to use a permanent, licensed antivirus.

This article proposed generally accepted ways to improve computer performance. I hope this material will help you save your nerves and time, and protect you from unexpected unpleasant surprises in the form of a sudden “fall” of the system.