How to Improve Computer Performance and Be More Productive
Productivity is all about performance. Because computers are used to do almost everything, improving your system’s performance is one of the easiest ways to improve your performance. Time management techniques can certainly help you become more efficient, but they don’t help when you’re held hostage by a slow computer. Find more ways to speed up your computer.
The problem isn’t your computer, it’s the components inside – and those are easy to upgrade. Depending on how you use your computer, there are options to improve your computer's performance and your productivity. Learn more about your computer's hardware.
How do you use your computer?
Apps and activities: Email, social media, photos, videos, documents, spreadsheets, streaming movies and music
Stumbling blocks: Standard applications and activities require standard amounts of memory, yet most computers ship with minimal levels of memory
Solution: Install at least 4GB of memory. This doesn’t cost much, and the increased RAM helps deliver consistent, seamless performance.
Fun fact: 92% of people who have upgraded memory would recommend it to a friend*
Apps and activities: Multiple browsers and tabs for online research, shopping, travel, news, social media, and spreadsheets; constantly running multiple programs
Stumbling blocks: Multitasking takes a toll on performance because your system has a lot of active data, which requires a lot of memory
Solution: Install 8GB of memory. It’s affordable, easy to do, and solves the root problem – not having enough resources to handle everything at once.
Fun fact: 92% of people think multitasking is necessary for being highly efficient*
Apps and activities: Steam®, games, and gaming forums
Stumbling blocks: Gaming is intensive by nature and requires constant buffering and loading to create and sustain an action-packed, character-filled world
Solution: Install 32GB of Ballistix® gaming memory and a mainstream SSD. The SSD will allow you to quickly boot up and jump into the game, while the gaming memory will help you seamlessly navigate and dominate when you’re there.
Fun fact: Nearly 100% of professional gamers use
Apps and activities: Classes, assignments, independent learning modules, digital streaming and virtual class participation, class-specific apps, social media
Stumbling blocks: High levels of computer horsepower are required for today’s virtual assignments and class work, yet computers geared at students often ship with minimal components that hinder productivity
Solution: Get a value-oriented SSD, which is the most affordable way to increase your system’s performance and makes assignments easier. Make sure your computer has at least 16GB of RAM.
Fun fact: 87% of people say computer hardware has a direct impact on what they’re able to get done*
Apps and activities: Photo editing, video editing, design applications, creative research
Stumbling blocks: Design applications take a heavy toll on your system’s memory, processor, and storage components – all of which are used to load, render, and save massive files
Solution: Go with a mainstream SSD that delivers a higher level of performance, along with 32GB of memory (or as much as your system can take). For best results, install the memory in a dual channel configuration, which maximizes CPU performance.
Fun fact: 91% of people say it can take an extra hour to get things done on a slower system*
Apps and activities: Accounting, budgeting, large spreadsheets with macros
Stumbling blocks: Complex macros and advanced computations require a lot of memory
Solution: Install 16GB of memory in a dual channel configuration (4x 4GB modules). Because you’re dealing with sensitive financial data, encryption can be a great asset and it comes standard on most mainstream SSDs.
Fun fact: Only 4% of people upgrade their memory when their computer slows down*
*Based on research commissioned by Crucial.com and conducted April 2015 by GMI, an independent research organization. The study polled a stratified random sample of 1,002 adults ages 18+ in the United States and asked questions about productivity, technology, and ways to improve efficiency.
1. Based on our interactions at industry events and extensive involvement with professional gaming teams.
©2018 Micron Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Information, products, and/or specifications are subject to change without notice. Neither Crucial nor Micron Technology, Inc. is responsible for omissions or errors in typography or photography. Micron, the Micron logo, Crucial, the Crucial logo, and Ballistix are trademarks or registered trademarks of Micron Technology, Inc. Steam is a trademark of Valve Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.