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More on the history of computers and some how to speed your computer up tips

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One of the things that people always ask about when considering technology is the processor. Originally PC’s shipped with 8-bit processors. We moved to 32 bit. It isn’t just four times faster to go from 8 to 32 bit. It is eight times faster. (it is four times faster both ways). Gordon Moore, one of the creators of Intel Chips, famously postulated that processing speed was going to double every 18 months. For computers that slowed with the Intel i5 chip release. Now it is roughly three years between speed doubling. 64-bit processors have been available for servers, now for more than ten years. The vast majority of computers sold for the past three years for consumer and business PC are now 64 bit,

Faster processors don’t always mean your computer will be faster; however, the evolution of software and what people do with computers has changed the overall impact of speed. First, computers load as much of the application as they can into memory. The more memory you have, the more your computer will perform. An i5 chip with 8 gigabytes of RAM, may outperform an i7 chip with four gigabytes of RAM. Or, both may double in speed by simply adding a Solid State Drive or SSD. Computers, load the OS and applications into Memory. When there is less available memory that OS and application requires, they use what is called a swap file.

Swap files are where the computer needs more physical memory than it has. So, the computer turns part of the Hard Drive into a Swap file. The hard drive becomes a memory. But the important thing to remember here, is hard drives are slower than memory. Even an SSD drive that isn’t limited by a physical spindle and spinning disk is slower than onboard memory. Processor speed plus enough memory and an SSD drive produce a faster computer.

As we look at the evolution of personal computers, you can see that reality. But there are other things that impact your computer’s performance. The first is the type of applications you are using.

More to come!

  • Question of

    Did you know that having more than 10 browser windows open can slow your computer by more than 40%?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Di you know that updating your virus scanner can speed up your PC?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Did you know that swapping your hard drive for an SSD drive would speed up your computer?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Is your computer slow, now?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Do you have more than 4 gigs of memory in your computer?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Did you know that doing a clean installation of your operating system and applications can speed up your computer?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Lots of poll questions today, too many?

    • Yes
    • No

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Written by DocAndersen

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33 Comments

  1. Users voted 5 times.
    Q: DID YOU KNOW THAT HAVING MORE THAN 10 BROWSER WINDOWS OPEN CAN SLOW YOUR COMPUTER BY MORE THAN 40%?
    Yes (3 votes) – 50%
    No (3 votes) – 50%
    Q: DI YOU KNOW THAT UPDATING YOUR VIRUS SCANNER CAN SPEED UP YOUR PC?
    Yes (3 votes) – 50%
    No (3 votes) – 50%
    Q: DID YOU KNOW THAT SWAPPING YOUR HARD DRIVE FOR AN SSD DRIVE WOULD SPEED UP YOUR COMPUTER?
    Yes (4 votes) – 67%
    No (2 votes) – 33%
    Q: IS YOUR COMPUTER SLOW, NOW?
    Yes (2 votes) – 33%
    No (4 votes) – 67%
    Q: DO YOU HAVE MORE THAN 4 GIGS OF MEMORY IN YOUR COMPUTER?
    Yes (2 votes) – 33%
    No (4 votes) – 67%
    Q: DID YOU KNOW THAT DOING A CLEAN INSTALLATION OF YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM AND APPLICATIONS CAN SPEED UP YOUR COMPUTER?
    Yes (3 votes) – 60%
    No (2 votes) – 40%
    Q: LOTS OF POLL QUESTIONS TODAY, TOO MANY?
    No (5 votes) – 100%

  4. we can’t miniaturize CPUs anymore with the existing tech, so clock speeds are going to plateau. and those speeds are far to slow for photonic architecture…

    1

  5. Very interesting information, my computer is slow. The star is three years old (Intel i5) and for some time I’m thinking if I can do anything myself, it will be faster ?

    1

    • Carol, there are a lot of variables in your statement. I’ve noticed a much larger number of 503 errors with the site.

      I have not noticed site slowness. But it wholly depends on the time of day you access any internet site as to if it is fast or slow.

      The other side, since your computer is fast, is to verify you are getting the internet speeds from your internet provider. If you have DSL or Cable modem, uploads are capped on your router at your house, you may be experiencing that issue.

      Good luck!