How to Make Windows XP/Vista Run Faster - The Essential Hardware Power
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This is critical. No matter how updates are applied or how tweaks are done, no improvements can be substantially felt if you have underpowered hardware running your Windows XP. Windows XP is a memory and CPU intensive OS that supports thousands of great and heavy programs, not to mention games and other resource-intensive stuff like streaming and watching movies online or offline. All of this goes double for Vista. So it makes sense to have a powerful system; do not just settle for the minimum hardware requirements, or else your system will run slow.
Below are the suggested hardware specifications (the higher, the better)
- CPU: Pentium 4 or any AMD speed equivalent
- Memory: one GB RAM
- Hard disk: 80 GB
- Video card: Needed (128 MB)
- Sound card: Needed
- LAN card: Needed
- Motherboard: Pentium 4 compatible (can accommodate up to 4GB RAM slot, for future upgrades as well as a reasonable number of PCI slots)
IF you do not meet the above hardware requirements, I suggest that you upgrade first before doing any software- or operating system-related tweaks.
As a fundamental requirement, a video card and a sound card are needed for Windows XP/Vista systems. I am amazed at how many offices (even IT offices!) ignore the need for a video card in their systems. The video card helps video acceleration and reduces the burden on the CPU, thus making the CPU produce less heat as well, as the overall system. This makes it more stable and faster when it comes to rendering the video in games, office software (think PowerPoint and image editors) and streaming.
If these devices are not present in the system, all of the processes will be handled by the CPU, and that will make your computer a bit sluggish.
You should also check for hardware-related issues such as a hot system (caused by dust or an inadequate cooling system) as well as power supply problems, which can cause speed-related issues. Also check to see if your computer is using the correct power supply rating: http://www.schrockinnovations.com/powercalc.php
Enable DMA (Direct Memory Access)
Try to find out if DMA (Direct Memory Access) has been enabled in your Windows XP/Vista system. To check, go to:
Step 1: Control Panel.
Step 2: Right click on "System."
Step 3: Click "open."
Step 4: Go to hardware tab and then click "Device manager."
Step 5: After that, find and click "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers."
Step 6: Under that, find the "Primary IDE" Channel and right click on it.
Step 7: Then, on the advanced settings tab, look for the current transfer mode. It should be Ultra DMA mode, or any DMA versions enabled and NOT PIO.
See related screen shot below (the current transfer mode is in DMA):
If your system is not in the DMA transfer mode, you have to enable it by following the procedure in this Microsoft documentation: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/IDE-DMA.mspx
Enabling direct memory access speeds up the system because it will directly transfer the data between the hard disk and I/O, independent of the central processing unit (CPU). In the PIO (Programmed input/output) mode, all data must be passed to the CPU, making the data transfer a bit slow when compared to direct memory access.
Next: Adjust for Best Performance >>
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