Computer Repair by Computer Doctors! Faster!

How can you make my computer faster?

When it comes to increasing the performance of a
computer, there are two main categories to think about:
Physical Hardware Performance and Software
Performance.

Hardware Upgrades

Increasing your computer's performance using hardware
means upgrading by either adding more hardware or
replacing low performance hardware with high performance
hardware. When it comes to hardware, Computer Doctors
offers three types of hardware upgrade services.

1. Memory Upgrade:

Computer memory, also referred to as Random Access
Memory (RAM), determines how many applications you can
run simultaneously and also factors into how fast you can
run an application. Computers used to be fine with 512MB
of memory, but today's Windows XP computers should
have 2GB of memory for normal usage and 3GB of
memory or more for heavy usage. Windows Vista machines
should have 3GB of memory for normal usage and 4GB of
memory or more for heavy usage.

You can find out how much memory your computer
contains by clicking the start button, then right-clicking My
Computer and selecting the properties button.

If you find that your computer does not have the optimal
amount of memory, then it may be time for an upgrade.
Give us a call and a Computer Doctors technician will work
with you to determine your computer's maximum amount of
memory capacity and can order you more regular
performance or high performance memory if you wish.
We'll then go down to your home or office and install it for
you!

Related Service: Memory Ordering and Installation

2. Video Card Upgrade:

Most retail computers come with on-board graphics
processors built into the motherboard. A graphics card is
separate piece of hardware that plugs into the
motherboard and extends out of the back of the computer
case. Most computers are fine with on-board graphics, but
a graphics card will allow you to do more with your
computer. Some advantages of having a graphics card
include:

Faster gaming performance and better graphics.
The ability to plug in newer monitors that require DVI
connectors.
The ability to plug in two monitors so that you can have
more screen space to do more work.
The ability to duplicate what you see on your computer
monitor onto a television set using an S-Video cable. This
is a great feature for watching movies that are on your
computer on a big-screen TV.
Graphics cards can also be used in place of on-board
graphics if your on-board graphics processor ever failed. If
you are interested in installing an after market graphics
card into your computer give us a call. We'll work with you
to determine the correct card for your computer and your
needs. We'll also order it for you and install it when it
comes in.

Related Service: Video Card Ordering and Installation

3. Hard Drive Upgrade:

Hard drives come in various types, capacities, and speeds.
A hard drive upgrade is not going to give you as big of a
performance boost as a memory upgrade, but there are
times when it can make a huge impact. There are basically
three reasons you'd want to add another hard drive to your
computer.

1. More Capacity:

This is the main reason people like to install extra hard
drives in their machines. More capacity means more
storage space for your data. This is an excellent solution
for people who like to store a lot of pictures, videos, and/or
burn DVD movies onto their computers. If this is why you
want an extra hard drive, we'd suggest a drive with 500GB
or more storage space.

2. Data Backup:

Adding an extra hard drive means you have another place
to copy your data to. So if one hard drive fails or you
accidently delete some of your important data off of it, you
can always recover it from the second hard drive if you
backed it up. We'd suggest using a hard drive anywhere
between 40GB to 500GB for this purpose depending on
how much data you'd like to backup. Another, and possibly
better, solution for backing up data is an external hard
drive which we can also help you with.

3. Higher Speeds:

Not too many people want hard drives for this reason, but if
you want the fastest system you can get, this is a perfectly
logical solution. Using a hard drive for this reason means
making the new faster hard drive your main drive which
holds the operating system and program files and using
the old drive for storage. It may sound a little bit confusing,
but we are here to help. Give us a call and we'll help you
figure out what you need and take care of everything from
ordering to installation.

Related Service: Hard Drive Ordering and Installation

Software Optimization and Maintenance

Increasing your computer's performance via software
means tweaking Windows settings, keeping your computer
clear of junk files, removing or disabling startup software
that can bog down your system, and keeping the
fragmentation level of your hard drive low. Computer
Doctors offers two services that can increase your
computer's performance without having to change your
hardware.

1. Essential Security Setup and Optimization

The Essential Security Setup and Optimization is a great
service for new computers and old computers alike. But it
is best to get it done when you are setting up your new
computer.

The first part of the service involves installing any security
software you purchased with your PC. If you did not
purchase any security software that is okay. We will install
some of the best free software for anti-virus, anti-spyware,
and internet security.

The second part of the service is an in-depth process of
removing useless software that may have either come with
the computer, or you may have picked it up later. We also
optimize your computer's performance by disabling
operating system options that bog down your computer
and removing unnecessary startup and background
options. Finally, we will make sure your computer has the
latest updates and set it to automatically update in order to
always keep your computer secure.

This service ensure that your computer is secure and
increases its performance by making the operating system
more efficient and less cluttered.

Related Service: Essential Security Setup and Optimization

2. PC Tuneup and Cleaning

The PC Tuneup and Cleaning service is a great service for
computers that are at least three months old. In order to
keep your computer running at full speed, it is suggested
that you get it tuned up and cleaned out every three
months. Not only will regular tuneups and cleaning keep
your computer running fast, it will also increase the life
expectancy of your computer and allow you to catch small
problems before they turn into big problems.

It is important to keep the inside of your computer's case
clean and free of dirt buildup. Dirt buildup in computers
can reduce the airflow into your computer and cause fans
to get clogged up. When this happens your computer runs
hotter and then fans need to use more power in order to
keep spinning at a fast speed to cool down the PC. Warm
temperatures decrease the lifetime of a computer and if
your computer gets too hot, it could result in hardware
failure and permanent damage. Clogged fans will request
more energy from your computers power supply in order to
keep up its high RPMs. This decreases the lifetime of the
power supply and fans and can run up your electricity bill.

Keeping your PC tuned means cleaning out a lot of files
that your computer generates over time, keeping startup
and background processes under control, and keeping
down your computer's fragmentation level.

When Computer Doctors performs a PC tuneup and
cleaning, we do a thorough job to make sure your
computer is performing well and healthy. We check to
make sure there is nothing wrong with the hardware and
will always give you advice to help you keep your computer
running strong.

Related Service: PC Tuneup and Cleaning