Which parts of a computer and which characteristics of the CPU, RAM and disk most influence speed and performance
As we now know well, every computer is made up of numerous parts all connected to each other in a very similar way to what happens in the human body and the main ones are: the motherboard which is a bit like the backbone, the processor is the brain and then there is the memory which is divided into two parts, RAM memory, volatile and fast, and disk, where files are stored. Depending on the qualities of each individual part, a computer can be more or less fast.In this article we will show you what are the most important technical characteristics on which the performance of a computer dependsso that we can understand for ourselves what makes a PC suddenly slow down and what we can do to speed it up.
READ ALSO -> What works to make Windows 10 and 11 boot fast
1) Processor or CPU
The processor affects the performance of the computer, in the sense that the faster the processor processes data, the faster program operations will be. For example, assuming you use a program that has to do a lot of mathematical calculations to solve a complex operation, the completion time will be shorter if the CPU is more powerful. The speed of a processor is called clock, it is measured by the number of operations it can perform in a second and is calculated in Hz.
Currently on the processor market there are processors of 4 GHz or more; Furthermore Modern CPUs are made with two or more independent unitscalled cores, which allow you to carry out multiple operations at the same time or to balance the load so that the processor never becomes 100% busy, effectively blocking every operation.
Other details on the characteristics of the processors have been described in the guide above How to choose your computer’s motherboard and CPU.
Can the CPU slow down a PC?
From what has been said, it is therefore obvious that the processor greatly influences the performance of a computer, especially if you use programs that require a lot of data processing such as, for example, the conversion and editing of videos or 3D graphics. Since there has also been some standardization tra CPU Intel e AMDlet’s say on a laptop or desktop computer the processor is not the most important thing to look atespecially if we purchased the PC in the last 5 years.
If your computer is more than 5 years old it may slow down noticeably only with the heaviest programs or with the latest generation games, but only if at the time we had chosen a reduced number of cores or a lower frequency; in this regard we invite you to read our guide on what does “Core” CPU mean and what speed does a multi-core processor have.
2) RAM memory
The RAM it is the memory in which resides the data processed by the CPU at that moment; given its characteristics it is very fast and exchanges data directly with the CPU and other components, but it loses all data as soon as the electricity goes out.
Can RAM slow down a PC?
The amount of RAM in a computer greatly affects its performance of any PC: the more memory we have, the more data can be saved at the same time (as long as the computer remains on) without having to be reloaded from disk.
You might think that the speed of a computer depends in many cases on the speed of the RAMbut in general it is more the amount of memory that makes a substantial difference, given that speeds tend to be very high for at least 5 or 6 years.
In the case of a PC for normal use they are sufficient 8 GB for the most common operations (browsing the Internet, reading mail, managing social media, opening work management systems, making video conferences); if instead we execute very heavy programs (Photoshop, AutoCAD etc.) or we use the PC to play the recommended minimum is 16 GB.
To learn more we can read our guides on how to choose RAM for your PC and on Computer RAM types: DDR, shape and speed.
3) Internal memory
Internal memory or storage space is the component of the PC where the data is saved permanently, until the user manually deletes them. Its performance is lower than RAM but its speed can affect all PC performancesince the communication channels between CPU, RAM and disk adapt to the lowest speed available in the “trio”.
Can internal memory slow down a PC?
The performance of a computer depends decisively on the type of disk we have installed and its writing and reading speed: you can have a PC with the fastest processor in the world with 64 of RAM but if the data is then saved on a mechanical hard disk everything will go very slowhaving created a “bottleneck” that will nullify any effort (as mentioned above the whole system adapts to the speed of the slowest component).
Currently the fastest memories are the NVMe M.2 PCIewhich tend to be 10 times faster than classic SSDs and up to 100 times faster classic mechanical records; if our computer has a mechanical disk it is always worth removing it and immediately putting an M.2 card (if compatible) or a classic SSD in it, so as to benefit from incredible reading and writing speeds.
On this topic we can read our guides on M.2 SSD for PC, how to mount it and where to buy it come on how to mount an SSD instead of the hard disk.
4) PC heat
An often underestimated factor that can suddenly slow down a PC is the heat emitted by all components of the computer. All components use electrical energy and release a part of energy in the form of heat: this heat must be disposed of to prevent it from accumulating and leading to an excessive increase in temperature.
Can heat slow down a PC?
On new generation laptops one of the main reasons for slowdown is the internal heat, which accumulates in the lower part of the PC and is not properly disposed of. A Heat buildup will cause the CPU, RAM, and memory to slow downto prevent overheating episodes that are harmful to the electronic components.
So we shouldn’t be surprised if your PC slows down on a scorching summer dayin a very hot room or after intense use on your lap or on a soft surface (such as a pillow or blanket on your bed).
For further information we can read our articles how to manage temperatures on PCs and smartphones come on how to cool your laptop if it’s too hot.
However, if the problem concerns a desktop computer, in most cases that is enough remove dust from external fans e change the CPU cooler to improve the situation immediately.
Conclusions
The other components are accessory and do not influence the speed and performance of a computer much. Surely a modern motherboard allows you to install the latest models processors, M.2 cards and RAM modules, becoming more efficient from an electrical and connection point of view.
The video card is useful for those who play latest generation video gamesbut it is not decisive for the performance of the PC since it is not used much when it is at rest or when we do not start a heavy game or a program that makes intensive use of hardware acceleration.
If we have an old computer in our hands, in addition to trying to change the components that are still compatible, we can try to make it faster by installing an ultra-light operating systemlike those seen in our guides to best Linux distros for old PCs and small notebooks come on how to install Chrome OS on PC.
However, if we immediately wanted to buy a new computer for the office or for work, we recommend that you read the guide above things to know before buying a new computer.