Since I have been running Sublime I have seen a lot of really “messed up” computers. We find a lot of computers that are painfully slow. Not all of these computers are 10 years old. It doesn't always make sense to either wipe and reload or purchase a new computer. As a result my team and I have been working on a desktop optimization process to help speed up desktops without having to replace them. If we can speed up or revitalize and existing computer we feel that is a benefit to our clients.
When you purchased your computer it seemed really fast. Did it slow down or did you just get used to the speed? Most of the time the computer has slowed down over time. I call that the Operating System creep. However, there are probably some task that have always been slow. It could be that your processor is not fast enough, you don’t have enough RAM, your network connection is inadequate or your computer is running out of disk space. I am starting a series discussing the different aspects of why a computer is slow and what can be done to speed it up.
RAM / Memory
The most common cause of computer not being fast enough is that there is not enough memory or RAM (Random Access Memory) The RAM is the “short-term memory” of the computer. The files that you are working on are stored in the RAM. If there is not enough RAM installed the “short-term” data has to be written to the hard drive. When data is being written to the hard drive that slows down the computers ability to work. The solution to that problem is to make sure that your computer has an adequate amount of RAM installed and the Paging File (The overflow of data being written the hard drive) is properly configured.
Here is the amount of memory that I recommend for computers based on the processor and operating system:
- Windows XP, Vista and 7 32 Bit - 4 GB (3.33 will be usable)
- Windows XP, Vista and 7 64 Bit - 8 GB
If you really wish to geek out and read more on RAM you can do so at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random-access_memory
