10 Best Ways to Speed up Old Technologies
Even if you are building a brand new computer, chances are you have old hardware in your home that you would like to get as much life out of it as possible. From phones to old laptops to old TVs, here are some tips to speed up and clean up your old technologies.
10. Backup, clean install and restore
If the technology we’re talking about is computers, phones, tablets, or other devices that are likely to be struggling with data pressure, patches, follow-up updates, and all the apps and tools you’ve installed over the years, it’s hard to underestimate. how useful it can be to do a clean install and start a fresh one .
Just make sure you back up your data before you start , then make sure you do a clean install and then immediately update the necessary security patches and updates for your system. Then start restoring your most frequently used programs and data. You might be surprised at how little you can get by after wiping your board.
9. Restore factory settings and then update
If we’re talking about older TVs, home appliances, game consoles, or other hardware that doesn’t get traditional updates like desktops and laptops, consider a factory reset. Almost every device has a factory preset option , from phones to smart TVs. Smart and connected devices are especially sensitive to inevitable bits and poor performance over many years of use. Use recovery settings – especially on those devices where “setting” means “entering passwords for Netflix and your Wi-Fi network,” and give yourself a fresh feeling out of the box.
8. Remove unnecessary software and free up space.
One of the fastest ways to speed up anything is to cut through crafting and remove any pre-installed malware that might be lurking on the device. Whether it’s a smart TV loaded with streaming apps that you don’t use, or a laptop that you have been using for years, now is the time to free up space and clean up your hardware.
This process, of course, the easiest on the PC with the Windows , but do not lose sight of mind MacOS (and AppCleaner is great for this ), because some Mac applications can be bundled with this material. On the mobile side , iOS is pretty straightforward, and on Android try Debloater – it works really well.
7. Overclocking where possible
Overclocking is not for everyone, and obviously there are some things that you just cannot reliably overclock (but some of them you might be surprised to know that it is possible ), but if speed and a little more performance is what you crave, a little overclocking can spice up hardware that is starting to show its age .
Of course, we have a guide for your CPU overclocking and another guide to overclocking the video card , but did you know that you also can disperse Pi the Raspberry ? (And the Pi 2 makes it even easier .) Give it a try.
You can even overclock your Android phone if you like.
6. Switch to lightweight and open source whenever possible
Another great way to breathe new, fast life into your old hardware is to ditch the legacy software that supports it and install something newer, lighter, and faster. This could mean installing Linux on an old computer ( or even dual booting it ) or Chromebooks to breathe new life into it. This could mean installing fast open firmware on your old Wi-Fi router to boost power and signal. It might even mean installing a custom ROM on your Android phone or Ubuntu on your Android tablet .
Of course, you can only really go this route with devices that offer you some level of openness in the first place, so don’t expect to be able to simply “root” your TV or iOS device, for example. However, if your smart TV is lagging, perhaps a cheap set-top box or, better yet, something jailbroken, you can install whatever you like or create your own HTPC that you can update or tweak whenever you want. … prefer.
5. Upgrade the hard drive for your consoles.
It’s no secret that adding an SSD to your PlayStation 3 or 4, or any other gaming console that works with it for that matter, will give you a huge boost in performance. We showed you how to do this with PS 4 , but other consoles, especially older ones, are a little more complicated.
In some cases, you may not want to replace the internal drive at all, and instead just add more storage with a good external drive – but if you’re feeling more adventurous and want to void those guarantees in the name of faster boot times and faster boot times, go online. and look for people doing DIY stuff with your console. You will definitely find them.
4. Choose the best upgrades for your gear.
Of course, not everything can be simply upgraded – you cannot, for example, add more RAM or a faster processor to your iPad or TV (but this is where the overclocking we mentioned above comes in), but if you’re looking at a slow PC, you need to last a little longer, a RAM upgrade or a shiny new SSD can make all the difference .
This is especially true if you are primarily using less RAM or your old PC still uses a traditional spinning hard drive as its primary drive. Just make sure you do what you need to do to make the most of it when upgrading.
3. Disconnect it from the Internet.
This may be especially true for devices with the “Internet of Things” , but it applies to almost any device you may have that does not require an Internet connection: disconnect it until (or if) you do not need to connect to the Internet. The Internet. Keeping “connected home” gadgets offline can be a hassle if you want to manage them when you’re away, but if you set things up correctly (or set up your router so that only certain devices have access to the wider internet), you you can eat pie and eat too – this means that you can control your devices from home, on your own network, but no one can attack them, hack them or force them to join a huge botnet from the outside.
Check out our guide to securing your connected home to get started, but also keep in mind that some devices may be unhappy with internet restrictions. Keeping them offline can keep them safe and free from malware or vulnerabilities that will slow them down. After all, unless your refrigerator has a reason for widespread internet access, it shouldn’t – and probably doesn’t really need it. Keeping them offline also allows you to control when they call home, what updates they receive, and when they download.
2. Stay on top of regular maintenance and updates
Speaking of updates, one surefire way to make sure your hardware isn’t just secure, but as fast and optimized as possible, is to keep up with these updates – just do it smartly and on your own schedule. Take your time with them – regular feature and security updates are important, and without them you might actually end up with a slower and more insecure device, but not every update is necessary.
For example, we’ve talked about all the space you can get from old Windows update and installation files or language files that you probably don’t use on a Mac , but in the process of exploring them, you shouldn’t avoid big features or OS updates that really make your system faster . Read the patch notes and see what’s optimized. Keep up with the hardware or system drivers you rely on. Be an informed user, ready to read what you need and don’t, and you get faster hardware as a result.
1. Clean everything thoroughly (but don’t spoil it!)
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of good, clean equipment. Sometimes a slow computer is a computer that isn’t cooling properly because its fans and vents are covered with dust , or a video card that is in desperate need of cleaning .
The same applies to your television or other equipment, the components of which must remain in good and cool condition . Make sure your gear is clean, do not let the air flow ( be it a TV, computer or any other device ), and if you are looking at a phone or tablet now, make sure that it and its connector ports are in good condition and clean too. …