Do you feel like your computer has started to slow down? Do you want to improve the performance of your computer without having to replace the entire system?
Component upgrades are one of the effective and cost-effective ways to improve your PC’s performance. With component upgrades, you can replace or add parts inside your PC, such as RAM, SSD, CPU, GPU, or motherboard, to improve its performance and functionality.
However, not all component upgrades have the same impact on your PC’s performance. Some component upgrades may be more important and beneficial than others, depending on your PC type, your needs, and your budget. Therefore, it is important to know which component upgrades work best for your PC and make the biggest difference to your PC’s performance.
In this article, Bardimin will discuss 5 component upgrades that can significantly improve your PC’s performance. Bardimin will also give you some tips and advice on how to choose and install the right component upgrade for your PC. Let’s get started!
1] RAM upgrade
RAM (Random Access Memory) is one of the most important components inside your PC. RAM is the place where your PC stores temporary data needed by the operating system, applications, and running games. The more RAM your PC has, the more data your PC can quickly store and access.
RAM upgrades are one of the easiest and least expensive component upgrades you can do to improve your PC’s performance. With RAM upgrades, you can improve the speed, responsiveness, and multitasking of your PC.
RAM upgrade means replacing an old RAM module with a new RAM module that has a higher capacity or speed. This will improve the quality of your PC’s RAM. For example, if your PC has 4 GB of RAM at 1333 MHz and you replace it with an 8 GB RAM module at 1600 MHz, then the quality of your PC’s RAM is better.
To upgrade RAM, there are a few things to note:
- Make sure the new RAM module you want to install matches the type (DDR2, DDR3, DDR4), size (SODIMM, DIMM), and speed (MHz) of your PC’s motherboard.
- Make sure the maximum RAM capacity supported by your PC’s motherboard and operating system does not exceed the total amount of RAM you want to install.
- Make sure the new RAM module you want to install has the same or similar voltage and timings as the other RAM modules inside your PC.
- Make sure the new RAM module you want to install is from a trusted manufacturer and has a warranty.
To install a new RAM module into your PC, follow these steps:
- Turn off your PC and disconnect the power cord and any other devices connected to your PC.
- Open your PC case and find the RAM slot on your PC’s motherboard. Typically, RAM slots are black or blue and rectangular with a notch in the middle.
- Remove the old RAM module you want to replace by pressing the locking clips at both ends of the RAM slot and pulling the RAM module out of its slot.
- Insert the new RAM module into the RAM slot that the old RAM module has removed. Make sure the indentation on the RAM module matches the notch on the RAM slot. Press firmly down on the RAM module until the locking clip locks the RAM module in place.
- Close your PC case and reconnect the power cord and other devices connected to your PC.
- Turn on your PC and check if the new RAM module is detected by your PC’s operating system.
2] SSD Upgrade
SSD (Solid State Drive) is a type of data storage that uses flash memory chips to store data permanently. SSDs are different from HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), which are a type of data storage that uses rotating magnetic platters to store data.
SSDs have several advantages over HDDs, such as:
- SSDs are faster than HDDs at reading and writing data, because SSDs have no moving mechanical parts, reducing access time and latency.
- SSDs are more durable than HDDs because they are not susceptible to physical damage from shock, vibration, or extreme temperatures.
- SSDs are more energy efficient than HDDs because they don’t need power to spin magnetic platters, reducing power and heat consumption.
- SSDs are quieter than HDDs because they make no noise when operating.
An SSD upgrade is one component upgrade that can significantly improve the performance of your PC. With an SSD upgrade, you can increase your PC’s booting, loading, and data transfer speeds. You can also improve the stability and reliability of your PC.
Upgrading an SSD means replacing an old HDD drive with a new SSD drive that has a higher capacity or speed. This will improve the storage quality of your PC. For example, if your PC has a 1TB HDD with a speed of 5400 RPM and you replace it with a 1TB SSD with a speed of 550 MB/s, then the storage quality of your PC becomes better.
To upgrade an SSD, there are a few things to note:
- Make sure the new SSD drive you want to install matches the size (2.5-inch, M.2), type (SATA, NVMe), and speed (MB/s) of SATA or M.2 ports available on your motherboard or PC case.
- Make sure the capacity of the new SSD drive you want to install fits your needs and budget.
- Make sure the new SSD drive you want to install is from a trusted manufacturer and has a warranty.
To install a new SSD drive into your PC, follow these steps:
- Turn off your PC and disconnect the power cord and any other devices connected to your PC.
- Open your PC case and find the available SATA or M.2 port on your motherboard or PC case. Typically, SATA ports are red or yellow and rectangular with a hole in the middle. The M.2 port is shaped like a memory card slot with a screw at one end.
- Remove the old HDD drive you want to replace by removing the screws or locking clips that hold the HDD drive in place. Pull the HDD drive out of its SATA or M.2 port.
- Insert the new SSD drive into the SATA or M.2 port that the old HDD drive has removed. Make sure the hole on the SSD drive matches the hole on its SATA or M.2 port. Screw or lock clips of the SSD drive in place.
- Close your PC case and reconnect the power cord and other devices connected to your PC.
- Turn on your PC and check if the new SSD drive is detected by your PC’s operating system.
3] CPU Upgrade
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brain of your PC. The CPU is the component responsible for executing the instructions of the operating system, applications, and games running on your PC.
The faster your CPU, the faster your PC can complete assigned tasks.
However, upgrading the CPU is not easy and cheap. There are a few things you need to pay attention to before upgrading your CPU, such as:
- Socket compatibility. You’ll need to make sure that the new CPU you want to install matches the type of socket that’s on your PC’s motherboard.
- Chipset compatibility. You should also make sure that the new CPU you want to install matches the type of chipset that is on your PC’s motherboard.
- BIOS compatibility. You should also make sure that the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) on your PC’s motherboard supports the new CPU you want to install.
- Power compatibility. You should also make sure that the power required by the new CPU does not exceed the power that your PC’s PSU (Power Supply Unit) can provide.
If all of the above is confirmed to be appropriate, then you can upgrade the CPU with the following steps:
- Turn off your PC and disconnect the power cord and any other devices connected to your PC.
- Open your PC case and remove the heatsink and fan from the CPU socket on your PC’s motherboard.
- Remove the old CPU from the CPU socket by pressing the lock lever and pulling the CPU out of the socket.
- Clean any remaining thermal paste on top of the CPU socket and under the heatsink using a clean cloth or wet wipes.
- Install a new CPU into the CPU socket by inserting CPU pins into the appropriate socket holes. Make sure the CPU direction matches the socket direction. Press the CPU gently until it enters the socket evenly.
- Lower the lock lever on the side of the socket to lock the CPU in place.
- Apply a new thermal paste over the CPU surface by dripping rice kernel-sized thermal paste in the center of the CPU surface or applying thermal paste thinly and evenly across the CPU surface.
- Attach the heatsink and fan back to the CPU socket by placing the heatsink over the CPU and pressing the screw or locking clip that holds the heatsink and fan in place. Make sure the heatsink and fan are firmly and flush together.
- Close your PC case and reconnect the power cord and other devices connected to your PC.
- Turn on your PC and check if the new CPU is detected by your PC’s operating system.
4] GPU Upgrade
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) upgrades are one way to improve your PC’s performance in terms of graphics, especially for playing games or running applications that require high graphics. The GPU is the component responsible for processing graphics data and displaying images on the monitor screen.
However, upgrading the GPU is not arbitrary. There are several things you need to pay attention to before upgrading the GPU, such as:
- Slot suitability. You’ll need to make sure that the new graphics card you want to install matches the type of slot that’s on your PC’s motherboard.
- Power compatibility. You should also make sure that the power required by the new graphics card does not exceed the power that your PC’s PSU (Power Supply Unit) can provide.
- Size suitability. You should also make sure that the physical size of the new graphics card is not too large to fit into your PC case.
If all of the above is confirmed to be appropriate, then you can upgrade the GPU with the following steps:
- Turn off your PC and disconnect the power cord and any other devices connected to your PC.
- Open your PC case and find the PCI-E x16 slot on your PC’s motherboard. Typically, the PCI-E x16 slot is near the CPU and is covered by a heatsink (cooler) and fan.
- Remove the old graphics card from the PCI-E x16 slot by removing the screws or locking clips that hold the graphics card in place. Carefully pull the graphics card out of the slot.
- Insert the new graphics card into the PCI-E x16 slot by inserting the bottom of the graphics card into the groove of the slot. Make sure the direction of the graphics card matches the direction of the slot. Press the graphics card gently until it fits into the slot flatly.
- Screw or lock clip the graphics card in place.
- Connect the power cable from the PSU to the power connector on the back of the graphics card if needed.
- Close your PC case and reconnect the power cord and other devices connected to your PC.
- Turn on your PC and check if the new graphics card is detected by your PC’s operating system.
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Suggestion
In addition to the upgrades mentioned above, there are some suggestions you can follow to improve your PC’s performance:
- Check for your software and driver updates regularly.
- Clean junk files and unused programs from your PC.
- Defragment your hard drive periodically.
- Keep your PC clean so as not to overheat.