What makes a computer slow?

[niccholaspage]

I've been wondering this for a while. I mean usually every 1-2 years, most people will get a new computer because the one they have now is going slow. I want to know what causes this? Dust on the Motherboard?


P.S. I got a good midterm today for the 1st quarter.

[OutOfReach]

Dust on the motherboard, fan, hard drives, etc sometimes does have an impact on the overall system performance. Moving the computer (desktops) alot can also mess up some parts, not deadly, but definately enough to slow down the system.

But mostly, hardware is usually not the problem. It is usually the operating system. For example in Windows you have to defrag every other day and you have to watch out for viruses. Most average people don't know how to take care of this so that's why they think the computer (the actual computer) is slower. So they get another one...

[niccholaspage]

I know. When I installed Ubuntu on my 3 year old desktop computer it was running a lot quicker. Anyone who can get in and clean those computer parts are lucky.

[ChanServ]

tempeture, OS, proccesses. there are a lot of things which can limit a computer. mostly the Operating system though.

[brunovecchi]

When massive switches from version X of a popular program to version X+1 happen with a concomitant increase in hardware specs (specially RAM), people tend to be forced to upgrade.
This wouldn't happen with open format-friendly software, of course.

[niccholaspage]

Now I am really thinking the OS is doing this.(By OS I mean about Windows...) I mean think about it. Installing programs in Windows just clutters it up. It also makes the startup take some time.

[lisati]

When massive switches from version X of a popular program to version X+1 happen with a concomitant increase in hardware specs (specially RAM), people tend to be forced to upgrade.
This wouldn't happen with open format-friendly software, of course.

Even just getting basic internet access required an upgrade for some of us. Two dektops prior to the one I currently use, I needed an upgrade from a'286-based machine to a "'386 or better" (turned out to be a Pentium) to get connected. (If I'd known what I was doing, a hack might have been possible)

[snova]

Somebody at a local computer repair showed me a program on Windows when he was trying to fix things. It's "msconfig", and a few tabs to the right you can adjust the things to start automatically.

It didn't do any good in my case, but that little program could do a lot of things. It's right up there with Kill Process on the task manager.

[Moustacha]

Now I am really thinking the OS is doing this.(By OS I mean about Windows...) I mean think about it. Installing programs in Windows just clutters it up. It also makes the startup take some time.

Hence why people re-format their windows pcs every 6 months if they're anal.
If you haven't noticed, when you install the graphics drivers on XP boot-up takes an age longer.

[niccholaspage]

Somebody at a local computer repair showed me a program on Windows when he was trying to fix things. It's "msconfig", and a few tabs to the right you can adjust the things to start automatically.

I remember that program. That helped a lot with my laptop's Vista install.

Hence why people re-format their windows pcs every 6 months if they're anal.
If you haven't noticed, when you install the graphics drivers on XP boot-up takes an age longer.

I formated my computer with Windows XP twice before I installed Ubuntu because of its slowness.