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Great Hardware Buys
I have been dealing with computers and networks for over 20 years. My first exposure was with timex-sinclair and apple II computers back in high school days. But it was in college where I started actually using computers (desktops and minis) that I really started learning about them.

I have amassed a lot of conventional wisdom over the years on computers, particularly desktops. Below are some of Jason's tech tips for dealing with computers. Hopefully they will be useful to someone.

[Hardware Upgrades] [Performance Tuning] [Internet Usage]

Hardware Upgrades

Technology is constantly changing. Even I have been amazed at the speed with which computer components have gotten smaller and faster. As soon as you buy a new computer, it's basically obsolete! The trick is, when you buy a computer, pick one that's upgradable without replacing the entire system. At the current technology rate, most desktop computers last about 3 years before they are too far behind the technology curve to serve as a useful desktop. However, using selective component upgrades, you can extend the life of that same computer to at least 5 years. Also, taking good care of the OS/Software on the computer will also help it last longer.

Here are some of my tips on hardware upgrades:
  • First, do not buy a "name brand" computer. Most of them are built, on purpose, not to be component-upgradable. That's so that manufacturer can force you to replace the entire system after 3 years. Buy a computer from a shop that builds the PC for you from standard, upgradable, parts. Not only do you get to spec exactly what you want, but you know that the critical components will be upgradable. Also, do not buy "bleeding" edge technology. You will pay a premium for this system with not a lot of performance improvement to offset the cost. Buy one step below bleeding edge to save money and provide some room for component upgrades later.

  • If your computer is getting "slow", there are four components that will make the most difference to upgrade. Sometimes it's tempting to upgrade other parts, but those items may give you more features, but will not make a noticable performance difference. Here are the components that give you the most bang for your buck:
    • Hard Drive: This is the component I usually look at first to upgrade. Often times you will need additional space anyway, so look for a new drive that has:
      1. Double the new capacity you think you will need
      2. The fastest RPM you can get for that capacity
      3. One that supports the fastest speed your drive interface will handle
      RPM has the biggest effect on performance. Next is interface speed. Pick a drive that maximizes both and this upgrade will give a 10-20% speed improvement for the entire system, in my experience.
    • Memory: Most computers out of the box are sized with a reasonable amount of memory. As new software is released, it is increasingly "memory hungry". The more, newer software you install on your system, less free memory you will have. As soon as the OS runs out of free memory, it has to use virtual memory (i.e. hard disk), to compensate. Using virtual memory slows the system down a lot, usually at least 25%. So adding more memory so you do not have to use virtual memory will save you from that 25% performance hit.
    • Video Card: Depending on what kind of things you do on your computer, some software can be very graphics-intensive. Most computers out of the box are fitted with an average video card at the time of purchase. These cards can usually handle normal MS Windows and office automation software pretty well. That type of software is not very demanding on graphics. However, if you do things like video editing, watching DVDs or playing 2D and 3D games, the average video card will run out of horse power very quickly.

      If you run any graphics-intensive software on your computer, upgrading the video card may make a world of difference. There are two major OEM vendors now these days for graphics chips: Nvidia and ATI. Almost all commercial video cards are based on their graphics hardware, no matter what the actual brand name is on the box. Either is generally a good choice for an upgrade. You basically get what you pay for. Depending on how old your computer and video card are, even a low-end newer card will give you a boose in video performance. High-end cards these days are amazingly fast, with as much memory and cpu power as desktop PCs had only a few years ago. You should see a visible performance improvement in video/graphics rendering if you upgrade.

      Also, when chosing a card, if your motherboard has an AGP slot, choosing an AGP (advanced graphics port) card will give you a bigger boost over a PCI card.
    • CPU: This is usually the component people target first, but it's the most expensive of the four upgrades I'm listing here, that's why it's last. If you didn't buy "bleeding edge", then you should have some room for a CPU upgrade. There are two paths to take here:
      1. Buy the fastest cpu your existing motherboard can handle. By the time you are thinking about this, there should be plenty of used CPUs available. Hunt around on a place like eBay to find that CPU and active cooler (if needed). Try to find a cpu that will give you at least a 10% performance improvement (do some math on the difference in clock rates to get an idea). Anything less than that will probably not be noticeable.
      2. Buy a processor upgrade from a place like PowerLeap. These places specialize in CPU upgrades that usually bridge technology advances. You can take this path if your system is already maxed at the fastest CPU it can handle. I have used this technique pretty successfully. Make sure that your existing system is compatible though, and don't expect the raw performance increase to be as high as the difference in clock rates might indicate.

  • Eventually after performing the appropriate component upgrades, your computer will no longer be upgradable and it will be time to purchase a new system. Since new systems can be had for $500-1000, do not perform component upgrades that total more than about $500, as it makes more economic sense at that point to simply replace the entire system.
Performance Tuning

Another way to extend the life of your PC is to do some basic performance tuning and system care. I'm always amazed at how many people end up cripling their computer through various means of "software abuse". :-) There are some very basic techniques you can use to keep your system running cleanly for a long time to keep up that "fresh out of the box" performance. Here are a few tricks I've learned over the years.
  • Operating System:
    • Patches/Upgrades: Make sure you keep the system updated with security patches. This will defend you against viruses and worms. However, don't just patch the OS just because Microsoft suggests it. Many updates and new features will bloat the OS out with software that you either do not need or that will cause your system significant performance penalties. Only install upgrades based on true need.
    • Defragmentation: Check the fragmentation on all of your hard drives at least once a year, and let Windows optimize the disk if it's suggested. Fragmentation will slow down access on your hard drives, and thus your overall performance
    • Temporary Files: Windows throws temporary files in several places in the system drive (usually C:). Over time these can accumulate into a large number, sometimes taking up a significant amount of disk space. Windows NT/2000/XP puts temporary files in either C:\temp, C:\winnt\temp, or C:\Documents and Settings\**profile**\Local Settings\Temp (where **profile** is each login users profile folder). Clean out any ".tmp" files in these folders periodically. They are usually left behind by applications and are almost always no longer needed once the application exits.
  • Other Software:
    • Internet Explorer: Keep your IE browser cache and cookies clean. Over time the browser cache can grow to a very large size, making IE work very hard to manage it. Clean this out periodically by going to Tools->Internet Options in IE, then clicking on the "Delete Files..." button under Temporary Internet Files on the General tab in the Options dialog window. After doing that, click on "Settings", then "View Files..." in the Settings dialog window. This will show you the files in your IE cache (should now only be cookies after doing "Delete Files..."). Any cookie from a web site you do not recognize is probably ok to delete. Many of these are from internet Ads or other junk/spyware that you do not need.
    • Unused Software: Run "Add/Remove Programs" periodically under "Control Panel" to make sure you don't have software installed that's not being used. The "Last Used" date can give you an idea of how frequently items have been used. Anything you are not using any more should be uninstalled.
    • Spyware Remover: Install and use a good spyware removal software package. This will help you detect and remove various spy and AD programs that may have crept onto your system. I have used AdAware pretty successfully to keep my systems clean.
    • Install Sparingly: Pick and choose carefully any new software that you install. Make sure it's compatible with your version of windows and doesn't have any conflicts with any of the existing software you have installed. Resist the temptation to "download and install at will". This habit is the quickest way to bring your system to its knees.
    • BIOS Settings: Make sure your bios settings are optimized. Most PC's come out of the box with the correct BIOS settings for your system configuration. However, if you perform any of the hardware upgrades listed above, make sure you adjust your BIOS settings, if needed.
Internet Usage

Almost anything you do these days on a computer also requires internet usage. From searching for information to software maintenance, an internet connection is just about required for any PC user.

I have been using the internet since before it was called that. When I first started using the 'net at my first job, it was then called ARPAnet. Only the US Government, government contractors, and universities had access, usually at a whopping 10mbits per second or less. It was amazing what we could get done in those days, even with slow computers (by today's standards) and slow network connections.

So here are a few tips about the internet, learned over the past 20 years, which may be useful to you.
  • Faster is Better: with the availability of broadband connections (DSL, Cable, Satellite, Wi-Fi, etc.), it is well worth the slight extra cost of upgrading if you are still using a dial-up connection. You will see a massive increase in productivity with a faster network connection.
  • Be Wary: Today's internet is inhabited by all different kinds of people, the same mix you see in society in general, now that it is so ubiquitous. Do not fall into the trap of "it must be true because I found it on the Internet". There are just as many dishonst, fake things on the internet as you find in real life. In fact, I think that there are even more found there, since it is so much easier to hide your identity and find anonymity in the masses on line. Take everything you read, receive, download, etc. with a grain of salt. Trust only what has been proven to you to be authentic.
  • Surfing Safety: Having used web browsers since they were first invented, I started with NCSA Mosaic and have seen browsers advance to where they are today. I witnessed the entire Netscape vs. Internet Explorer war, and have seen many other browsers come and go. In today's world, if you surf with plain Internet Explorer, you are asking for trouble. Keep your IE and OS patched and use a popup blocker (Yahoo, Google, MSN, whatever). Personally, if I'm surfing unknown territory, I use Firefox. This will help protect you against unknown attackers when surfing unfamilar sites. I use IE for sites that I have found and trust, since in general most sites have probably been tested and function more reliably with IE.
  • e-Commerce Do's and Dont's: Being in the IT industry for many years, I inherently do not trust technology. I know that quality vs. cost is always an issue with software development. So I don't trust that any software is bug-free or not laden with security holes. Thus when using e-Commerce web sites, I'm always conservative with how I use/interact with them. Here are a few specific tips:
    • If you are inputting personal information, make sure the site is encrypted. I.e. make sure the URL has "https" in it.
    • Do not let the site save your personal information, if possible. Many sites allow you the "convenience" of saving your personal information (address, credit card, etc.). This just increases your risk of identity theft. It may also have privacy implications if you don't read the fine-print carefully.
    • Use a credit card with a low credit limit, never use a debit card! If for some reason your credit card information is compromised, this will limit the amount of damage the thief can do to you.
  • eMail is Your Friend: Use messaging wisely. It's probably one of the most powerful tools for communication. However, it can be abused in various ways. Here's a few bits of wisdom I've accumulated over the years:
    • Think before you write. Because it's harder to get intent across in a written medium, be careful in how you respond to or compose email messages. Don't respond in haste.
    • Don't send large attachments in email. Even with a broadband connection, they take a long time to download.
    • Don't open email attachments unless you are absolutely sure they came from a reliable source. Opening attachments without thinking is the quickest way to get a computer virus.
    • Don't fall prey to scams, chain letters or other "junk mail". Unfortunately most of the email we receive these days really is junk mail. Many spammers are very crafty in how they author their messages to look like legitimate ones. Only open and/or respond to a message if you are confident that it is legitimate.
    • Manage your inbox well. I use my email inbox as an action-item list. New mail that is received is either taken care of on the spot (responded to), filed for reference, or deleted. Anything left in my inbox after that is a message that requires an action to be taken and/or responded to. This will help you from getting an overwhelming number of messages in your inbox, or risk them being automatically deleted by your ISP.
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