• Aggravationstation@feddit.uk
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    7 days ago

    People want shiny new things. I’ve had relatives say stuff like “I bought this computer 2 years ago and it’s getting slower, it’s awful how you have to buy a new one so quickly.” I suggest things to improve it, most of which are free or very cheap and I’d happily do for them. But they just go out and buy a brand new one because that’s secretly what they wanted to do in the first place, they just don’t want to admit they’re that materialistic.

      • deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz
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        7 days ago

        Clean the fans.

        Reinstall the os clean. That’s usually why a new computer feels snappy: it’s just fresh.

      • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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        6 days ago

        Free:

        • clean fans and heatsink - others mentioned, and the reason is better cooling so it doesn’t throttle
        • kill unnecessary services - that’s why reinstalling works
        • install Linux - not reasonable for everyone, but Linux uses far fewer resources
        • delete old files - as disks get full, it takes longer to find somewhere for files to go; try to leave 10-20% free
        • try a small overclock - many older CPUs can give a little more without upgrading cooling; only do it if temps look good

        Relatively cheap (<$200 each):

        • upgrade drive to NVMe - huge difference if running an HDD, still noticeable of running a SATA SSD
        • add more RAM (only if you’re constantly running out)
        • upgrade CPU - esp if AMD since they release lots of CPUs for the same socket

        It really depends on what’s making it slow though.

    • Tikiporch@lemmy.world
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      6 days ago

      Maybe your relatives don’t like you. It’s a petty but valid reason to ignore perfectly good advice.

    • VitabytesDev@feddit.nl
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      6 days ago

      I have heard that Windows underclocks your CPU over time, to make you buy a new computer, and so Microsoft can get money from the new PC’s preinstalled Windows license.

      I am not really sure if that’s true though.

    • kwomp2@sh.itjust.works
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      6 days ago

      People live in times of historic standstill. Society barely develops in a meaningful and hopeful way. Social relationships stagnate or decline. So they look for a feeling of progress and agency in participation in the market and consuming.

      They don’t realize this because they aren’t materialistic enough, in a sense that they don’t analyse their condition as a result of political and cultural configuration of their lives so that real agency seems unavailable