It’s quite normal for laptops to experience a decline in performance as time passes. Fortunately, there are several ways to revitalize your device— from updating drivers and optimizing processor speed to assessing the health of your storage solutions. Many of these fixes can be easily undertaken by even the most inexperienced users.
The following five strategies will guide you toward enhancing your laptop’s performance and stability, helping you enjoy a better computing experience without the need for a new device.
Update Drivers and BIOS/UEFI
Before diving into optimization, ensure your laptop’s hardware drivers and BIOS/UEFI are updated. These updates often include performance enhancements and improved power management capabilities from the manufacturer. Most laptop brands come equipped with their own driver update utilities, which allow you to check for available updates with just a click.
When updating, make sure to only select those updates that correspond to your specific laptop model to avoid compatibility issues.
Tip: You can frequently find the latest drivers from the manufacturers of your laptop’s components, such as the CPU, GPU, or WLAN card.
Overclocking the Laptop Processor
If you’re looking to boost performance further, consider overclocking your CPU. Depending on your processor brand, you can utilize tools like AMD’s Ryzen Master or Intel’s Extreme Tuning Utility. These applications let you adjust the clock speed and core voltage using sliders.
Take care to make changes incrementally, testing for stability after each adjustment. Aida64 Extreme offers a “System Stability Test” that you can use for this purpose. Aim to increase the core voltage in small increments—around 10 millivolts—particularly when nearing the maximum allowable value.
Note: Not all laptop models support overclocking, and some manufacturers might disable this feature entirely.
Optimize Battery Performance
Using BatteryCare can provide valuable insights into your laptop’s battery health, such as the current charge level and estimated runtime. The “Detailed Info” section reveals discharge rates and battery wear percentages.
In the “Options” menu, you can configure BatteryCare to alert you about certain battery thresholds, such as when the remaining charge dips below a particular level or when it reaches a certain capacity during charging.
Monitor Drive Integrity
To keep tabs on your SSD or HDD, CrystalDiskInfo is an excellent tool. It gives you an overview of the health and operating temperature of your storage device and displays SMART values that can help you identify potential issues. This monitoring can assist in backing up critical files or your entire system before any potential drive failure.
Particularly for hard drives used as system drives, regular health checks are essential. If CrystalDiskInfo fails to recognize your storage, you might need to use the specific diagnostic tool provided by your drive’s manufacturer.
Additionally, tools like Aida64 Extreme or the Device Manager’s “Drives” menu can help you identify the brand of SSD in your laptop.
Check Your Wi-Fi Connection
For those on the move, evaluating your laptop’s Wi-Fi connection stability and speed can be done using InSSIDer. This tool allows you to assess the signal strength and speed of wireless networks from various locations.
If you find that your signal is weak, especially in areas like your balcony, consider easy fixes like purchasing a repeater to extend the range or changing your router’s channel for a more reliable connection. With these adjustments, you can enjoy fast internet access outdoors.
InSSIDer is also useful for pinpointing the best spot for connection in public hotspots.
