I recently assembled a new desktop using leftover parts from 2021 after getting a semi-new machine from my job that was closing down its office. The original setup had two 500GB HDDs, and I removed the second one, which didn't have an OS (I wiped it clean and left it unformatted). Now, the new build uses a Ryzen 5 5600x, RTX 3060, and a B550 motherboard, but it's incredibly slow. Opening apps takes anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute, and sometimes they won't even load, forcing me to restart the PC. I've checked the RAM speed in the BIOS, and since the main drive has the OS, I doubt that's the issue. The original company desktop felt fast, even though it also had an HDD. What could be causing these performance issues?
3 Answers
You might want to consider switching to an SSD. If the company desktop was booting from the other drive or used an OS that performed better with HDDs (like Windows 7), that could explain the speed differences. SSDs greatly improve load times and overall responsiveness.
It's 2025, so investing in an SSD for your OS drive is a smart move. It will significantly enhance performance and is pretty essential for modern setups.
It sounds like your HDD might be the culprit. Since the original company PC had a second drive for the OS, it likely handled tasks more efficiently. If the OS is on a problematic drive, it could slow everything down, even basic navigation. I recommend checking the drive's health with a tool like CrystalDiskInfo. If it’s not in great shape, that could definitely be your issue.
I just ran CrystalDiskInfo, and it says my HDD's health status is 'good'. So I'm not sure what's happening.
Yeah, if all else fails, I'll definitely look into that.