I've been struggling to get my low-end PC to run smoothly, despite trying countless tutorials. My specs are as follows: an AMD E2-7012 APU with AMD Radeon R2 Graphics running at 1.50 GHz, 4 GB of RAM (with only 3.42 GB usable), and an AMD Radeon R2 Graphics card. It's a 64-bit operating system on an x64-based processor. Google Chrome lags terribly on this machine. Are there any hidden tricks to speed this thing up without investing in a new computer, or is it a hopeless situation?
4 Answers
Considering the specs, pushing this PC to perform better will be challenging. If possible, add as much RAM as your motherboard allows, get an SSD, and think about switching to a lightweight OS like Puppy Linux. That could really enhance performance without spending much.
Honestly, for such an old setup, it might be time to look for a used or refurbished PC with at least 6 cores, 16 GB of RAM, and some decent storage. You can find good deals for around $300 Canadian. If upgrading isn't an option, there's also the ChromeOS Flex as a lightweight OS alternative.
This laptop was considered low-end even when it was new. If you can’t find parts to upgrade it at a reasonable price, saving up for a new machine could be the more practical solution. Trying to put more money into this one may not yield the results you're hoping for.
One of the best things you can do is install an SSD. It'll make a huge difference in load times and overall system responsiveness. If you can, upgrade your RAM to the maximum allowed by your motherboard too.
I totally agree! I've had success with lightweight Linux distros on older hardware, making even a 2007 machine usable for everyday tasks without any major upgrades.