I have a desktop built around an i5 6420P processor, paired with 16GB of RAM, a Gigabyte H1102M-S2 motherboard, and a 500GB HDD. It's been unused for about 6 years and originally served as a basic office machine for tasks like using MS Office and internet browsing. Now, I want to repurpose it for my kids to use at home for tasks like using Word, accessing Google Classroom, printing, and watching YouTube. However, it's running very slow, taking a long time to boot and load applications. I need advice on what upgrades would help speed it up.
3 Answers
Upgrading to an SSD and doing a fresh install of Windows would make a huge difference! You can expect boot times around 30-40 seconds and apps will open in just 1-2 seconds. Just a heads-up, since your motherboard doesn't have an M.2 slot, you'll need an adapter for an NVMe SSD. Also, check if your RAM is running in dual channel; upgrading to 2x8GB would boost multitasking performance significantly.
I recommend adding an SSD, but if you're considering different types, a SATA SSD could work too! It might be a bit slower than NVMe, but it will still be faster than your existing HDD. Just be sure to check your hardware compatibility.
A simple switch to an SSD should take care of most of the slowness you're experiencing. It’s one of the best upgrades you can do for an older system. For anyone only doing basic office work and watching videos, a graphics card isn't necessary—your current setup will handle that just fine.
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