Speed up and upgrade an old PC
Most slow old PCs are held back by a spinning hard drive, too little memory, or both. Do the free fixes first, then put money where it makes the biggest difference. If something seems broken rather than slow, start with Fix a problem.
https://oldpcguy.com/speed-and-upgrades/
Free fixes first, then the SSD and memory upgrades that help most, and what they cost right now.
Where to start
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How do I speed up an old laptop or PC?
Do the free fixes first, then swap a hard drive for an SSD and add memory if it's running short.
How-to · Updated -
Should I upgrade the SSD or RAM first?
If it still has a hard drive, the SSD, almost always. If it has an SSD but only 4 GB of memory, add memory.
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Should I upgrade my old PC or replace it?
Upgrade a PC from about 2018 on if the parts cost well under half of a refurbished replacement. Otherwise replace it.
Decision guide · Published
SSD & storage
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How do I clone a hard drive to an SSD?
Boot a free tool like Rescuezilla from a USB stick, copy the old drive to the SSD, then swap the SSD in.
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Does my laptop have an M.2 slot?
If Windows shows an NVMe drive, yes. Otherwise check the maker's spec sheet for your exact model, or open the cover.
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Memory
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How much RAM do I need for Windows 11?
8 GB for everyday use, 16 GB to be comfortable with lots of tabs or for a PC you'll keep for years.
Quick answer · Updated
The order I'd do it in
- Find the cause. Diagnose a slow computer with Task Manager.
- Try the free fixes. Startup apps, cleanup, and power settings. Free ways to speed up an old laptop.
- Swap the hard drive for an SSD if it still has one. Clone the old drive so nothing needs reinstalling.
- Add memory if Task Manager shows you running short. How much RAM you need.