Windows 8 Bible

Wrap-Up

The components of your computer system that most affect performance are its CPU and memory, but hard drive performance also affects overall system performance. (Internet access speed is determined primarily by the bandwidth of your Internet connection but can also be affected by slow system performance.) As an alternative to buying a faster computer, you can do some things to make your current computer run faster, and keep it running at top speed. The main points in this chapter are as follows:

• The System Information program provides detailed information about all the components that make up your computer system.
• To ensure that your computer is responsive to your every mouse click and keyboard tap, Windows automatically prioritizes programs as foreground (high-priority) and background (low-priority) tasks.
• When your system runs out of physical memory (RAM), Windows automatically uses a portion of the hard drive as virtual memory to handle the overflow.
• ReadyBoost uses flash memory to store frequently accessed disk files to provide a faster, more fluid computing experience.
• If your computer is usually sluggish and unresponsive, consider turning off some of Windows 8’s visual effects.
• The speed of your hard drive determines how long it takes to open and save files.
• To keep your hard drive running at top speed, consider deleting temporary files, scanning for and fixing bad sectors, and defragmenting the drive a couple of times a year.
• Power settings play a role in your system’s ...