what are the worst things that slow computers?

red cloud · 19 Mar 2015, 03:41 AM

i say its Facebook and gmail account on Thunderbird

anything else?

adamlau · 21 Mar 2015, 05:41 AM

Microsoft Windows.

David · 21 Mar 2015, 07:08 AM

Malware, usually downloaded by unknowing users, who use Microsoft Windows.

EricG · 21 Mar 2015, 08:14 AM

Flash and javascript hogs in your browser. I use both IE 11 and FF, and disable flash (unless needed) in both. Discus is a javascript pig.

I can play 1280x720 MP4 video just fine in WMP or mpc-hc. However 360p Youtube video drops frames. Switching from flash to html5 is even worse. I just download the video if it's good.

I have an older Pentium 4 3Ghz system. When I only had 1GB ram the disks were thrashing with multiple browser tabs. An extra 2GB DDR2 was only $20. A DirectX 9 video card is also a must.

kijinbear · 21 Mar 2015, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Malware, usually downloaded by unknowing users, who use Microsoft Windows.

As well as the usual antidote for malware: the Antivirus!

Anyway, to approach this question from a slightly different perspective, the 5400rpm HDDs that ship with most entry-level laptops are probably the #1 reason why those computers are so slow. Replace it with a decent SSD and enjoy everything suddenly loading 10x faster!

red cloud · 30 Mar 2015, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kijinbear

As well as the usual antidote for malware: the Antivirus!

Anyway, to approach this question from a slightly different perspective, the 5400rpm HDDs that ship with most entry-level laptops are probably the #1 reason why those computers are so slow. Replace it with a decent SSD and enjoy everything suddenly loading 10x faster!

all interesting replies

Bamb0 · 12 Jan 2024, 02:25 PM

Plugins on your browser!!!

I only have 2 plugins

1) Enable Right click
2) View source

Toolbars can also slow it down...... I dont have any except what my browser has.......

hadaso · 12 Jan 2024, 09:57 PM

Old hard disks.
The old hard disk on my work PC was cloned to new hardware and then replaced. It was painfully slow before the disk replacement and now it's very fast.

TenFour · 13 Jan 2024, 01:22 AM

Old thread revival! IMHO the worst culprit is your operating system. I've wasted weeks of my life dealing with Windows problems, and almost as much time dealing with Apple problems. Linux is by far the fastest OS overall, and you can choose a distro that is especially fast and troublefree. For example, for most people a Chromebook with ChromeOS will be the fastest, most troublefree system. Once I moved my father to a Chromebook it ended my frequent tech support for him.

Bamb0 · 13 Jan 2024, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamlau

Microsoft Windows.

Yes when they send un-needed updates I hear it sure cause problems!!

hadaso · 14 Jan 2024, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TenFour

Old thread revival!

Not so old. My office PC is older.

Bamb0 · 14 Jan 2024, 06:06 AM

Thats good to hear my friend!

21 Mar 2015, 08:14 AM	#4
EricG Essential Contributor Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 296	Browsers and web bloat Flash and javascript hogs in your browser. I use both IE 11 and FF, and disable flash (unless needed) in both. Discus is a javascript pig. I can play 1280x720 MP4 video just fine in WMP or mpc-hc. However 360p Youtube video drops frames. Switching from flash to html5 is even worse. I just download the video if it's good. I have an older Pentium 4 3Ghz system. When I only had 1GB ram the disks were thrashing with multiple browser tabs. An extra 2GB DDR2 was only $20. A DirectX 9 video card is also a must.

19 Mar 2015, 03:41 AM	#1
red cloud Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: usa Posts: 49	what are the worst things that slow computers? i say its Facebook and gmail account on Thunderbird anything else?

21 Mar 2015, 05:41 AM	#2
adamlau Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 161	Microsoft Windows.

21 Mar 2015, 07:08 AM	#3
David Ultimate Contributor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Canada. Posts: 10,355	Malware, usually downloaded by unknowing users, who use Microsoft Windows.

12 Jan 2024, 02:25 PM	#7
Bamb0 Master of the @ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 1,873	Plugins on your browser!!! I only have 2 plugins 1) Enable Right click 2) View source Toolbars can also slow it down...... I dont have any except what my browser has.......

12 Jan 2024, 09:57 PM	#8
hadaso The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Holon, Israel. Posts: 4,855	Old hard disks. The old hard disk on my work PC was cloned to new hardware and then replaced. It was painfully slow before the disk replacement and now it's very fast.

13 Jan 2024, 01:22 AM	#9
TenFour Master of the @ Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: USA Posts: 1,739	Old thread revival! IMHO the worst culprit is your operating system. I've wasted weeks of my life dealing with Windows problems, and almost as much time dealing with Apple problems. Linux is by far the fastest OS overall, and you can choose a distro that is especially fast and troublefree. For example, for most people a Chromebook with ChromeOS will be the fastest, most troublefree system. Once I moved my father to a Chromebook it ended my frequent tech support for him.

14 Jan 2024, 06:06 AM	#12
Bamb0 Master of the @ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 1,873	Thats good to hear my friend!