Here are some easy tips and tricks to rejuvenate your old PC.
Is Upgrading an Old PC or Laptop Worth It?
So let’s look at inexpensive ways to make an older computer feel fast and fresh again.
Jason Fitzpatrick / How-To Geek
it’s possible for you to get some of that snappy-new-computer feeling by upgrading.
Better yet, the price of SSDs has tumbled over the years.
you’re free to pick up a decent size SSD from a reputable company for dirt cheap now.
This is still one of the best SATA SSDs available, making it a great option for replacing a hard drive in an old PC.
Here’sa 480GB Kingston SSD for $26and a1TB Crucial SSD for only $52.
Just swapping out a dusty old mechanical hard drive for an inexpensive SSD is a massive upgrade.
Here’show to clone your existing hard driveif you don’t want to start from scratch with your new SSD.
Compressed air will help you get the dust out and cool off your PC.
Here’sa basic Crucial-brand laptop 16GB (8GB x 2)kit for only $35.
But it’s especially wise on older computers as there has been more time for more clutter to accumulate.
Haven’t used iTunes in ages?
Who knew upgrading your old PC to support Bluetooth 5.0 could be so cheap?
And if you’re not using the software anymore, get rid of it.
Here are sometips for WindowsandmacOSto help you tidy up.
There arelightweight Linux distros like Puppy Linuxthat can run on older hardware.
Sometimes, there are no obvious warning signs.
The computer just runs slower, tasks seem to take longer, and so on.
Compressed air will help you get the dust out and cool off your PC.
The difference between the little hockey-puck cooler that came with the PC and something beefier likea tower-style cooleris significant.
While you’re at it, you might consider swapping out or addingcase fans.
Reapply Thermal Paste
If you upgrade the CPU cooler, you’ll have to replacethe thermal paste.
But if you’re not upgrading the CPU cooler, it’s not something that might cross your mind.
Thermal paste doesn’t last forever.
Over years and years of use, it can dry out or otherwise lose effectiveness.
“Repasting” is the process of cleaning off the old thermal paste and applying new paste.
The same goes for things like missing Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity.
No problem,adding Bluetooth to a PCis as simple as buyinga cheap Bluetooth adapter.
Who knew upgrading your old PC to support Bluetooth 5.0 could be so cheap?
The same goes for adding Wi-Fi—adapters are cheap and plentiful.
Just because your rig predates Wi-Fi 6 doesn’t mean you might’t give it a little upgrade.
), all leave a lot to be desired.
It’s worth gettinga new mouseandkeyboardif your old ones are unpleasant to use.
Life’s too short for the misclicks of a worn-out mouse.
