An ideally optimized laptop requires the perfect mix of hardware and software. However, as a new laptop user, you may not be aware of all the hardware that affects your laptop’s speed, thus affecting your laptop’s performance.
There are various hardware used in laptops, and each of them affects the speed and performance of your laptop in its own way.
In this article, we will take you through all the hardware used in laptops and how each of them affects the laptop’s speed and performance. Also, we will provide tips on how you can optimize your laptop’s hardware for the best performance.
Hardware That Affects Laptop performance And How To Optimize It
1. Processor
One of the most important hardware components that affect laptop performance is the processor. A laptop’s processor or CPU (Central Processing Unit) is responsible for carrying out all the instructions given by the software.
The speed of the processor is measured in GHz (gigahertz), and the higher the GHz, the faster the processor. A laptop with a higher GHz will be able to carry out instructions faster and will be faster than a laptop with a lower GHz.
To get the best performance from your laptop’s processor, you should ensure that the processor is not overworked. You can do this by closing all applications and programs that you are not using.
2. Memory or RAM
Another important hardware component that affects laptop performance is memory or RAM (Random Access Memory). RAM is responsible for storing all the data currently being used by the laptop.
The more data stored in the RAM, the slower the laptop will be. This is because the laptop will take longer to access the data that is stored in the RAM.
To get the best performance from your laptop’s RAM, you should ensure that you have enough RAM. The minimum amount of RAM that you should have is 4GB. However, if you want to use programs that require a lot of memory, such as video editing or gaming, you should have 8GB or more.
3. Storage
Another hardware component that affects laptop performance is storage. Storage is responsible for storing all the data that is not currently being used by the laptop., such as your operating system, applications, and files.
The speed of the storage is measured in RPM (revolutions per minute), and the higher the RPM, the faster the storage. A laptop with a higher RPM will be able to access data stored on the storage faster and will, therefore, be faster than a laptop with a lower RPM.
To improve laptop performance, you should ensure that you have enough storage. The minimum amount of storage that you should have is 256GB. However, if you want to store a lot of data, such as videos or photos, you should have 512GB or more.
4. Graphics Card Type
Whether you’re a gamer or a creative professional, the graphics processing unit or GPU is an important laptop component that affects your laptop’s speed. The GPU is responsible for rendering images and graphics that you see on the laptop’s screen.
There are two types of graphics cards – integrated and dedicated. An integrated graphics card is one that is built into the laptop’s motherboard. A dedicated graphics card, on the other hand, is a separate component that is not built into the motherboard.
Optimizing your laptop’s graphics card is simple – all you need to do is update the drivers regularly. Keeping your laptop’s graphics card drivers up-to-date will ensure that you have the latest and greatest features that can improve laptop performance.
5. Motherboard & Slots
The motherboard is one of the most important hardware components of a laptop, as it houses all the other components. It is responsible for connecting all the other hardware components and allowing them to communicate with each other.
One of the things that affect laptop performance is the number of slots on the motherboard. The more slots there are, the more devices can be connected to the laptop, and the faster it will be.
To get the best performance from your laptop’s motherboard, you should ensure that all the slots are being used. You can do this by adding more memory or an extra hard drive.
6. L1, L2 & L3 Cache
L1, L2, and L3 cache are types of memory that are used to store data that is frequently accessed by the laptop. The data that is stored in the cache is accessed faster than the data that is stored in the RAM.
The L1 cache is the smallest and fastest type of cache, while the L3 cache is the largest and slowest type of cache. The L2 cache is in between the L1 and L3 cache in terms of size and speed.
Laptop performance can be improved by increasing the size of the L1 and L2 cache. However, this is not possible on all laptops as the cache is built into the laptop’s CPU. Alternatively, you can try to increase the laptop’s RAM, as this will also help to improve laptop performance.
7. Clock Speed
Another factor that affects laptop performance is clock speed. Clock speed is the number of cycles per second that a processor can carry out. It is measured in MHz (megahertz).
The higher the clock speed, the faster the processor. A laptop with a higher clock speed will be able to carry out instructions faster than a laptop with a lower clock speed and will, therefore, be faster.
You can try to increase the clock speed of your laptop by overclocking it. However, overclocking can be dangerous and should only be done by experienced users.
8. Data Bus Width
Last but not least, the data bus width is another factor that affects laptop performance. The data bus is the pathway that data takes from one component to another. The wider the data bus, the more data can travel through it at one time.
A laptop with a wider data bus will be able to transfer data faster than a laptop with a narrower data bus. As a result, it will be faster.
To increase the data bus width of your laptop, you will need to upgrade the motherboard.
Conclusion
There are many hardware components that affect laptop performance. Some of these components can be upgraded, while others cannot. By upgrading the components that can be upgraded, you will be able to increase your laptop’s speed and performance.
When you rent or buy laptops from BackClick, you don’t need to worry about any of these things. We make sure that all of our laptops are equipped with the latest hardware so that you can get the best performance possible.
