Optimizing a computer to improve performance while keeping the system stable is something that I really like to do.
The first thing that I do when I get a new computer is to get rid of useless software -- programs that I don't use or require -- and take a look at system settings to find ways to improve them.
The following list offers links to excellent freeware utilities that can be used to optimize and test your operating system. The list is divided into the categories benchmarking and hardware tweaks.
Benchmarking tools can be used to test the system before and after applying a tweak while the hardware tweak category links to programs that aid you in changing settings in the system related to hardware: think overclocking, adjusting features and such things.
Please feel free to add any utility that you are using or would recommend.
Benchmarking:
Note: New versions of benchmark programs may be out.
Hardware Tweaks:
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Another set of tools that will consume my processor and memory?
Most of the tools are not permanently in memory. If you don’t see a reason to use them don’t, it is that easy.
How about JkDefrag or any other defragmenter?
Autoruns – ultimate startup manager?
Pagedefrag from same team?
Why not famous Cacheman?
And – big question – isn’t it better to speak about _classes_ of software then about specific programs?
There are very many tweakers, optimizers, diagnostic tools – and tastes for them are differ. People can choose particular tool only because of it good look or specific hardware binding – as video tweakers for cards from Nvidia/Ati you talking about.
But I think people better use some program of _video_tweaker_class_ or some defragmenter anyway.
Being a “software counselor” for my friends and forum folks for many years, I find class systematic approach to software very useful. Don’t give a man specific software – give him or her choice, and teach them choosing ;)
Something like Snapfiles do – if you look to
http://www.snapfiles.com/freeware/freeware.html , you can in few minutes {or, possibly, hours, if you want to read more about programs of particular class} discover, what is different software for, and why one may need it.
Well CCleaner does help quite bit too…
As a long time user I am always frustrated by Windows running progressively more slowly until after two years it becomes unbearable and a complete OS and applications reinstall is required. I have tried dozens of recommended tools and never, not once, has one resulted in a performance improvement on the PC. The one and only MANUAL tweak that yielded benefits was by deleting the hardware hive and having to reinstall all the drivers. I would like to see a performance utility that allows management of this aspect of a PC.
agreed with @3, iobit smart defrag is a better alternative to windows slow defrag.