Improve Your Memory
How's your memory? Is your processor in over its head?
Having a bazillion-bits-per-second online connection hooked up to an
underpowered computer is like filling a Dixie cup with a fire hose. A slow
processor and too little RAM are major setbacks to a vibrant Net
connection.
If you hear the hard disk thrashing when there's no
activity onscreen, you've run short of RAM. Your system is swapping bits
of data to and from your hard disk's virtual memory cache. And if the
machine pauses unexpectedly, and you don't hear your hard disk thrashing,
the poor processor is straining under the weight of all that code you're
running.
So, how do you deal with chronic CPU or RAM overloads?
Before you rush to invest more money in your system, try closing the
programs you're not using. That frees up memory instantly and releases
other system resources, too. Sure, it's a pain to open and close Excel or
Photoshop several times a day, but it could save you a lot more in
connection time.
If that's not helpful, hit the upgrade road. In general,
buying more RAM is a cheaper and easier upgrade than buying a new PC, and
the benefits are substantial. A shortage of RAM causes the biggest delays
in the widest variety of computing tasks, including surfing the Web. If
you have less than 64MB on a Windows 98 machine, you need to add more RAM.
For other hardware-related tips, read on.
Optimize Your Hardware
Having a fast processor doesn't automatically give you a fast Internet
connection. Performance bottlenecks within your system can still make or
break an Internet connection, and your hard drive may be the cause. Your
drive contains two important file areas: a virtual memory swap file and a
folder that contains your browser's cache files. The drive's ability to
access these areas can either speed up or slow down your browser and your
Net connection.
Defrag Your Drive
Windows allocates both the swap file and the cache dynamically, meaning
your hard drive finds space for them wherever it can. If they end up in
inconvenient places, your hard disk will waste time looking for them.
You'll know because you'll hear the drive spinning as you surf. So it's
crucial to keep your hard disk defragmented, or optimized,
especially if you hear it milling around as you experience holdups in your
Web connection.
Windows comes with its own defragmentation program. For
best results, run it once a month.
To use Windows 95/98's defragmentation tool:
1.
Double-click the My Computer icon and right-click the hard
drive.
2.
Select Properties, click the Tools tab and Defragment Now.
You can monitor its progress (and get a graphic representation of how
fragmented your drive is) by clicking Show Details.
It's also important to keep your hard drive from getting
too full. Large drives are cheaper and faster than ever, so keep that in
mind if you're upgrading.
And don't forget to update your software regularly. The
newest versions of drivers and utilities are usually faster than the older
versions, so always use current Windows service packs and updates, modem
drivers, and TCP/IP stacks. If you're not sure what's been updated, check
your software vendors' Web sites.
As a shortcut, use McAfee's free PC CheckUp Center to
determine which software updates you need.
Pump Up Your Serial Port
Once your hard drive is in tune, take a quick look at your serial port to
make sure that it's running at its fastest. To do this, you have to put
all of its data buffers (temporary storage areas) to work. As its
name suggests, a serial port sends data in a series--a stream of
information bits, one after the other. To optimize that data stream, your
serial port has two small but important buffers in which it temporarily
saves information that piles up when the incoming or outgoing data stream
gets out of sync. Each buffer can hold up to 16 bytes of data, just enough
to make a big difference when your computer and modem communicate. Windows
lets you choose the amount of buffer space your serial port uses, but if
you're using a Pentium-grade system with a fast (14.4 kbps or higher)
modem, you'll want to maximize those settings. Here's how.
1.
In Windows 98, click the Start button. Select
Settings/Control Panel, then double-click the System icon.
2.
Select the Device Manager tab.
3.
Under Modem, select the one you're using and click the
Connection tab.
4.
Under Port Settings, move the sliders right to increase the
capacity of the Receive Buffer.
