Speed up your computer by adjusting Windows Graphics

February 20, 2010

Windows allocates resources according to its settings and manages devices and programs accordingly. However, you can change these performance options and how Windows manages them.

Adjusting Windows’ graphics for best performance will noticeably increase the speed of your computer. This is specially true for older PCs with limited resources. You just trade off some animations and other visual effects for added performance, which in most cases is preferable.

Here’s how to do it:

Windows XP

To adjust visual effects for best performance in XP:

  • Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Performance and Maintenance -> System.
  • Go to the Advanced tab then click the settings button under Performance. You will be on the Visual Effects Tab.
  • Select button that says ‘Adjust for best performance’ and then hit OK.
  • That is it. Your computer should run a bit faster and all you lost were some graphics and animations.

Windows Vista

To adjust all visual effects for best performance in Vista:

  • Go to Start -> Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> clicking Performance Information and Tools.
  • Click “Adjust Visual Effects”. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
  • Click the Visual Effects tab, click Adjust for best performance, and then click OK.
  • As an intermediate stop, select Let Windows choose what’s best for my computer. If this is still too slow then select “adjust for best performance”.

 

See also: