Question How do I run old laptop faster?!

[Mason Howard]

Do SSDs and more RAM still help a lot these days? Any tips to keep it from overheating or lagging??

 

[LordVile]

That!! Others say it won't. :|

They meant it qualifies to not work.

You need to get a new laptop at this point. Any investment into it now is just a waste of money.

 

[Mason Howard]

This sounds the only solution now...

 

[bendenvor111]

Speeding up an old laptop can definitely breathe new life into it, and there are a few effective ways to do it depending on the machine’s age, hardware, and what you're using it for. Start with the basics: clean up the software. Uninstall programs you don’t use, disable startup apps you don’t need, and run a malware scan to make sure something sneaky isn’t slowing things down. Then update your operating system and drivers, sometimes performance issues are due to outdated software.


If you're still running a traditional hard drive (HDD), upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD) is by far the most dramatic performance boost you can get. It makes everything faster, boot times, program launches, file access, you name it. Adding more RAM also helps, especially if the system has 4GB or less and you multitask often. If you're not sure how much memory you're using, you can check it in Task Manager (on Windows) or Activity Monitor (on macOS).


You might also consider reinstalling the operating system or switching to a lightweight version like Linux (e.g., Linux Mint or Ubuntu) if the laptop is really old and Windows feels too heavy. That can completely transform how snappy the system feels.


Lastly, don’t forget physical maintenance. Dust buildup in the fans and vents can cause overheating, which slows down performance. A quick clean can make a noticeable difference. Let me know what model you have or what OS you're running and I can give more targeted advice.