Is Your PC running too Slow?
Similar to any machine or system a PC can require a bit of careful thought and maintenance in order to keep it running smoothly. When you buy a new computer it is unlikely you will experience any problems with its performance rate. Overtime you may notice your computer takes increasingly longer to process simple tasks. There are several steps you can take to improve the quality of your PC which we have explained below.
Running too many Programs
Depending on the power of your PC you may experience a reduction in output from running too many programs. Opening multiple windows of internet explorer may cause your PC to run slowly. Or programs such as Word or any other program may slow your PC if they are engaged in tasks.
You can tell how many programs are running by looking at the task bar which runs horizontally along the bottom of the screen. Immediately to the right of the start button are tabs (known as taskbar buttons) which have the icon of the program in use or descriptive text next to them (for example an internet explorer button will have a small icon of the explorer logo and the title of the page being viewed).
If there are more programs running than available space on the taskbar the icons will either squash next to each other or if there are multiple versions of the same 
program running they will stack on top of each other with numbers indicating how many are open. This is an immediately obvious way to notice if you are putting to much strain on your system.
As well as conventional programs which you can monitor on screen your PC is also managing other applications behind the scenes. There can be innumerable programs active, the combination of which can cause your PC to stop functioning without any visible explanation. To find out if this is the cause of the problem you can run a self diagnostic program. The program will scan your computer to locate any potential problems and then report back to you.
If you are downloading files from the internet this may also cause your PC to slow down. To improve the runtime of your PC close all non essential programs. If your PC is still running slowly (particularly if there is a large or multiple downloads taking place) then it may be better to leave it until the download is complete.
Internet Related Problems
Problems can be experienced with applications online which may reduce the running speed of online features. This may not necessarily be a problem with your PC.
A slowing down in Internet performance is commonly known as lag. Whilst all data sent or received will have a lag of a few seconds prolonged lagging can become irritable. Lagging often affects people playing games online and also applies to delays whilst waiting for text to download onto web pages amongst other issues.
Lag is commonly caused by delays in sending data across different servers. Data passing through routers can become misdirected and sent through too many routers.
Online computer games servers may reduce in output due to too much use. This is effectively server traffic as each individual is required to wait in line for their information to be processed.
Lag can also become more noticeable if there is a strain on your server. As previously mentioned in the running too many programs section there can be literally hundreds of programs running behind the scenes. As these take up your available processor power your PC cannot handle the excess strain and consequently your connection will lag.
A self diagnostic program will help to detect any obstructive programs running behind the scenes. To avoid excessive lagging it is recommended to be selective when using programs such as peer to peer downloading software and to be cautious when downloading material in general. Some programs may contain spyware that monitor the activity of your computer. As the spyware functions it will use a considerable amount of processor power which will cause a noticeable lag.