5 Secrets For Sustaining A Laptop’s Peak Performance

Laptops have become a technological staple in our lives for both work and pleasure, but - just like vehicles - they can be very expensive if not cared for properly. Improper use and care can lead to dramatically underperforming laptops, and very angry owners.

It is important to understand how to sustain a laptop’s peak performance to ensure you get the most out of your investment. Here are five secrets for sustaining a laptop’s peak performance:

1. Eject CDs and DVDs After Use

This first secret seems like a no-brainer, but most laptop users still make this mistake often. If you leave a CD or DVD in after you are done using it while your laptop is not plugged in, your battery power gets eaten up like Cookie Monster at a bake sale. Do this often, and your laptop’s performance will deteriorate faster than it should. Whenever you are finished with a CD or DVD, eject it. Your laptop will thank you.

2. Disable Virtual Memory

Virtual memory enables laptops to use the hard-disk drives (HDD) to concurrently run more applications than their random access memory (RAM) could otherwise handle. But your HDD significantly slows down your laptop. Now that newer laptops come equipped with a minimum of 4GB or more of RAM, virtual memory is not necessary for most laptop users. Unless you are a heavy laptop user, 6GB of RAM is enough to shut off your virtual memory and sustain long-term peak performance.

3. Use a Wireless Keyboard and Mouse

If you use an external keyboard and mouse for your laptop, this next secret can be a game-changer in many ways. Wireless keyboards and mice run on their own battery, conserving your laptop’s power and providing you with the flexibility for a more mobile and ergonomic workspace. In fact, ergonomic keyboards and mice not only help your laptop perform well, but help you perform better as well.

4. Conserve Your Battery

Your laptop’s performance can be heavily dependent upon the battery’s condition. If you don’t take proper care of it - even in the margins - your laptop’s performance will soon slow to a crawl.

There are several different ways you can conserve your laptop’s battery life on a daily basis that will increase it’s overall performance and longevity:

- Your laptop should automatically switch to a power savings option when you run on the battery, but it is worth checking your ‘Power Options’ settings to make sure it is properly set.

- Switch off Wifi and bluetooth connections when you aren’t using them, especially if you are using wireless keyboards and mice.

- Leave your laptop plugged in while you use it. Experts recommend only run the battery down all the way every 30 charges or so in order to optimize it’s longevity.

5. Control Your Laptop’s Heat

One of the biggest laptop killers of performance is overheating. Excessive heat can cause circuits to fail faster, and dramatically shorten the lifespan of your laptop’s battery and peak performance. You need to take control of your laptop’s heating cycles by using an adjustable laptop desk stand. This simple office accessory can significantly change your laptop’s performance, and yours as well.

Laptop stands allow you to adjust the position of your screen and easily syncs any wireless keyboard and mouse. They are light weight, portable, and offer a superior, ergonomic experience for those long hours you spend each day working on your laptop.

If implemented into your daily workflow, these five secrets can make a dramatic difference to your laptop’s daily performance. Take care of your laptop properly, and it will sustain it’s peak performance and give you the most out of your investment.