Youth Incorporated Magazine

A badly-performing PC can be extremely frustrating. If you’re waiting too long for the system to boot and for files to load or are unable to stay competitive at your favorite video games, you’ll likely want to increase performance. Whether your PC’s performance has degraded over time or due to other factors, there are useful apps that can give it a boost. Here are some of the best in 2023:

VPN for online security and privacy

VPNs are often region-specific and have been popularized for granting users access to foreign content libraries on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. However, VPNs also have significant benefits for online security and privacy. 

Let’s consider products like ExpressVPN for Indian users. Whilst VPNs themselves aren’t legal within India, this service essentially allows Indian travelers to access the ‘home’ version of their Netflix profiles, as well as the various regional-specific titles within this library, whilst away for business or leisure. 

In addition, this VPN protects online security so that even if an individual were to access their emails or private and confidential data whilst on a public, shared WiFi, their information would be encrypted. With no activity logs, the VPN would prevent users from being tracked by ISPs, hackers, or other unauthorized parties. 

Regardless of where you’re based, it’s always worth thinking about small but incredibly effective tools like VPNs. Browse away but with the security that only VPNs can grant you.

CCleaner for freeing disk space and increasing speed

CCleaner is a popular system optimization tool that can clean up unnecessary system files to free up disk space and improve overall performance.

The tool scans your PC for temporary files, browser caches, and other unnecessary files. It then safely removes these cluttered files, freeing up disk space. It also offers a registry cleaner to identify and fix issues in the Windows registry, helping optimize system stability and speed.

CCleaner has free version for basic system cleaning and a paid “CCleaner Professional” version that adds real-time monitoring, automatic updates, and advanced registry cleaning.

MSI Afterburner for improving graphics performance

MSI Afterburner is a popular, free app primarily designed for MSI GPUs (graphics cards). However, it also supports other GPU brands. It lets the user increase their GPU’s settings (often known as “overclocking”) beyond the stock default settings. This can lead to better gaming and rendering performance.

It also lets users monitor GPU temperature, usage, fan speeds, and clock speeds in real-time and adjust fans to prevent overheating. There’s even an OSD (on-screen display) feature that displays critical system information like FPS (frames per second) and temperatures during gameplay.

However, it’s worth remembering that overclocking does have risks and can lead to overheating and instability if not carried out correctly. Make sure you understand the risks and follow the guidelines before attempting overclocking with any app.

Built-in OS apps

Most OSs (operating systems) have a number of built-in applications that can improve performance. For example, Windows operating systems include:

• MSConfig: allows you to manage startup programs. Disabling unnecessary startup programs can reduce boot times and free up system resources.
• Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter: let you remove unnecessary files to free space, increase speed, and improve user experience.
• Windows Update: Keeping your operating system up-to-date is crucial for security and performance improvements. Make sure to install Windows updates regularly.
• Performance Monitor: lets you monitor the performance of your system and how it responds to any changes or new apps.

Other operating systems have different variations on these tools. 

Other ways to boost performance

There are many other ways to improve your PC’s performance. You can manually remove unwanted files and programs to reduce CPU load and increase speeds, or you can even consider replacing physical components with newer, more advanced ones. However, these apps can all have significant impacts on your machine’s speed, security, and overall user experience.