Settings Windows XP Performance Options
On a Windows XP computer resources are allotted and managed according to the system settings. To enhance the performance of your PC, you need to use the System option available in the Windows Control Panel to change your system's memory and visual effects settings.Note: To perform the steps listed here, you need to log on with a user that has administrative rights to the system.
Steps to Modify Performance Options
To modify system settings and enhance the performance of your Windows XP computer, perform the following steps:
- Open the System Properties dialog box by running the sysdm.cpl command at Start > Run or select the System option in the Control Panel.
- On the Advanced tab, select the Settings button in the Performance section.
- Open the Advanced tab on the Performance Options dialog box that opens.
This tab provides various options that enable you to change the settings of how processor resources are allocated to programs and background services, how memory is utilized by your system, and the size of virtual memory or paging file.
- If you want to allot more resources to foreground programs-programs running in the currently active windows on the PC-then select the Programs option. If you want allot more resources to background programs, such as backup utility, select the Background services option.
- Next, in the Memory usage section, select System cache if your computer is a server or it runs applications that require larger cache. Otherwise, on workstations or user computers keep the settings at Programs.
- To modify the settings for the paging file, select the Change button.
- In the Virtual Memory dialog box that opens, select the Custom Size option, and then specify your Initial memory size and Maximum size in the text boxes provided and then select Set.
Note: It is recommended that for optimal performance you keep the Initial size settings 1.5 times the RAM on your PC and Maximum size at three times the size of the RAM. If you have a single hard disk with multiple partitions, you must keep the paging file on a single partition to ensure optimal PC performance.
- Select the OK button to exit the Virtual Memory dialog box.
- To make changes in the visual effects settings, open the Visual Effects tab.
There are many options available in your Windows XP system-3D look menus, visual styles on windows and buttons, and shadows under mouse points-that enhance its appearance. However, these options eat up a lot of system resources. Therefore, if you need to enhance the performance of your PC, you may disable some or all of these visual effects.
- On the Visual Effects tab, you can modify your visual settings to suit your needs. Select one of the following four options to define the visual effects that are best for your PC and select OK.
- Let Windows choose what's best for my computer: Select this opting to allow your Windows system to automatically select the visual effects that are best suited for your configuration.
- Adjust for best appearance: Select this option if you want to adjust your PC for best look and feel.
- Adjust for best performance: Select this option to disable visual effects that consume a lot of system resources and disabling which will improve the performance of your PC.
- Custom: Select this option and select the checkboxes of only those features that you want to enable on your system.
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