Laptops that cost less are those with the Intel Celeron or Intel Atom processor, which almost always have an integrated Intel graphics card.
When looking for a computer that costs no more than 300 Euros, you usually end up choosing a laptop with an Intel Celeron processor, which is the family of cheaper processors than the Intel i3, i5 and i7, or the Intel Atom, which they are the processors that consume less energy.
With this type of processor, the computer will never have the power to run video games or heavy programs and will have to be optimized to best mitigate the weaknesses of a CPU that is always limited in processing speed.
Having bought one recently, we see here how to optimize a laptop with an Intel Celeron processor and an integrated Intel video card, with indications that also apply to Intel Atom PCs or laptops with low RAM and low-level hardware resources, to bring it to maximum performance.
First of all, if we bought a laptop that costs little Celeron processor, we can significantly improve the performance of the laptop by making two hardware changes: changing the hard disk with an SSD and increasing the RAM .
If the Celeron processor is 64 bit and we have installed Windows 10 64 bit, we can mount an 8 GB RAM bank inside the laptop, greatly increasing the memory.
With an SSD, then, we can gain speed for loading each program and have a fast computer startup.
READ ALSO: Difference between SSD and Hard disk
Not on all laptops it is possible to change hard drives, but generally it is always possible to mount a new RAM card in addition to the present one or replace the current one (be careful only to buy the right one by checking the instruction manual of the laptop).
READ ALSO: Which RAM to choose to improve the most important part of the computer.
Having the Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 or even Windows 7 system on the laptop, there are some options that can optimize the laptop even if the processor is not the best .
1) Optimize Windows laptop performance
The first option to be modified to speed up the Celeron or Intel Atom laptop, and also with little RAM and integrated video card, is found by going to Control Panel> System and Security> System, then press on Advanced system settings on the side right and then press, in the window that opens, on the Settings button under the Performance section.
The options screen allows you to choose custom settings or automatically configure maximum performance.
If you choose custom settings, be sure to turn off all animations anyway.
The following options should certainly be disabled:
- Controls and animated elements inside the windows
- Animate windows when enlarged or reduced
- Animations on the taskbar
- Menu with fading or scrolling effect
- Display hint with fading or scrolling effect
- Dissolve menu items after click
- Show shadows under the windows
- Open combo boxes with scroll effect
NOTE: There is also a trick to make Windows lighter and menus faster by editing a registry key.
2) Optimize the Intel Celeron or Atom processor
Since you can't overclock an Intel Celeron or Intel Atom processor, it's important, at least, to make sure it always runs at full speed.
On Windows, this can be done in the energy saving options.
You must then go back to the Control Panel and then to Hardware and Sound> Power Options .
From here, you can immediately select the high performance profile or, to obtain a decent battery life, press the link to change the settings of the balanced profile .
Then click on " Change advanced energy saving settings " and modify the following menu items, only in the parts relating to the power supply (ie when the plug is connected ).
- Disable Hard disk: 60 minutes or more.
- Internet Explore> Maximum performance
- Wireless card> Maximum performance
- USB settings> sleep disabled
- Intel Graphic Settings Powerplan: Maximum performance
- PCI Express> Moderate energy savings
- Processor energy savings: Maximum level 100%
- Desktop wallpaper settings> presentation> suspended.
3) Intel graphics card options
If the laptop has an Intel integrated card, right-click on the desktop background and open the Graphics Properties.
Then go to the 3D section and configure general settings by selecting Performance .
Then go to the Energy section and select the Maximum Performance in the graphics energy saving plan.
4) Fixed paging file
This operation, which is now superfluous on modern computers, still has a good impact on PCs with little RAM and weak processor.
I therefore recommend going to Control Panel> System and Security> System, press on Advanced System Settings and then press on the Settings button under Performance and go to the Advanced tab .
Here press the Change button at the bottom, under the virtual memory section, uncheck the option at the top "manage paging file size automatically", press on Custom size and put 2000 and 2000 at the initial and maximum sizes.
READ ALSO: Virtual memory: setting up the Windows paging file
Obviously, then, to optimize any Windows laptop, all the other recommendations already listed in the various guides apply to:
- Optimize Windows to have a fast PC
- Speed up your PC to the max
When looking for a computer that costs no more than 300 Euros, you usually end up choosing a laptop with an Intel Celeron processor, which is the family of cheaper processors than the Intel i3, i5 and i7, or the Intel Atom, which they are the processors that consume less energy.
With this type of processor, the computer will never have the power to run video games or heavy programs and will have to be optimized to best mitigate the weaknesses of a CPU that is always limited in processing speed.
Having bought one recently, we see here how to optimize a laptop with an Intel Celeron processor and an integrated Intel video card, with indications that also apply to Intel Atom PCs or laptops with low RAM and low-level hardware resources, to bring it to maximum performance.
First of all, if we bought a laptop that costs little Celeron processor, we can significantly improve the performance of the laptop by making two hardware changes: changing the hard disk with an SSD and increasing the RAM .
If the Celeron processor is 64 bit and we have installed Windows 10 64 bit, we can mount an 8 GB RAM bank inside the laptop, greatly increasing the memory.
With an SSD, then, we can gain speed for loading each program and have a fast computer startup.
READ ALSO: Difference between SSD and Hard disk
Not on all laptops it is possible to change hard drives, but generally it is always possible to mount a new RAM card in addition to the present one or replace the current one (be careful only to buy the right one by checking the instruction manual of the laptop).
READ ALSO: Which RAM to choose to improve the most important part of the computer.
Having the Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 or even Windows 7 system on the laptop, there are some options that can optimize the laptop even if the processor is not the best .
1) Optimize Windows laptop performance
The first option to be modified to speed up the Celeron or Intel Atom laptop, and also with little RAM and integrated video card, is found by going to Control Panel> System and Security> System, then press on Advanced system settings on the side right and then press, in the window that opens, on the Settings button under the Performance section.
The options screen allows you to choose custom settings or automatically configure maximum performance.
If you choose custom settings, be sure to turn off all animations anyway.
The following options should certainly be disabled:
- Controls and animated elements inside the windows
- Animate windows when enlarged or reduced
- Animations on the taskbar
- Menu with fading or scrolling effect
- Display hint with fading or scrolling effect
- Dissolve menu items after click
- Show shadows under the windows
- Open combo boxes with scroll effect
NOTE: There is also a trick to make Windows lighter and menus faster by editing a registry key.
2) Optimize the Intel Celeron or Atom processor
Since you can't overclock an Intel Celeron or Intel Atom processor, it's important, at least, to make sure it always runs at full speed.
On Windows, this can be done in the energy saving options.
You must then go back to the Control Panel and then to Hardware and Sound> Power Options .
From here, you can immediately select the high performance profile or, to obtain a decent battery life, press the link to change the settings of the balanced profile .
Then click on " Change advanced energy saving settings " and modify the following menu items, only in the parts relating to the power supply (ie when the plug is connected ).
- Disable Hard disk: 60 minutes or more.
- Internet Explore> Maximum performance
- Wireless card> Maximum performance
- USB settings> sleep disabled
- Intel Graphic Settings Powerplan: Maximum performance
- PCI Express> Moderate energy savings
- Processor energy savings: Maximum level 100%
- Desktop wallpaper settings> presentation> suspended.
3) Intel graphics card options
If the laptop has an Intel integrated card, right-click on the desktop background and open the Graphics Properties.
Then go to the 3D section and configure general settings by selecting Performance .
Then go to the Energy section and select the Maximum Performance in the graphics energy saving plan.
4) Fixed paging file
This operation, which is now superfluous on modern computers, still has a good impact on PCs with little RAM and weak processor.
I therefore recommend going to Control Panel> System and Security> System, press on Advanced System Settings and then press on the Settings button under Performance and go to the Advanced tab .
Here press the Change button at the bottom, under the virtual memory section, uncheck the option at the top "manage paging file size automatically", press on Custom size and put 2000 and 2000 at the initial and maximum sizes.
READ ALSO: Virtual memory: setting up the Windows paging file
Obviously, then, to optimize any Windows laptop, all the other recommendations already listed in the various guides apply to:
- Optimize Windows to have a fast PC
- Speed up your PC to the max
