5 causes I made a decision to impro...

Once I purchased my Dell XPS 15 in 2018, it was the perfect PC. It was my first Home windows laptop computer with an SSD, a devoted GPU, and a high-end Intel processor. Nonetheless, as onerous as it’s to consider, 2018 is now a distant reminiscence, and the PC landscape has undergone vital modifications within the seven years since then.

Whereas my previous XPS 15 runs Windows 11 easily for fundamental duties, I seen it falling behind in different areas, resembling its show, efficiency in demanding apps, and battery life. Listed here are 5 causes I made a decision to improve my Home windows 11 PC, and why you may contemplate doing the identical when you’re in the same state of affairs.

Associated

5 simple tricks I use to make my Windows 11 PC faster

These Home windows 11 methods are a straightforward method to improve the efficiency of your PC.

5

Efficiency and RAM

Say goodbye to Home windows being sluggish

The essence of any PC improve is primarily about enhancing efficiency. Relying on how previous your present PC is, even a small improve can result in a noticeable enchancment. Just lately, Qualcomm, AMD, and Intel have launched new AI chipsets that not solely provide higher energy however are additionally, crucially, extra energy-efficient.

For those who’re experiencing sluggish loading occasions and your laptop computer struggles with fundamental duties resembling looking a number of net tabs, it is a good indication that an improve is important. One other very clear signal to look at for is while you begin listening to your followers working additional time to chill the system and forestall overheating.

Moreover, many laptops include 16GB of RAM now, which represents a considerable enchancment when you’re upgrading from 8GB. A RAM improve, paired with a modest CPU enhancement, could make investing in a brand new Home windows 11 PC extraordinarily worthwhile. You needn’t lay our a fortune both; there are tons of Home windows 11 PCs accessible for beneath $1,000 that come geared up with 16GB of RAM and a contemporary processor, making them extra inexpensive than the newest MacBook Air.

Associated

5 upcoming Windows 11 additions that I can’t wait for

Home windows 11 stays a piece in progress for Microsoft – listed below are 5 PC options the corporate is engaged on which have me wanting to faucet on Home windows Replace.

4

Battery life

Use your PC longer with out plugging it in

One other key indicator that it is time to improve your Home windows PC is battery life. If you cannot take your PC anyplace with out bringing the charger in worry that it is going to die, that is a telltale signal that its battery may be on its final legs.

The purpose of a Home windows laptop computer is for it to be moveable, and a sluggish battery does not assist with that. What prompted me to improve from my 2018 Dell XPS 15 was that the battery could not final greater than an hour earlier than needing to be recharged. Whereas changing the battery in some laptops is totally attainable, as a substitute of shelling out a whole bunch of {dollars} for a substitute battery, I opted to save lots of that cash towards a brand new PC.

Newer CPUs, GPUs, and SSDs are extra power-efficient, and battery life on Home windows 11 PCs has improved considerably through the years. Due to this fact, choosing a brand new Home windows 11 PC not solely enhances battery life but additionally improves battery effectivity. Specifically, the Asus ZenBook 16 I am utilizing includes a bigger 78Whr battery and a extra highly effective AMD Ryzen AI CPU, designed to assist cut back battery consumption with out compromising efficiency.

Associated

Don’t let your laptop battery betray you with these Windows tricks

Do not get caught with a useless laptop computer on the espresso store.

3

SSD storage

By no means wait lengthy for something to load once more

Once I received my XPS 15 again in 2018, SSD (stable state drive) storage was nonetheless thought of extra of a luxurious. Many individuals I knew again then nonetheless had laptops and desktop PCs with onerous disk drives (HDDs), as SSDs had been rather more costly. Quick-forward to 2025, and loads has modified. Not solely are SSDs considerably sooner, however they’re additionally extra inexpensive. HDDs have largely been changed by SSDs in most trendy laptops and desktop builds.

You probably have a Home windows 11 PC that’s nonetheless operating on an HDD as a substitute of an SSD, then that could be a key cause why upgrading could also be useful for you. The primary main profit is boot occasions. With Home windows on an SSD, it boots up and wakes up a lot sooner than it will on an HDD. Secondly, apps, video games, system processes — nearly all the pieces — load and run extra easily on an SSD.

For those who’re bored with your previous PC endlessly loading, a contemporary SSD will assist remove that drawback. In case your older laptop computer already has an SSD, then the leap can be much less noticeable however nonetheless impactful, because it’s more likely to have extra space for storing and probably a sooner learn/write pace.

Associated

5 reasons why I’m only buying SSDs and not HDDs

Whereas HDDs was my major drives, I’ve made the change to SSDs.

2

Stronger GPU

Run any recreation you need in your PC

Whereas a GPU (graphics processing unit) is tied to efficiency, I consider it deserves its personal highlight due to the numerous influence it might have on the efficiency of video games and different demanding functions that make the most of the GPU, resembling Adobe Premiere Professional. In case your present Home windows PC struggles to maintain up with the newest video games or run software program like Premiere or Blender, in search of a brand new Home windows 11 laptop computer with a stronger GPU — whether or not devoted or built-in — may make a considerable distinction.

My XPS 15 from 2018 had a devoted Nvidia GTX 1050, which was first rate for operating video games at medium to excessive settings on the time. Nonetheless, loads has modified within the GPU panorama since then. Nvidia has launched its RTX sequence of graphics playing cards with new AI options, and AMD has notably launched some highly effective CPUs with exceptionally quick built-in GPUs, with the ROG Flow Z13 being a first-rate instance of this.

For those who’d like to open Steam, Epic Video games, or the Xbox app and play any recreation you need in your PC with out worrying about poor visuals and stuttering, then contemplating a Home windows 11 with a stronger GPU is worth it.

Associated

4 tricks I use to upgrade my gaming for free on Windows 11

Your personal wants could fluctuate, however no less than one or two of those concepts ought to show helpful.

1

Greater-quality show

OLED laptops have extra vibrant colours

I am a sucker for stunning shows. Once I switched from an LCD display screen to an OLED for the primary time on a laptop computer, I used to be amazed by how gorgeous it appeared, and from then on, I knew OLED shows had been the long run. Not solely did it provide a a lot sooner response time and refresh price, however the colours appeared brighter and extra correct.

If you end up watching exhibits and films extra typically in your Home windows PC than on a TV, upgrading to a laptop computer with a higher-quality show is certainly worthwhile. 4K laptops are rather more frequent these days, so you probably have a laptop computer with a 1080p show, transitioning to at least one with a 4K decision will present considerably higher readability and element, it doesn’t matter what you are doing — whether or not you are taking part in video games, modifying pictures, or tackling an Excel spreadsheet.

It does not simply should be an OLED and 4K both. There are many laptops with IPS shows that also look nice and provide increased refresh charges at a decrease value. 1440p decision (2K) can be a pleasant center floor between 1080p and 4K, so when you see a brand new laptop computer you want with a 1440p show, don’t fret, it’ll nonetheless look nice.

Associated

5 basic tricks I use to speed up my Windows 11 PC

Over time, Home windows-based PCs are likely to bathroom down. Listed here are the steps I take to at all times hold my laptop computer’s efficiency in tip-top form.