This guide has tips and suggestions that may help to improve your CPU or general computer performance. The guide is a work in progress - if you have any suggestions please contribute on the forums.

General Performance Tips

• Update your operating system and all drivers
• Check background processes for high CPU or RAM usage [Win Mac ]
• Upgrade from a standard HDD to an SSD []

Tips for Addressing Underperformance

• Check temperature - (In Novabench on Windows, click "Temperature")
• High temperature can throttle back your performance.
• Ideal temperatures vary by processor. Ensure your temperature is within an ideal range under load.
• Ensure fans are working and clear of dust.
• Ensure the heatsink is well seated with appropriate thermal paste (advanced).
  
  
• Switch to a high performance power profile [Win ]
• Note: Experiment to find the balance between energy efficiency and performance that works for you
  
  
• Check RAM
• RAM modules need to be installed in the correct slots for full performance (see motherboard manual).
• Check for memory failures []

Going Further

Even if your system is performing where it should be, it may still be possible to push the performance further.

• Overclocking
• Overclocking configures your system components to run faster than the manufacturer default.
• Not all computers can be overclocked.
• Many guides online cover overclocking in depth. [AMD Intel ]
  
  
• Other advanced BIOS configuration
• Beyond overclocking, other BIOS settings may improve performance.
• A general overview is available here.