# Upgrade your PC for better performance: SSD, RAM, or replace it

> Find the part that limits your PC, then fix only that: an SSD, more RAM, cooling or firmware. Replace the PC when its hardware cannot run Windows 11.

- URL: https://computese.com/guide-to-optimizing-your-pc-for-peak-performance/
- Author: Duong Quan Nguyen, CEO, Computese
- Published: 2024-08-08
- Updated: 2026-09-25
- Topics: IT support

## In short
- Measure before you buy: Task Manager's Performance tab and Resource Monitor show whether the processor, memory, disk or graphics runs out first, and only that part is worth upgrading.
- A PC that still runs Windows from a hard drive should move to an SSD. Buy by the slot: M.2 can carry SATA or NVMe, and the PC maker's specification says which one yours takes.
- Windows 11 needs 4 GB of RAM, but that is a floor. Size memory by your heaviest app and by Task Manager's Committed figure, and check free slots first: many thin laptops have soldered memory.
- Replace rather than upgrade when the processor is not on Microsoft's Windows 11 list or there is no TPM 2.0. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, and consumer ESU runs only until October 12, 2027.
- Before an old PC leaves, back up, run Reset this PC with Remove everything and Clean data, and for business data follow the purge or destroy methods in NIST SP 800-88.

To upgrade a PC for better performance, find the part that runs out first in Task Manager, then fix only that: an SSD in place of a hard drive, more RAM when memory fills, a dust clean when heat slows the processor, and current firmware. If the processor or TPM cannot run Windows 11, replace the PC instead.

This guide covers the hardware side: finding the real bottleneck, choosing an SSD and memory that fit, what heat and firmware have to do with speed, and deciding between upgrading and replacing, down to wiping the old machine. Windows settings cost nothing and come first; our guide to [optimizing PC performance in Windows 11](https://computese.com/how-to-optimize-pc-performance/) covers them step by step. Facts here are as of September 2026.

## Find the bottleneck before you buy anything

A PC is as fast as the resource it runs out of first. More of anything else changes nothing, so spend ten minutes measuring while the PC does the work that feels slow. Microsoft's own [performance guide](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/performance-optimization/tips-to-improve-pc-performance-in-windows) uses the same starting point: the Performance page shows which components are under load.

1. Press **Ctrl + Shift + Esc** to open Task Manager, then select **Performance**.
2. Watch **CPU**, **Memory**, each **Disk** and **GPU** at the moment the PC feels slow, not while it sits idle.
3. For a per-process view, run `resmon`, or `perfmon /res`, which [starts the Resource View](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/perfmon) of Windows' performance monitor.

Then match what you saw to the part that is running out:

| What you see at the slow moment                                                     | What is running out | Hardware that helps                                     |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| Windows runs from a hard disk, and its graph sits near the top while you wait       | Storage             | An SSD                                                  |
| **Committed** memory stays above the amount of RAM installed                        | Memory              | More RAM, if the PC has free slots                      |
| The processor stays near 100% in the work you care about                            | Processor           | Usually a new PC; on a desktop, a faster supported chip |
| The processor's speed falls after a few minutes of load while the fans run flat out | Cooling             | Cleaning and clear vents, before any purchase           |
| The GPU's 3D engine or its dedicated memory is full in games, rendering or video    | Graphics            | A graphics card, or a PC with a discrete GPU            |
| Nothing is near its limit                                                           | Not hardware        | Settings, startup apps or a malware scan                |

If the busiest process is one you do not recognize, or nothing is near its limit, the problem is software and the settings guide is the place to start. The rest of this guide assumes the measurement pointed at hardware.

## Replace a hard drive with an SSD

A hard disk drive (HDD) stores data on spinning disks. A solid-state drive (SSD) stores it in NAND flash memory with no moving parts, which is why a PC still running Windows from a hard drive is the clearest upgrade case there is. Check what yours has in PowerShell:

```powershell
Get-PhysicalDisk | Format-Table FriendlyName, MediaType, BusType, Size
```

`MediaType` reads HDD or SSD, and `BusType` reads SATA, NVMe or USB: the values Microsoft documents for its [storage management API](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/storage/msft-physicaldisk). If `MediaType` says Unspecified, look up the drive's model number instead.

### SATA or NVMe: buy for the slot, not the drive

SSDs come with two interfaces, and [Samsung's upgrade guide](https://semiconductor.samsung.com/consumer-storage/ssdupgrade/) puts the difference simply: a SATA SSD connects through the SATA interface originally designed for hard drives, while an NVMe SSD talks to the processor over PCIe.

- **SATA** Revision 3.0 set the interface speed at 6 Gb/s. SATA-IO, the body that writes the standard, asks for it to be called [SATA 6Gb/s](https://sata-io.org/developers/sata-naming-guidelines) and says "SATA III" is a term to avoid.
- **NVMe** is the protocol [NVM Express](https://nvmexpress.org/) defines for talking to flash storage over PCI Express, and it is the industry standard for SSDs in every form factor, including M.2.

The ceiling shows in the makers' own ratings. As of September 2026, Samsung rates its 870 EVO SATA SSD at up to 560 MB/s for sequential reads, which it calls the SATA interface limit, and its 990 PRO NVMe SSD at up to 7,450 MB/s. Either one replaces the spinning disk. The gap between them matters most for large sequential transfers, such as copying video files, and for games that use [DirectStorage](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/windows-11-requirements), which Microsoft lists as needing an NVMe SSD.

The catch is the connector. M.2 is a card shape and connector, not an interface: SATA-IO notes that an [M.2 slot can carry SATA or PCIe](https://sata-io.org/developers/sata-ecosystem/sata-m2-card), and that M.2 cards are 22 mm wide and 30 to 110 mm long. So check the slot in the PC maker's specification before buying. Lenovo's [specification for the ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 (Intel)](https://psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/ThinkPad/ThinkPad_T14_Gen_5_Intel/ThinkPad_T14_Gen_5_Intel_Spec.pdf), for example, lists one M.2 2280 slot running PCIe 4.0 x4, for a single drive of up to 2 TB. A PC with a 2.5-inch drive bay takes a 2.5-inch SATA SSD instead, connected with a SATA data cable and a power cable like the hard drive it replaces.

![A desktop mainboard with a 2.5-inch SSD attached by a data cable and a power cable, and an orange M.2 SSD lying flat in a slot on the board, linked by a short arrow straight to the processor.](https://computese.com/images/blog/guide-to-optimizing-your-pc-for-peak-performance/ssd-interfaces.3c7ef5c08b-1536.webp)

*An M.2 NVMe drive sits in a slot wired straight to the processor; a SATA drive reaches it through a cable and a port built for hard drives.*

### Clone the old drive or install Windows clean

There are two ways to get Windows onto the new drive:

|            | Clone                                                                                                                                                      | Clean install                                                     |
| ---------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| What moves | Windows, apps, settings and files, as they were                                                                                                            | Nothing: fresh Windows, then you reinstall apps and restore files |
| Tool       | The SSD maker's migration software, such as the Data Migration feature in [Samsung Magician](https://semiconductor.samsung.com/consumer-storage/magician/) | Windows installation media from Microsoft                         |
| Choose it  | Windows works well and you want it back exactly                                                                                                            | Windows itself is slow or cluttered, or you want a fresh start    |
| Watch for  | Whatever was wrong with the old installation moves too                                                                                                     | Activation, app licences and settings to redo                     |

Either way, in this order:

1. **Back up** your files to an external drive or cloud storage. Neither method should touch them, but a failed clone or a wrong disk selection can.
2. **Find your BitLocker recovery key** if the drive is encrypted. Moving a BitLocker-protected drive into a new computer and changing the partition table are both on Microsoft's list of [events that trigger BitLocker recovery](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/data-protection/bitlocker/recovery-overview).
3. **To clone**, connect the SSD alongside the old drive, run the migration tool, pick the drive Windows is on as the source and the SSD as the target, then fit the SSD in the old drive's place and start the PC.
4. **To install clean**, first open **Settings > System > Activation** and confirm it says Windows is activated with a digital licence linked to your Microsoft account, which lets you [reactivate after a hardware change](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/activation/reactivating-windows-after-a-hardware-change). Then install from [installation media](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/install-upgrade/reinstall-windows-with-the-installation-media); a new installation erases the target drive. The setup screens that follow are covered in our guide to [setting up Windows on a new computer](https://computese.com/how-to-set-up-windows-for-a-new-computer/).
5. **Keep the old drive untouched** for a couple of weeks, until you are sure nothing is missing.

### Confirm TRIM is running

TRIM is how Windows tells an SSD which blocks deleted files no longer use, so the drive can do its clean-up work in the background. Microsoft's documentation calls it delete notification and says it is [enabled by default on NTFS](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/fsutil-behavior) unless an administrator turns it off. Check in an administrator terminal:

```powershell
fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify
```

`NTFS DisableDeleteNotify = 0` means TRIM is on; `1` means it is off. Also leave the schedule in **Defragment and Optimize Drives** on: Windows [optimizes drives once a week by default](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/storage-filemanagement/defragment-optimize-your-data-drives-in-windows), defragmenting hard drives and trimming SSDs.

## How much RAM do you need?

Windows 11's minimum is [4 GB of RAM](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications). That is the floor for installing Windows, not a target for work. Two published requirements show where real workloads sit:

- **Copilot+ PCs**, Microsoft's class of AI PCs, must have at least 16 GB of DDR5 or LPDDR5 memory, a 256 GB SSD and a neural processing unit (NPU) rated at 40+ TOPS.
- **Photoshop 27.x** on Windows needs 8 GB and recommends 16 GB or more, according to [Adobe's system requirements](https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html).

Integrated graphics add to the demand: they use system memory rather than memory of their own, as Microsoft's [description of GPU memory in Task Manager](https://devblogs.microsoft.com/directx/gpus-in-the-task-manager/) explains. As guidance, not a specification:

| Workload                                                             | Guidance                                                |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| Browser, email and office apps, a few at a time                      | 8 GB                                                    |
| Office work with video calls, many tabs and photo editing            | 16 GB                                                   |
| Video editing, 3D, virtual machines, large datasets, local AI models | 32 GB or more, and whatever each app's requirements say |

Your own numbers beat any table. At your busiest, compare Task Manager's **Committed** figure with the RAM installed. Microsoft describes the [commit charge](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/performance/introduction-to-the-page-file) as the memory Windows has promised to programs, measured against a commit limit of RAM plus page files. A commit charge that regularly exceeds the RAM installed means Windows may have to keep part of it in the page file on disk, and more RAM is likely to help. One that stays well below means extra RAM would sit unused. (The settings guide explains why a bigger page file is not the answer.)

### Check free slots and the maximum supported

Before buying memory, find out whether there is anywhere to put it. In PowerShell:

```powershell
Get-CimInstance Win32_PhysicalMemoryArray | Format-List MemoryDevices, MaxCapacityEx
Get-CimInstance Win32_PhysicalMemory | Format-Table DeviceLocator, Capacity, ConfiguredClockSpeed, PartNumber
```

`MemoryDevices` is the number of [slots or sockets](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/cimwin32prov/win32-physicalmemoryarray) and `MaxCapacityEx` the maximum memory in kilobytes. Each line of the second command is one [installed module](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/cimwin32prov/win32-physicalmemory): its slot label, size in bytes, configured speed in MHz and part number. Both commands read what the firmware reports, so treat the PC maker's specification as the authority. Two Lenovo examples show the range:

- The **ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 (Intel)** has two DDR5 SODIMM slots, dual-channel capable, and takes up to 64 GB of DDR5-5600; Lenovo notes the maximum is based on tests with its current memory offerings.
- The **ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12** has [memory soldered to the system board](https://psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/ThinkPad/ThinkPad_X1_Carbon_Gen_12/ThinkPad_X1_Carbon_Gen_12_Spec.pdf), no slots, and every configuration is listed as not upgradable. On a laptop like that, the RAM you bought is the RAM it will always have.

![Left, a mainboard with two memory slots filled and two empty, and an orange module lowered into an empty slot. Right, a laptop board with memory chips soldered around the processor and no slots at all.](https://computese.com/images/blog/guide-to-optimizing-your-pc-for-peak-performance/ram-slots.bea58170c0-1536.webp)

*Check the board before the shop: a free slot can take more memory, while soldered memory is fixed the day the laptop is built.*

How the memory is arranged matters as well as how much. The same T14 specification says its Intel Arc graphics, on select H-series processors, need at least 16 GB in a dual-channel configuration, otherwise the chip runs as plain Intel Graphics. Buy the type and speed the specification lists, and fill a dual-channel board in matched pairs.

## Keep it cool: dust, vents and thermal throttling

A PC that is fast for the first few minutes and then slows down is often running hot, not short of power. Intel describes [two kinds of thermal protection](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005597/processors.html) in its processors: when a core exceeds its throttle temperature, it reduces power to stay at a safe level (thermal throttling), and if that is not enough, the processor shuts down to prevent damage. The throttle temperature varies by processor and BIOS settings, and Intel does not publish typical operating temperatures, because they depend on system design and workload. So compare the PC against itself, clean and dirty, rather than against a number from a forum.

The heat has to leave through a short path: from the processor, along a heat pipe or heat sink, through thin radiator fins, and out of the case with the fan's airflow. Anything that blocks that path shows up as lost speed.

![A laptop cut away from the side: air enters under the base, a heat pipe carries heat from the processor to the fan's fins, and an orange mat of dust blocks the fins so only weak air leaves the rear vent.](https://computese.com/images/blog/guide-to-optimizing-your-pc-for-peak-performance/airflow.37ccb2b782-1536.webp)

*Dust on the fins traps the heat, and the processor throttles to protect itself: the cheapest speed-up is often a careful clean.*

What to check, in order:

1. **Vents.** A laptop used on a bed, sofa or lap draws its air through fabric. Use it on a hard, flat surface.
2. **Dust.** Dust mats against radiator fins and fills desktop intake filters. Our guide to [cleaning computer hardware safely](https://computese.com/how-to-safely-clean-your-computers-hardware/) covers vents, fans and the inside of a desktop.
3. **Thermal paste.** If temperatures stay high after a proper clean, the paste between processor and cooler may have dried out; the cleaning guide covers when and how to replace it.
4. **Fans.** A fan that stays silent under load, or grinds, needs replacing.

## Update drivers and firmware from the PC maker

Windows Update installs most drivers, and the settings guide covers its optional updates. For performance problems, also go to the PC maker's support page for your exact model or serial number: it carries chipset, graphics and storage drivers for that model, and the BIOS or UEFI firmware. Dell, for example, recommends SupportAssist for most users and Dell Command | Update for its business models, and some of its BIOS updates also arrive as optional updates in Windows Update. For a separate graphics card, the GPU maker (NVIDIA, AMD or Intel) also publishes its own drivers. SSDs have firmware too: Samsung Magician, for example, updates the firmware of Samsung drives.

Treat BIOS updates as maintenance, not a speed trick. [Dell's guide](https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000124211/dell-bios-updates) recommends them as part of regular system maintenance and lists what they can contain: security fixes, performance improvements, hardware compatibility, bug fixes and new features. An update may also be one-way: Dell says it may block downgrades once a version includes critical security fixes. When you update:

1. Read the release notes for your exact model, and back up your data.
2. Connect AC power and keep it connected; Dell says not to run a BIOS update on battery alone.
3. Suspend BitLocker, in **Manage BitLocker > Suspend protection** or with the command below. A BIOS or UEFI firmware upgrade is on Microsoft's list of BitLocker recovery triggers, and suspending protection for a planned firmware update avoids the recovery prompt without decrypting the drive.
4. Close your apps, start the update, and do not interrupt it or switch the PC off until it has finished.

In an administrator PowerShell window:

```powershell
Suspend-BitLocker -MountPoint "C:" -RebootCount 1
```

[Suspend-BitLocker](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/bitlocker/suspend-bitlocker) resumes protection after the number of restarts you give it, one by default. If the maker's instructions say the update restarts more than once, use a higher count, or run `Resume-BitLocker -MountPoint "C:"` when it is done.

> [!WARNING]
> Find your BitLocker recovery key before any firmware update, drive swap or mainboard repair: if it was backed up to your Microsoft account, it is listed at aka.ms/myrecoverykey. [Microsoft Support cannot retrieve or recreate a lost key](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/encryption/find-your-bitlocker-recovery-key), and without it the way back is a reset that removes all your files.

## When a graphics card makes a difference

Most office PCs never need one. Microsoft's [guide to GPUs](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/compatibility/all-about-graphics-processing-units-gpus) splits them in two: integrated GPUs, built into the device, handle some gaming and light photo and video editing efficiently, while discrete GPUs, larger and more power-hungry, are for intense photo and video editing, design work and gaming. Microsoft's advice is to check each app's or game's own GPU requirements on the developer's website. Photoshop 27.x, for example, asks for a DirectX 12 GPU with at least 1.5 GB of GPU memory, and Adobe does not test with GPUs older than 7 years.

Task Manager tells you whether graphics is the limit. Its GPU page shows each engine separately, such as 3D rendering and copy, and the dedicated memory, which on a discrete card is the VRAM on the card itself. A 3D engine pinned at the top, or dedicated memory full, in the work that stutters is the signal.

On a desktop, a graphics card also has to fit and be powered. NVIDIA, for example, [lists a required system power](https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/graphics-cards/50-series/rtx-5060-family/) of 550 W for the GeForce RTX 5060 and 600 W for the RTX 5060 Ti, based on a PC with a Ryzen 9 9950X, and leaves card length and slot width to each card's manufacturer, so check the power supply and the case as well as the price. On a laptop, a discrete GPU sits on the mainboard; the add-on route Microsoft describes is an external GPU on a Thunderbolt or faster port.

## Upgrade or replace: the Windows 11 test

For a Windows PC in 2026, the dividing line is whether it can run a supported Windows. [Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/updates-lifecycle/windows-10-support-has-ended-on-october-14-2025): the PC still works, but Microsoft no longer provides technical support, software updates or security fixes. The [consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU)](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/extended-security-updates) program delivers critical and important security updates to Windows 10 version 22H2 until October 12, 2027, and nothing else. Enrolment is free with PC settings sync, or costs Microsoft Rewards points or a one-time purchase. Consumer ESU is not offered to PCs joined to an Active Directory domain or Microsoft Entra ID, or enrolled in device management; organizations use Microsoft's commercial ESU instead. Our [guide to keeping a computer updated](https://computese.com/how-to-update-your-computer-or-phone/) walks through enrolment.

ESU is a bridge, not a destination. The question is whether the hardware meets Microsoft's [Windows 11 minimum requirements](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications):

| Component | Windows 11 minimum                                                        |
| --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Processor | 1 GHz or faster, 2 or more cores, on a compatible 64-bit processor or SoC |
| Memory    | 4 GB                                                                      |
| Storage   | 64 GB or larger                                                           |
| Firmware  | UEFI, Secure Boot capable                                                 |
| TPM       | Trusted Platform Module version 2.0                                       |
| Graphics  | DirectX 12 or later, with a WDDM 2.0 driver                               |
| Display   | 720p, larger than 9 inches diagonally, 8 bits per colour channel          |

Two lines decide most cases:

- **TPM 2.0** may be present but switched off. Microsoft says most retail mainboards for self-built PCs ship with it off; it is [enabled in the UEFI settings](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/devicesecurity/enable-tpm-2-0-on-your-pc) under a name such as Intel PTT, Intel Platform Trust Technology, AMD fTPM switch or AMD PSP fTPM.
- **The processor** must be on Microsoft's lists. The Core i3, i5, i7 and i9 entries on the [Intel list](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-intel-processors) start at the 8th generation, and the Ryzen entries on the [AMD list](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-amd-processors) at 2000-series models, though not every 2000-series chip is on it.

The [PC Health Check app](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/compatibility/how-to-use-the-pc-health-check-app) runs the full check and says why a PC does or does not qualify. Forcing Windows 11 onto hardware that fails it is not a way around the decision: Microsoft says such a PC [is not entitled to receive updates](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/compatibility/windows-11-on-devices-that-don-t-meet-minimum-system-requirements), and damage caused by incompatibility is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

With that settled, the rest is judgement. A decision table:

| The PC                                                                             | Verdict                    | Why                                                                   |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Passes PC Health Check, Windows on a hard drive                                    | Upgrade: SSD first         | The clearest upgrade, on a machine that can stay on supported Windows |
| Passes, SSD already, memory full, free slots                                       | Upgrade: RAM               | Cheap, and the measurement says it is the limit                       |
| Passes, but memory is soldered and full, or the processor is the limit on a laptop | Replace                    | Nothing left to upgrade                                               |
| Fails on the processor, or has no TPM 2.0                                          | Replace; ESU as the bridge | Security updates end on October 12, 2027 at the latest                |
| Maker no longer releases BIOS or driver updates for the model                      | Lean towards replacing     | Firmware security fixes have stopped, whatever Windows does           |
| A repair costs more than about half a comparable new PC                            | Replace                    | A judgement, not a standard: the money buys more in a new machine     |
| A worn battery, a failed drive, a dead fan                                         | Repair                     | Parts wear out; a sound PC is worth fixing                            |

Microsoft's performance guide makes the same point from the other side: older PCs with outdated hardware may not improve much from tuning, and upgrading the device may then be the best long-term answer. For a worn laptop battery, our guide to [laptop battery life](https://computese.com/how-to-extend-your-laptops-battery-life/) covers when to replace one. When you do buy, our guide to [setting up Windows on a new computer](https://computese.com/how-to-set-up-windows-for-a-new-computer/) covers the first hour.

Across a team, these decisions stop being one-offs. Our [IT support service](https://computese.com/services/it-support/) keeps an asset register, with advice on what to replace and when, and takes on a device refresh as a project.

## Before you replace it: back up, wipe and recycle

An old PC carries saved passwords, mail, documents and browser sessions. Before it leaves your hands:

1. **Back up and check.** Copy your files to the new PC, an external drive or cloud storage, and open a few to confirm the copy works.
2. **Reset it.** In **Settings > System > Recovery**, select **Reset PC**, choose **Remove everything**, and turn on **Clean data**. Microsoft recommends that option when you plan to [donate, recycle or sell a PC](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/backup-recovery/reset-your-pc): it takes longer, but makes removed files harder to recover. The screen can stay black for a long time, occasionally more than 15 minutes; do not restart the PC by hand, or the reset can fail.
3. **Match the wipe to the data.** Microsoft is explicit that this erasure is aimed at consumers and does not meet government and industry data erasure standards. For business data, use NIST's [SP 800-88 Rev. 2](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/88/r2/final), published in September 2025.
4. **Recycle it properly.** Take out removable batteries: the US EPA's [electronics recycling guidance](https://www.epa.gov/recycle/electronics-donation-and-recycling) says lithium-ion batteries, and devices containing them, must not go in household garbage or recycling bins. Use a certified electronics recycler, a manufacturer or retailer take-back program, or a donation scheme; outside the US, your local e-waste program.

NIST's guide defines three sanitization methods, in increasing strength:

| Method  | What it does                                                                                       | Typical technique                                                             |
| ------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Clear   | Protects against simple recovery through the normal interface; the drive stays usable              | Overwriting, or a factory reset where overwriting is not supported            |
| Purge   | Makes recovery infeasible even with state-of-the-art laboratory techniques; the drive stays usable | The drive's own sanitize commands, such as block erase or cryptographic erase |
| Destroy | Makes recovery infeasible and the drive unusable                                                   | Shredding, disintegrating, pulverizing, melting or incinerating               |

Three points in it matter for a PC refresh. Overwriting is unreliable on SSDs, because wear levelling and spare cells leave areas the normal interface cannot reach, and NIST says to purge rather than clear when possible; the drive maker's utility, such as Samsung Magician with its Secure Erase feature, is where most people find the drive's own erase commands, and its documentation says which technique it uses. Drilling a hole or bending a drive may leave parts of it readable, so it does not count as destruction. And NIST includes a sample certificate of sanitization: one per device lets a business show later that a retired laptop's data was dealt with. In a managed fleet, retirement is part of the device lifecycle: a remote wipe, the licence reclaimed and the asset record closed, which is the last step in how our [IT support service](https://computese.com/services/it-support/) looks after devices.

## Key terms
- **SSD (solid-state drive)**: Storage built on NAND flash memory with no moving parts, in place of the spinning disks of a hard disk drive (HDD).
- **SATA**: Serial ATA, the interface designed for hard drives and shared by 2.5-inch SSDs. SATA Revision 3.0 set its rate at 6 Gb/s, which SATA-IO says to call SATA 6Gb/s, not SATA III.
- **NVMe**: NVM Express, the protocol an SSD uses to talk to the processor over PCI Express (PCIe) lanes, without the SATA link in between.
- **M.2**: A small card shape and connector, 22 mm wide and 30 to 110 mm long. An M.2 slot can carry SATA or PCIe, so the slot's interface decides which SSD fits.
- **TRIM**: Windows telling an SSD which blocks deleted files no longer use, so the drive can clean up in the background. Microsoft also calls it delete notification.
- **Dual-channel memory**: Two memory modules working in parallel on a board built for it. Some integrated graphics require it, such as Intel Arc on select Lenovo ThinkPads.
- **Thermal throttling**: A processor cutting its power and speed when it reaches its throttle temperature, to protect itself from heat. The PC keeps working, only slower.
- **UEFI firmware (BIOS)**: The software on the mainboard that starts the PC before Windows. PC makers ship updates for it with security, compatibility and bug fixes.
- **TPM 2.0**: Trusted Platform Module version 2.0, a security chip or firmware feature that Windows 11 requires and uses for features including Windows Hello and BitLocker.
- **Media sanitization**: Making data on a drive unrecoverable. NIST SP 800-88 defines three methods: clear, purge and destroy, in increasing strength.

## Common questions

### Should I upgrade the SSD or the RAM first?

Let Task Manager decide. If Windows runs from a hard drive, the SSD comes first. If Windows is already on an SSD and the Committed memory figure regularly exceeds the RAM installed, add RAM, provided the PC has free slots.

### How much RAM do I need for Windows 11?

Microsoft's minimum is 4 GB, which is enough to install Windows and little else. As guidance, 16 GB suits most office work with video calls and many browser tabs: it is Microsoft's floor for Copilot+ PCs and Adobe's recommendation for Photoshop. Heavier work needs whatever its own apps specify.

### Can I put an NVMe SSD in any computer?

Only if it has an M.2 slot wired for PCIe, which the PC maker's specification lists. An M.2 slot can carry SATA or PCIe, and a PC with only a 2.5-inch drive bay takes a SATA SSD.

### Do I have to reinstall Windows after upgrading to an SSD?

No. The SSD maker's migration tool can clone Windows, apps and files onto the new drive. A clean install is the alternative when the old Windows is itself the problem; link your digital licence to your Microsoft account first so activation is simple.

### Is it worth upgrading a PC that cannot run Windows 11?

Rarely. Windows 10 has had no free security updates since October 14, 2025, consumer Extended Security Updates end on October 12, 2027, and Microsoft says a PC running Windows 11 on unsupported hardware is not entitled to updates. Spend on the replacement instead.

### Will a BIOS update make my PC faster?

Sometimes: Dell lists performance improvements among what its BIOS updates contain, along with security fixes, hardware compatibility and bug fixes, and recommends updating as regular maintenance. Read the release notes for your model, stay on AC power and suspend BitLocker first.

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27. [All about graphics processing units (GPUs)](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/compatibility/all-about-graphics-processing-units-gpus), Microsoft Support
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36. [Reset your PC](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/backup-recovery/reset-your-pc), Microsoft Support
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