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It's the festive season and many people will be getting a new laptop or desktop computer for Christmas. Others will be looking at their existing system and wondering whether it isn't time to replace it. But there are things you can do to improve a system before jacking it in – try thinking about one or more of the following.

1. Increase the memory

Many computers allow you to increase the memory yourself. You may need the manual and you’ll need to check what sort of memory the computer takes, but taking the old memory chips out and adding something more powerful is one of the easiest ways of making a system run more smoothly.

Why would you want more memory? Simply because whereas storage is a matter of how much stuff a computer can hold, memory governs how much the computer can do at a time. So if you want to do something complex like video editing you might well need extra memory – or if you like to leave loads of application windows open all at once, for example.

2. Increase the storage

If you have a desktop PC you might be able to unscrew the front and add a new hard drive. If not, you’ll almost certainly be able to add storage by attaching a USB hard drive. If you were thinking of replacing a computer because it’s filling up, try this first.

3. Put in a new graphics card

Again this involves unscrewing a desktop computer if you have one and installing a better graphics card. If your computer is slowing down whilst playing games or video it may not be the processor or memory at fault, the graphics chip might be the problem. Ask around about your model – don’t spend out on a graphics card before you’re sure! – and then try installing something faster.

4. Buy a new webcam

A number of people use their computers for video conferencing. This is a great money saving idea as well as a means of keeping in touch with overseas contacts. Then they get frustrated with the state of the image they’re told the other person can see so they assume the computer is at fault – actually it may not be. Consider a higher-definition webcam, which will be of a higher spec than the one that came built into your system.

5. Update your speakers

Fed up with the sound your computer makes when you pop a CD in to listen to? Or download something from one of the many online stores, or watch something on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ iPlayer? (Other catch-up services are available but we don’t want you to watch them). Around £40 will get you some considerably better speakers with a bit of oomph, and as you move further upmarket you’ll find the clarity and bass gets better. Of course you get what you pay for.

6. Get a USB hub

So you've got your camera, your phone, your speakers, your backup disk, your printer, your e-reader, your media player…and only two USB slots. The good news is that you can get USB hubs, a connector with more than one socket on it, and your computer should recognize every device as if it’s connecting directly.

You can daisy chain these hubs – connect another hub to one of the sockets and so on, giving you an almost limitless amount of devices which you can connect. In theory you should be able to connect 128 devices to one computer.

This assumes it can service the devices with enough power – it also assumes you’re daft enough to want 128 devices on a single computer! We’re betting the system would crash because of watching too many devices at a time, and never mind how much memory you’ve got.

7. Use a carrying case

Not strictly an enhancement but if you're going to have a laptop computer with you and want to carry it around, make sure it’s in something well padded!

Follow the WebWise guide to buying a computer.

Guy Clapperton is a journalist specialising in writing about technology as well as small business for several major broadsheets. He broadcasts occasionally on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio stations and reviews the newspapers on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News Channel.

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