How to Improve Performance on Older PCs

In this video, I share some ideas on how to improve performance on underpowered Windows PCs. I recently purchased a second-hand Microsoft Surface Pro 3 as sort of a backup computer but mostly to use when I travel. The problem is that the Surface Pro 3, by today's standards is underpowered. I wanted to squeeze as much performance out of this machine as I could so I researched what I could do and I'm sharing that with all of you as well. Please let me know if you have any other suggestions in the comments of this video.

Notes from preparing this video

Goals for this computer

• Performance over Battery life as I will run on AC Power

• Storage is minimal, so I only run applications I need when traveling

• Leave my primary PC safely home

• Not using Windows 11 because the old computer doesn't support it

Specs

• 4th generation Intel Core i5

• 4GB RAM

• 128GB storage

Condition at start of the video

• Wiped storage

• installed Windows 10

• installed software I need

• Updated windows 10 and apps using Update and app store

Belief 

• Optimizations will be minor, but together, you can improve performance on an underpowered PC like this one.

Starting on the desktop

• Right-click on the Taskbar and Select Search, uncheck Show search highlights or Show search icon instead of the Search box.

• Right-click on the Taskbar, select News and Interest and unselect Show icon and text.

• Click the battery icon in your system tray and change your Power Mode to Best performance.

Settings

System

• Settings > System > Graphics Settings (bottom)

• Settings > System > Notifications & Actions. Turn off notifications and Settings. Uncheck the three last items.

• Settings > System > Focus assist - Alarms only

• Settings > System > Storage - Configure

• Settings > System > About - Advanced system settings

Devices

• Settings > Devices > Autoplay - turn off

• Settings > Devices > USB - Disable both items

Personalization

• Settings > Personalization > Background - discuss wallpaper

• Settings > Personalization > Colors - Turn off transparency effects

• Settings > Personalization > Themes - Avoid themes with switching wallpapers - effects storage and performance

• Settings > Personalization > Start - turn off anything you don't need or use

Apps

• Settings > Apps > Apps & features - Optional features

• Settings > Apps > Apps & features - uninstall anything you don't need or use

• Settings > Apps > Apps for websites - turn off maps for maps.windows.com

• Settings > Apps > Video playback - Optimize for video quality

• Settings > Apps > Startup - unselect anything you don't use daily.