When Your Computer is ‘Slow’ Could it Be Hardware or the Internet?

In the computer repair business, one of the most common phrases anyone with experience is likely to hear is “My computer is just running too slow!”

While this is an understandably frustrating problem to deal with, the real question is whether your computer is genuinely slow, or if your internet connection is responsible.

You might feel that your computer is moving at a snail’s pace, and it feels like it was only yesterday that everything seemed to function well and meet your needs.

With so many different applications that can be installed, as well as the focus on the Internet these days, it’s hard to know whether you should blame the computer, or the Internet itself.

So how do you determine whether a computer or the Internet is the problem? If you have problems with only one device on your network, the problem is more likely to be with the computer, not connectivity. If not, think about if you have a slow network problem.

Break Down the Circumstances and Start with the Basics

If you feel as if your programs are taking longer to load, it may be because your computer is not fulfilling a task. Large applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office and several other packages can clog old hardware and cause frustrating delays.

This might be because you are using an older hard drive system (not a faster SSD model) or your computer doesn’t have enough memory or storage space.

The most common tip is to upgrade to a faster, SSD hard drive while adding more storage. With Solid State Drives (SSD), your computer can read and write data much faster than with conventional hard drives.

Additional memory offers the computer more space to process information and programs.

Meanwhile, buying a replacement computer can be a viable solution if your current device is more than four years old. It is important to be cautious when considering this though, because new “cheap” computers may use old components and/or may not have the correct specifications for your needs.

What if the Problem is Really the Internet?

If you see web pages load slowly or you wait a long time to access YouTube videos, the internet might be the real reason you are being slowed down.

If a backlog of access requests starts to build on one website, it can be a problem for anyone currently on that website. If not, Internet delays can be a generalized problem with your provider, or you might have a bad connection.

If you have the ability, it is always a good idea to check from other computers that have access to the Internet to see if something specific is slow. If another computer using the same internet access is loading everything normally, then try again on your computer.

This is an effective way to narrow down the problem to make troubleshooting easier for everyone involved. If not, confirm the internet speed by visiting a website like fast.com or speedtest.net that can measure your speed.

After having the speed of your connection tested, you can compare it with the connection speed that you pay for. If you don’t know this, check your invoice or billing statement.

If the speed matches the speed you are paying for, you might have a lower speed plan. In this case, you may want to contact your service provider to discuss the possibility of upgrading your service package for faster access times.