Computer performance issues plague businesses and individuals in 2025, causing productivity losses and frustration. This guide provides proven methods to optimise a PC, improve system speed and performance, and troubleshoot.

Measuring Your System's Performance

Effective performance optimisation begins with accurate measurement. Understanding your system's capabilities through proper benchmarking provides the foundation for targeted improvements.

It is why accurately assessing your computer's performance requires proper preparation and tools. This systematic approach can help you understand precisely where performance bottlenecks exist.

Preparing for performance testing

It involves several necessary steps.

Restart your computer to clear temporary files and reset system processes. Please do not close it down; a restart does more than a close. Then, all unnecessary programs will be closed to establish a baseline for testing.

Use a Professional benchmarking tool.

I like the PassMark Performance Test, which is a well-established benchmarking solution. The latest versions require at least 4GB of RAM and 500MB of free storage space. It now incorporates advanced database testing and artificial intelligence (AI) driven assessments with updated scoring methodologies. I will discuss its testing here, but there are others that you may prefer. If you know one that is good, please let me know. 

When using PassMark, you download and install the software, then select a comprehensive suite. Let it run undisturbed for about 30 minutes.

Interpreting benchmark results

The PassMark Rating provides an overall single number representing your system's performance, with higher scores indicating better performance. For modern retail POS systems in 2025, we get 7,000 to 8,000 or higher scores, which shows adequate performance for business operations.

You also get component scores broken down by performance into individual system elements, such as CPU, RAM, disk drive, and graphics processing unit. These detailed scores will help you identify what specific areas need improvement in your computer. I like the percentile rankings, which show how your system compares to others. For example, an 87% ranking means that 13% of the computers they tested perform better than yours.

Understanding Benchmarking Limitations

While benchmarking tools provide valuable insights, some limitations are worth reviewing.

AMD

If you use AMD equipment, it underestimates them. It is a real issue that the developers of PassMark need to address.

Real-world performance

These tests are made for typical workloads; they will not accurately reflect your software's performance.

Not stress testing

PassMark measures performance under controlled conditions but doesn't test system stability under extreme loads. Hardware faults or system instability may not appear during testing.

Hardware compatibility

If you have new equipment, the benchmarking test might not fully support it, causing low scores or test failures.

Benchmarking scores

These change over time; what is important today might be seen as less critical tomorrow, so benchmark scores change. These scores are for now.

Implementing Solutions

Once you've identified performance bottlenecks through benchmarking, the next step is implementing targeted solutions based on your specific results. 

To solve most of these, you need above-average computer skills. If you do not have them, ask someone who does.

Always take a backup first, then make a restore point, just in case.

Software accumulation

This is the most frequent performance issue I encounter. People install programs that run, consuming system resources and forcing computers to run more.

This problem compounds because newer software versions target modern hardware specifications. Legacy computers struggle to meet these requirements, creating noticeable slowdowns. Microsoft is a big problem here.

Insufficient memory

It creates significant bottlenecks in system performance. When you don't have enough, your system must constantly work harder to shuffle data between memory and storage. It creates delays, which you can feel as you wait. Upgrading RAM often provides one of the most cost-effective performance improvements available.

We have measured that upgrading from 8GB to 16GB improves multitasking performance by 50%

Storage drive capacity

It directly impacts system speed. When your hard drive is full, your computer lacks the space to operate. As a rule, always have at least 10% free space on your primary drive. I like using the software CCleaner to do this task.

Malware infections

I see this repeatedly: These malicious programs slow your computer down and pose security risks. Perform regular security scans to help identify and eliminate these performance drains. I saw one computer that was suddenly running slow and had over 170 virus infections.

Fragmented storage

File fragmentation is solved on newer systems with solid-state drives (SSDs) but affects older systems that use traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). It forces your computer to work harder to access stored information on these computers. It's easy to solve on HHDs: go to File Explorer > Properties > Tools > Optimise and defragment drive.

Please do not do this on SSDs, as you will hurt them.

Outdated drivers

Manufacturers are always learning new things. As they do, they update their drivers. Without these updates, your computer often struggles to keep pace. Older processors, memory modules, and storage drives slow down as your applications become more sophisticated.

To check what drivers are installed on your system, you can use the built-in driverquery command in Windows.

In the command line, go.

driverquery /v

This command displays a comprehensive list of all installed drivers on your computer with verbose information, making it useful for inventory and troubleshooting.

Outdated software

Many of the software on your computer can be updated automatically.

In the command line, under administrator options, go.

winget upgrade --all

It will take a while, as this command will update many of your software programs automatically.

Background processes

Many of these consume resources even when you're not using them. This is because many programs automatically start when your computer starts and continue working. Over time, this gradually degrades your overall system performance.

I like to go into the task manager and review what software is running, then review what I do not want to run continuously.

Hardware upgrades

Upgrading underperforming components like processors, memory, or storage drives provides immediate and lasting improvements. Solid State Drives offer particularly dramatic speed increases compared to traditional hard drives. Additional RAM prevents system slowdowns.

Artificial intelligence-driven optimisation

Although I know people like them, I am currently hesitant about them. Although they represent an emerging trend in system maintenance, they still need some work. What I like is their promise of identifying potential issues in the future before they impact performance, allowing us to be proactive rather than reactive.

Strategic System Deployment

We call doing this "musical chairs". Once you have the computer benchmarks, consider moving the computers around so you have the most powerful computer where you need it. Deploy the slower systems for less demanding tasks where occasional delays won't significantly impact you.

Maintaining Peak Performance

Regular performance monitoring and maintenance help ensure your system continues operating efficiently. Combining synthetic benchmarking with real-world performance assessment provides the most complete picture of your system's capabilities and limitations.

These proven methods have helped many users achieve significant performance improvements without expensive hardware replacements.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director at POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience. He consults to various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

Are your computers slow? Here are some practical solutions to measure and improve your system's speed.

Common Causes of Slowdown

Software Bloat

Over time, as you install new applications and grow your software library, your system accumulates clutter that consumes precious assets and processing power. That sluggish buildup can result in decreased overall performance.

Insufficient RAM

As a rule, the Random Access Memory (RAM) is critical to the computer's overall performance. When RAM becomes inadequate, your computer's speed suffers substantially. It is a bottleneck that causes slowdowns.

Adding more RAM is often a cheap, quick method to increase your computer speed.

Disk Drive Space

If your hard drive is used up, it will impact your computer's speed. Make sure that you have at least 10% of disk space free.

While hardware limitations affect performance, software issues can be equally problematic.

Malware Infections

You'd be surprised how regularly we find viruses and malicious applications running silently on our clients' computer systems. Besides being a security issue, these packages devour system resources and cause slowdowns, so antivirus scans are critical to prevent this difficulty.

Fragmented Hard Drive

On older machines, your hard drive fragments files over time, making it harder for your computer to access them quickly. Older computers need regular defragmentation as it can help mitigate this problem.

Outdated Hardware

As software evolves and becomes more resource-intensive, older hardware may struggle to keep up. It can be particularly noticeable with storage drives and RAM.

Background Programs

Many applications are set to run automatically at startup, consuming resources even when you're not actively using them.

Check your startup folder to manage these programs.

Once you understand these common slowdown causes, you can assess your system's performance adequately.

Measuring Performance

Preparing Your Windows PC for Performance Testing

Before running any benchmarks on your Windows PC, prepare your system:

• Restart your computer.
• Update your Windows operating system and drivers to the latest versions.
• Run a quick virus scan to rule out any performance-draining issues.

Testing Tools and Methods

Using PassMark PerformanceTest for Comprehensive Benchmarking

I recommend PassMark PerformanceTest software, which is well-known for computer testing and benchmarking. It offers insights into your computer's capabilities, including processor speed, RAM overall performance, and hard drive performance.

System Requirements for PassMark

• Windows 7 or later (32-bit or 64-bit)
• 1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended)
• 200 MB of free space on your computer's hard drive
• DirectX 9 compatible graphics card for GPU performance testing

If your machine is under these specifications, it's likely time for an upgrade.

Running the PassMark Benchmark

This is a quick and professional way to determine how your computer performs in the modern world. The software we use is a performance test. You can get a free copy here. Then, launch the application and select "Run Benchmarks." Choose between a quick test or the entire benchmark suite to test your PC's performance. Allow the benchmark to run uninterrupted, which may take 15-30 minutes.

Interpreting PassMark Results

The score you will get looks like this.

​

The lower the percentage percentage figure, the worse the score. This computer is pretty ordinary. It is in the bottom 13%, or if you prefer to think of it like this, 87% of computers tested are better than it. So, as you can see, it is way in the low range.

​After completing the tests, PassMark generates a comprehensive report on your computer's performance. The Overall PassMark Rating represents your system's general performance level. Component Scores provide individual ratings for CPU performance (processor speed), memory speed (RAM your computer uses), disk operations (hard drive on your computer), and GPU performance. The Percentile Ranking helps you compare your PC to others, translating your computer's performance relative to other systems. A score, for example, of 13% means that 87% of the computers are better.

Windows Built-in Performance Testing Tools

Windows 10 includes several built-in tools to test and monitor device performance:

1. Press Windows Key + R, type "perfmon /report", and press Enter. Wait 60 seconds for a detailed system performance report.

2. Task Manager: Right-click the taskbar and select "Task Manager. " Then, go to the "Performance" tab to view real-time CPU, memory, and disk usage.

3. Windows Security Device Performance and Health: Open Windows Security, navigate to "Device performance & health," and view your PC's overall health and any performance issues.

Optimisation Strategies

Based on your benchmark results, consider several steps to improve PC performance:

1. If specific components underperform, prioritise upgrading them.
2. Optimise your computer by uninstalling unnecessary programs and updating essential software. If performance issues persist, consider a clean Windows installation.
3. Schedule regular maintenance, including routine disk cleanups, to keep your device secure and performing well.

Strategic Computer Placement

Once you have gathered performance data for all your computers, you can strategically allocate them to maximise overall productivity. This process, sometimes called "playing musical chairs" with your computers, involves placing your fastest machines where speed is most critical.

Rank your computers

Create a list of all tested computers, ordered from highest to lowest performance based on their benchmark scores.

Identify high-demand workstations

Determine which roles or departments in your organisation require the most computing power. It might include graphic design, video editing, data analysis, or software development teams.

Match performance to needs

Assign your highest-performing computers to the workstations with the most demanding tasks. Then go down the list.

You can significantly improve overall productivity by strategically placing your fastest computers where they're needed most.

Conclusion

Regular overall performance testing can help maintain an efficient POS System. Using benchmarking software and integrated Windows gear, you may gain precious insights into your computer's capabilities, and give you actionable solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the PassMark benchmark?

A: PassMark is benchmarking software that tests various PC components, including CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage. It runs a sequence of tests to measure overall performance and gives rankings that permit you to compare your computer to others.

Q: Is PassMark reliable?

A: PassMark is generally considered reliable for comparing performance.

Q: Can running benchmarks damage my computer?

A: No, running benchmarks won't damage your computer. These tests stress your system within safe limits. However, ensure your computer has proper cooling, as benchmarks can cause temporary increases in temperature.

Q: What's a good PassMark score for a modern computer?

A: It depends on what you need, but for general use in 2024, a score above 5000 for a POS System computer should be good.

Q: How can I improve my computer's performance without upgrading hardware?

A: You can improve performance by:

1. Uninstalling unnecessary programs
2. Cleaning up your hard drive
3. Disabling startup programs
4. Updating your operating system and drivers
5. Running regular malware scans
6. Defragmenting your hard drive (for HDDs only)

Q: Is upgrading RAM or switching to an SSD better for performance?

A: Both will significantly improve your computer's performance. Upgrading RAM will help if you run out of memory, and SSD will speed up your hard drive.

Q: How do I know if my computer's slowdown is due to hardware or software issues?

A: If the PassMark score is poor, it may indicate a hardware issue. If your scores are average, but you're still experiencing slowdowns, it's likely a software problem.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director at POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience. He consults to various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.