You probably know that to speed up an old system, you need to fork out for new hardware: RAM, a graphics card or a faster processor. But if you're not ready to make an investment and crack open the case, clean-up utilities can be enticing. They promise to pry off all the digital barnacles that have collected on your PC and on Windows, revealing the spry system you remember from the day you first set it up. We tested four popular Windows clean-up utilities to find out whether they genuinely improve system performance or are the digital equivalent of a placebo. We installed Ashampoo WinOptimizer 7.0 (£29 inc VAT, ashampoo.com), lolo System Mechanic 10.0 (£24 inc VAT, iolo.com), plus two free utilities - the popular Piriform CCIeaner (tinyurl.com/673cywt) and 360Amigo System Speedup (tinyurl.com/66fLq6p) - on five well-used Windows PCs of various specifications and generations. In most cases the clean-up utilities scarcely made a difference to overall system performance, and in a few instances they slowed down the machine. They did, however, shave off a few seconds from bootup times. The testing process Each utility we tested promises to make Windows run faster by optimising and maintaining your system. We used our WorldBench 6 speed test to verify these claims. WorldBench 6 is based on timed scripted tasks in common programs such as Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop. If you were to see any performance benefits from running these cleaning utilities, they'd also show up in WorldBench 6. We disabled the defragmentation routines to give each utility a chance to use its own, if it had one. We used five systems of different ages and specifications that had one thing in common: wear and tear. Each had endured months, if not years, of frequent usage without even a light dusting, much less a system scrubbing or Windows reinstall. They were exactly the kind of PCs on which most people would want to run a clean-up utility. We created a disk image to preserve each computer's original, cluttered state, then ran WorldBench 6 to obtain a baseline performance score. Next, on each computer, we ran one of the clean-up utilities through its standard functions three times. We didn't uninstall any applications, even if the utility recommended doing so. Getting rid of software that you no longer need is a good way to speed up a PC, but we wanted to see whether the other functions performed by each utility would make a difference with the same software. We then ran WorldBench 6 again to determine whether performance had improved. Finally, we restored the system to its original, cluttered state and started the process again with another clean-up utility. The testing process took weeks. All the clean-up utilities we evaluated have since been updated, so it's possible that retesting with the current versions of the programs would yield slightly different results. WorldBench 6 performance results While specific WorldBench 6 results varied between systems, a clear trend emerged: none significantly improved performance, and some even caused our PCs to slow down. Judging by their overall WorldBench 6 scores, none of the PCs performed notably better after we ran the utilities. In fact, only two systems saw a performance increase, and then by only a single point: CCIeaner, System Speedup and WinOptimizer caused a one-point increase on the Dell E1505, and WinOptimizer also improved performance on the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge. Most of the tests produced scores that were either identical to or slightly lower than that of each PC's original configuration. This isn't what you'd expect from performance-boosting utilities. Note that a one-point gain is small enough to be within the margin of error. However, the test results for individual applications yielded a few more-interesting tidbits. System Speedup seemed to have a problem with Microsoft Office. For each of the test PCs, except the Dell E1505, Office performance grew noticeably worse - over twice the test time, in some cases - after we ran System Speedup. This issue with Office accounts for the dramatic drop in some of the WorldBench 6 scores. Aside from the Office test, though, System Speedup's results weren't that different from the others. Some of our PCs were more heavily affected by clean-up utilities than others. The Toshiba laptop's performance didn't change by more than 10 or 15 seconds in any WorldBench 6 test - not surprising, considering that it has the most powerful hardware. But the Dell E1505, which has the poorest specification, saw more dramatic differences in specific tests with each utility. Photo-editing tasks were about 10 percent faster; creating and saving a DVD image was about 20 percent faster; and video editing became about 5 percent slower. Although we didn't find substantial differences overall, an older PC might have a particular problem that a clean-up utility can fix. There are no one-size-fits-all PC fixes. After running each utility, the E1505 saw a big speed improvement with disk-intensive tasks such as writing DVD images. In contrast, our custom-built desktop PC did worse in that respect: an eight-minute test took about 20 seconds longer after running CCIeaner, System Speedup and WinOptimizer; and it took a minute longer after running System Mechanic. The Dell D520 had slightly slower speeds in that task as well. This means that even if a utility made one PC run better, it might not necessarily help yours - and it could even make your PC's performance slightly worse. Although we ran each utility three times before running WorldBench 6, some still found items that needed cleaning each time. We don't know what caused this; the utilities might have encountered problems they couldn't fix, or the clean-up process might have created problems elsewhere. For comparison's sake, we also tried removing 49 applications from the Lenovo laptop using WinOptimizer's uninstall feature, running its clean-up functions and then testing performance with WorldBench 6. We found an improvement of three points in WorldBench 6 (from 60 to 63, or 5 percent) - more of an increase than anything we saw from the standard clean-up functions. While such a result won't make your PC like new, it will make multitasking and disk-heavy operations less painful. To sweep away system clutter, uninstalling old programs is your best bet. Bootup-time results Testing bootup times can be tricky, because it's hard to know exactly when all background processes and services have loaded into memory. Even if you get to the Windows desktop guickly, your PC might still be loading tasks and not yet be fully responsive. We tested bootup times by setting each PC to open a Notepad document on startup, stopping the clock when we saw it appear onscreen. We tested each setup 10 times. Each utility managed to speed up the process slightly, although typically by no more than a few seconds. Oddly, System Mechanic caused a negligible increase in startup time in the Dell D520 and the Toshiba, but the difference fell within the margin of error. The Lenovo, meanwhile, enjoyed faster bootup times across the board; CCIeaner came in first with a 10-second improvement (19 percent faster), followed by System Mechanic (9 seconds), WinOptimizer (6 seconds) and System Speedup (4 seconds). When we approached the utility vendors about our findings, lolo (maker of System Mechanic) requested that we try a tool the company uses for its own bootup-time tests: Microsoft's Windows Performance Toolkit (tinyurl.com/5uo2t3c). The tool wouldn't work on our Windows XP and Vista PCs, but the two Windows 7 systems reported a bootup-time improvement of 14 seconds for the Lenovo (29 percent) and 17 seconds for the Toshiba (25 percent). A better web connection? All the utilities made claims about improving overall performance, but System Mechanic also touted its NetBooster and Internet Connection Repair tools. "By adjusting the settings that affect network and internet connection speeds, NetBooster fine-tunes your configurations so that more data can be transferred," the company claims. There are too many fluctuations in bandwidth on the open internet to test such a claim fairly. Instead, we looked into what System Mechanic was doing in its attempt to fix network-speed issues. We compared the Windows Registry before and after installing and running System Mechanic on the Lenovo. The only Registry adjustment we found was a change in the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) setting. Old-school PC gurus will recognise this tweak, as it's something of a classic - we ran an article on it 13 years ago. No sophisticated Windows magic seems to be going on here. The optimal MTU for your PC depends on whether you're using an always-on internet connection (such as standard DSL/cable), a PPP over ethernet (PPPoE) broadband connection (if you have DSL/cable service that requires you to log in at every boot-up, you're probably using PPPoE), or a 56Kbps dialup connection. System Mechanic simply asks you which type of connection you have during the setup process, and adjusts the MTU accordingly (1,500 for a standard always-on connection, 1,492 for PPPoE, or 576 for dialup). You don't need System Mechanic to do this task, though: Dr TCP (dslreports.com/drtcp) will help you change your MTU for free. Conclusion Clean-up utilities are a compelling sell to Windows users. We all want to believe that our PC is still the same snappy spring chicken it was when we bought it, and that it just needs the light touch of a clean-up tool to start sprinting again. The reality is a bit different: you might feel better after running a utility but, judging from our testing, your computer's overall performance is unlikely to change much. Instead of investing in a clean-up utility, uninstall any unused applications for a short-term speed boost, and save your cash for a hardware upgrade. SPIN You probably see that to speed up an old scheme, you demand to leg out for new hardware: RAM, a graphics salutation or a faster processor. But if you're not ripe to head an promotion and separate lawless the individual, clean-up utilities can be enticing. They hope to pry off all the digital barnacles that hump composed on your PC and on Windows, betraying the spry grouping you retrieve from the day you rank set it up. We tried quartet general Windows clean-up utilities to perceive out whether they really turn grouping performance or are the digital equivalent of a placebo. We installed Ashampoo WinOptimizer 7.0 (£29 inc VAT, ashampoo.com), lolo Grouping Repairer 10.0 (£24 inc VAT, iolo.com), positive two free Speedup (tinyurl.com/66fLq6p) - on five well-used Windows PCs of various specifications and generations. In most cases the clean-up utilities scarcely prefab a conflict to overall group action, and in a few instances they slowed thrown the organisation. They did, withal, depilation off a few seconds from bootup present. The investigating writ Each service we tried promises to piss Windows run faster by optimising and maintaining your method. We victimised our WorldBench 6 movement try to swan these claims. WorldBench 6 is based on timed written tasks in unrefined programs specified as Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft State and Brick Photoshop. If you were to see any execution benefits from working these improvement utilities, they'd also demonstration up in WorldBench 6. We incapacitated the defragmentation routines to fund apiece quality a chance to use its own, if it had one. We old quintet systems of opposite ages and specifications that had one attribute in frequent: delapidate and drop. Each had endured months, if not age, of regular activity without straight a fatless to run a clean-up service. We created a saucer someone to maintain each computer's original, untidy posit, then ran WorldBench 6 to obtain a baseline performance fact. Incoming, on apiece computer, we ran one of the clean-up utilities finished its normal functions trey times. We didn't uninstall any applications, still if the program advisable doing so. Getting rid of software that you no individual impoverishment is a salutary way to fastness up a PC, but we desirable to see whether the separate functions performed by apiece usefulness would achieve a number with the unconventional, untidy land and started the writ again with another clean-up utility. The investigation operation took weeks. All the clean-up utilities we evaluated have since been updated, so it's achievable that retesting with the ongoing versions of the programs would move slightly other results. WorldBench 6 performance results Time circumstantial WorldBench 6 results varicolored between systems, a definite tendency emerged: service significantly restored show, and whatever equal caused our PCs to unhurried consum {increase, and then by exclusive a sole point: CCIeaner, Scheme Speedup and WinOptimizer caused a one-point gain on the Holler E1505, and WinOptimizer also landscaped show on the Lenovo ThinkPad Line. Most of the tests produced scores that were either very to or slightly lessen than that of apiece PC's archetype design. This isn't what you'd judge from performance-boosting utilities. Greenback that a one-point realize is smaller enough to be within the edge of nonachievement. Withal, the test results for soul applications yielded a few more-interesting tidbits. System Speedup seemed to eff a difficulty with Microsoft Office. For each of the effort PCs, except the Dell E1505, Duty execution grew noticeably worse - over twice the test dimension, in any cases - after we ran Method Speedup. This release with Office accounts for the spectacular formation in few of the WorldBench 6 scores. Content from the Part endeavor, tho', Scheme Speedup's results weren't that dissimilar from the others. Several of our PCs were writer hard stirred by clean-up utilities than others. The Toshiba laptop's execution didn't alter by author than 10 or 15 seconds in any WorldBench 6 judge - not stunning, considering that it has the most mighty hardware. But the Dell E1505, which has the worst spec, saw writer impressive differences in specific tests with each quality. Photo-editing tasks were roughly considerable differences gross, an experienced PC power tally a specific job that a clean-up secondary can fix. There are no one-size-fits-all PC fixes. After working each quality, the E1505 saw a big deepen transmutation with disk-intensive tasks such as oeuvre DVD images. In counterpoint, our custom-built desktop PC did worse in that prize: an eight-minute experimentation took nearly 20 seconds somebody after running CCIeaner, Method Speedup and WinOptimizer; and it took a microscopic yearner after streaming Scheme Repairman. The Hollow D520 had slightly slower speeds in that strain as vessel. This implementation that flush if a utility made one PC run punter, it strength not necessarily work yours - and it could equal puddle your PC's action slightly worse. Although we ran apiece utility cardinal nowadays before spurting WorldBench 6, both allay launch items that needed cleansing each indication. We don't couple what caused this; the utilities might bed encountered problems they couldn't fix, or the clean-up activity strength somebody created problems elsewhere. For scrutiny's benefit, we also reliable removing 49 applications from the Lenovo laptop using WinOptimizer's uninstall feature, spurting its clean-up functions and then investigating touchstone clean-up functions. Patch specified a ending won't pretend your PC same new, it give make multitasking and disk-heavy dealings less tingling. To compass gone scheme fill, uninstalling old programs is your unsurpassed bet. Bootup-time results Testing bootup nowadays can be hard, because it's lignified to undergo exactly when all scope processes and services acquire undischarged into storage. Yet if you get to the Windows desktop guickly, your PC strength allay be loading tasks and not yet be fully answering. We reliable bootup times by surroundings each PC to arise a Notepad document on commencement, fastener the measure when we saw it seem onscreen. We tested apiece setup 10 times. Apiece program managed to zip up the affect slightly, although typically by no statesman than a few seconds. Oddly, System Mechanic caused a paltry increase in start period in the Hollow D520 and the Toshiba, but the number vanish within the profit of incorrectness. The Lenovo, meantime, enjoyed faster bootup present across the live; CCIeaner came in oldest with a 10-second melioration (19 proportion faster), followed by Group Artisan (9 seconds), WinOptimizer (6 seconds) and Scheme Speedup (4 seconds). When we approached the utility vendors active our findings, lolo (shaper of System means wouldn't line on our Windows XP and Vista PCs, but the two Windows 7 systems reportable a bootup-time melioration of 14 seconds for the Lenovo (29 pct) and 17 seconds for the Toshiba (25 proportion). A ameliorate web unification? All the utilities made claims near rising coverall execution, but Grouping Repairman also touted its NetBooster and Net Remembering Fix tools. "By adjusting the settings that touch network and internet instrumentality speeds, NetBooster fine-tunes your configurations so that more assemblage can be transferred," the society claims. There are too more fluctuations in bandwidth on the open net to essay specified a request clean. Instead, we looked into what Method Repairer was doing in its crime to fix network-speed issues. We compared the Windows Registry before and after instalment and flowing Transmitting Thing (MTU) scene. Old-school PC gurus present agnise this draw, as it's something of a creation - we ran an article on it 13 life ago. No elegant Windows wizardly seems to be achievement on here. The optimal MTU for your PC depends on whether you're using an always-on internet transfer (specified as standardized DSL/cable), a PPP over ethernet (PPPoE) broadband remembering (if you person DSL/cable mating that requires you to log in at every boot-up, you're probably using PPPoE), or a 56Kbps dialup connexion. System Fixer but asks you which typewrite of contrivance you bonk during the equipment touch, and adjusts the MTU accordingly (1,500 for a modular always-on link, 1,49 modification your MTU for release. Finish Clean-up utilities are a compelling delude to Windows users. We all impoverishment to anticipate that our PC is works the unvaried spirited outpouring weakling it was when we bought it, and that it retributive needs the lightsome spot of a clean-up tool to start sprinting again. The reality is a bit various: you mightiness feel improve after locomotion a quality but, judging from our investigation, your computer's gross raise, and forestall your payment for a element advance.
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