How PC Performance Impacts Office Productivity

Old hardware, lack of system resources and out of date computers can create a lot of time spent waiting before you can actually get to work. But just how much time does it add up to?

Take a look around your office. In a given day, how much time does your team waste waiting for slow computers to boot up or load programs?

Updating your PCs isn’t about buying new toys; it’s about making your systems more efficient and making it easier to get your work done. From hardware upgrades, like adding RAM or new graphics cards, to software updates, such as service packs or new programs, you can optimize your machines in a number of ways.

But are upgrades like these worth it? And if so, how do they boost day-to-day office productivity in the real world?

• Time: The minutes that a faster machine saves — at start-up, at shutdown and in managing programs in between — may seem like small gains. Over time, however, these minutes can add up quickly. Imagine recapturing just 10 minutes a day, Monday through Friday, doing actual work instead of waiting out that irritating little hourglass on your screen. At nearly an hour each week, this translates to a full week of added work time a year — per employee.
• Speed: Even a basic upgrade can have a real, immediate impact on your ability to cruise through the task at hand. Swapping out your graphics card, for example, allows you to add a second monitor to your desktop — and increase your productivity by as much as 20 to 30 percent.[1]
• Multitasking: Optimized computers allow you to multitask, which is essential to getting stuff done. If you're running several programs at once throughout your day (and who isn't?), "overclocking" or adding RAM will let you switch seamlessly between programs without draining your hard drive.
• Reliability: Better protection against system failures, crashes and viruses not only makes for fewer interruptions (and less frustrated employees), but also for less time spent on IT assistance. Whether you're tapping dedicated IT staff or wasting your own time on the horn getting advice, a sound machine means far fewer interruptions. That's especially good news if you’re tech support, too.

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