How's your memory? Is your processor in over its head? Having a bazillion-bits-per-second online connection hooked up to an underpowered computer is like filling a Dixie cup with a fire hose. A slow processor and too little RAM are major setbacks to a vibrant Net connection.

If you hear the hard disk thrashing when there's no activity onscreen, you've run short of RAM. Your system is swapping bits of data to and from your hard disk's virtual memory cache. And if the machine pauses unexpectedly, and you don't hear your hard disk thrashing, the poor processor is straining under the weight of all that code you're running.

So, how do you deal with chronic CPU or RAM overloads? Before you rush to invest more money in your system, try closing the programs you're not using. That frees up memory instantly and releases other system resources, too. Sure, it's a pain to open and close Excel or Photoshop several times a day, but it could save you a lot more in connection time.

If that's not helpful, hit the upgrade road. In general, buying more RAM is a cheaper and easier upgrade than buying a new PC, and the benefits are substantial. A shortage of RAM causes the biggest delays in the widest variety of computing tasks, including surfing the Web. If you have less than 64MB on a Windows 98 machine, you need to add more RAM. For other hardware-related tips, read on.

Optimize Your Hardware
Having a fast processor doesn't automatically give you a fast Internet connection. Performance bottlenecks within your system can still make or break an Internet connection, and your hard drive may be the cause. Your drive contains two important file areas: a virtual memory swap file and a folder that contains your browser's cache files. The drive's ability to access these areas can either speed up or slow down your browser and your Net connection.

Defrag Your Drive
Windows allocates both the swap file and the cache dynamically, meaning your hard drive finds space for them wherever it can. If they end up in inconvenient places, your hard disk will waste time looking for them. You'll know because you'll hear the drive spinning as you surf. So it's crucial to keep your hard disk defragmented, or optimized, especially if you hear it milling around as you experience holdups in your Web connection.

Windows comes with its own defragmentation program. For best results, run it once a month.

To use Windows 95/98's defragmentation tool:

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It's also important to keep your hard drive from getting too full. Large drives are cheaper and faster than ever, so keep that in mind if you're upgrading.

And don't forget to update your software regularly. The newest versions of drivers and utilities are usually faster than the older versions, so always use current Windows service packs and updates, modem drivers, and TCP/IP stacks. If you're not sure what's been updated, check your software vendors' Web sites.

As a shortcut, use McAfee's free PC CheckUp Center to determine which software updates you need.

Pump Up Your Serial Port
Once your hard drive is in tune, take a quick look at your serial port to make sure that it's running at its fastest. To do this, you have to put all of its data buffers (temporary storage areas) to work. As its name suggests, a serial port sends data in a series--a stream of information bits, one after the other. To optimize that data stream, your serial port has two small but important buffers in which it temporarily saves information that piles up when the incoming or outgoing data stream gets out of sync. Each buffer can hold up to 16 bytes of data, just enough to make a big difference when your computer and modem communicate. Windows lets you choose the amount of buffer space your serial port uses, but if you're using a Pentium-grade system with a fast (14.4 kbps or higher) modem, you'll want to maximize those settings. Here's how.

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