There are dozens of little things that ever PC user should know about your own computer. Whether it’s for minor troubleshooting, purchasing new software, or just to be able to answer the “What’s your IP address” questions from online tech support, we’ve compiled a list of the top 7 things you should know about your computer.

1. RAM Use and Processor Type

Access your Task Manager by pushing Ctrl+Shift+Esc at the same time. Click on the Performance tab. This will tell you how much RAM you are currently using. How much d o you need depends on your operating system and what you do with your PC. Gaming etc eats up a lot of memory. Windows XP runs best at 510 MB to 1 GB. Older operating systems can run with less memory.

To find out what CPU or processor your PC has, right-click on My Computer and click Properties.

2. Startup Entries

MS Config is short for Microsoft System Configuration Utility. It’s a special utility designed to troubleshoot the Windows startup process. It modifies the programs that run with startup and has editing power over some configuration files. It also simplifies Windows services controls.

To view what startup items are running on your PC:

1. Go to your Start menu and click on Run.

2. Type “MSCONFIG” in the search blank.

3. Click on the Startup tab.

4. Here you can disable or enable startup programs.

There are literally thousands of startup programs that may be running on your PC. So it’s best to research the programs first to determine whether or not they are essential to your PC’s performance. Non-essential ones can be disabled. The fewer startup programs, the less background work your PC has to do and the better the performance will be.

To research your startup items visit the sites below and find out which ones are essential and non-essential.

http://www.netsquirrel.com/msconfig/msconfig_xp.html

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

3. Know the Brand/Model/Version of Your Hardware

To find out what specific kind of hardware you need to access your Device Manager, follow the instructions below based on Windows version.

For XP Users

1. Click on your Start menu and then My Computer.

2. Under System Tasks, click on View System Information.

For Vista and 7 Users

1. Open your Start m enu and then click on Computer.

2. Click on System Properties.

3. Open Device Manager.

For Windows 2000 Users

1. Click on your Start menu and then Settings.

2. Under Settings, click on Control Panel and then double click on System.

3. Open the Hardware tab and then click on Device Manager.

To use the Device Manager to find out what the brand and version of specific hardware, double click on the device in the listing and open the General tab.

4. What’s my IP address?

Finding out what your PC’s IP address is, is pretty easy. Just follow these steps to open up a D OS window and get your IP information.

1. Click on Start and then All Programs.

2. Then under Accessories, click on Command Prompt.

3. When the command prompt opens, just type “ipconfig.” This will give you your PC’s IP address.

5. Ram Slots

To find out what time of RAM slots are available on your PC and what kind of motherboard you have, you can download Belarc for free. Belarc is a diagnostic utility that can display your PC’s specifications and provide a complete PC profile. Within this profile will be information about your PC’s available RAM slots. To download your free copy of Belarc, visit http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html.

6. Temperature Gauges

Your PC actually has an ideal running temperature. Get too high above that ideal, and your computer can start freezing up and developing other operational issues. To keep an eye on your PC’s fever, you can download a free temperature monitoring app from www.download.com. You can also take a look at Motherboard Monitor, Intel Active Monitor.

7. Internet Connection Speed

If your connection speed seems to be faltering, you can visit http://www.speedtest.net/ to see how fast your Internet connection actually is.

Speed Test is a free speed diagnostic utility that measures three qualities of a good connection.

1. Upload speed

2. Download speed

3. Ping (time it takes data to get sent from your PC to the Internet and back again)

Just visit the Speed Test web site and click on Begin Test. The diagnostic will begin immediately and you will have your results of your upload speed, download speed, and ping in no time!