Looking for guidance on software solutions?
Looking for guidance on software solutions?
You shouldn't rely on system care tools. Choose what you install thoughtfully and performance should remain stable over time. EDIT: if you need to block certain programs from creating or modifying files, consider sandboxing them during operation. http://www.sandboxie.com/ I've tried this myself for as long as the demo was available and it performed well. EDIT2: this method applies when using an HDD—performance improvements on an SSD aren't guaranteed, but your rig likely has some HDDs that could help.
Most PC optimizers seem to interfere with the operating system's resource handling. The same applies to registry cleaners. I suggest avoiding PC optimizers and registry cleaners altogether. Stick with a basic antivirus like Microsoft Security Essentials for protection. Use CCleaner consistently. WinDirStat helps track drive usage, while Secunia PSI checks program security. If you have a Samsung SSD, RAPID works well. RAMDisk can act as a cache during large file downloads or unpacking to reduce stress on the SSD.
I haven't really worked with this kind of program since Windows XP. The issue seems to have started early on. The only cleaner I'd suggest is CCleaner, mainly to tidy up your browser and system files regularly—about once a month if you're concerned about taking up space.
It shouldn't yield any benefit using an SSD since these devices ignore fragmentation issues. Unlike traditional HDDs, each sector on an SSD theoretically has identical access times. Therefore, even if files are scattered across the SSD's sectors, performance shouldn't be affected.