Your PC can only run the way it's supposed to if you take care of it, and that means making sure that it's in top shape with both the system and hardware components. A general checkup should be done at least every three to six months, and here are the things you should look into.

1. Dust Buildup

One of the things you'll notice first is the dust buildup in your PC tower, as well as the top of your monitor. If you regularly clean your PC at least twice a month, then you won't have any trouble cleaning it out. All you need is an appropriate blower of a can of compressed air to remove them, and then gently wipe off the stubborn particles.

2. Monitor Condition

Monitors in desktops are not often touched, so you'll probably see little to no smudges that you need to wipe out. It's a different story with laptops, so you'll have to wipe it down more often. Furthermore, you should check the condition of the monitor to see if there are dead pixels, flickering, or other issues that might need fixing.

3. Cables and Connections

You know well enough that cables and other connections are what makes your PC run properly. If you clean your PC tower, some of them may have shifted or come off. Make sure that everything is cleaned and connected. Organize them so that you'll have an easier time cleaning them next time, and so they won't affect the ventilation inside your computer.

4. Operating System

Operating systems get updates almost every month to issue bug fixes and security patches, as well as new features. You need to make sure that your OS is the latest version to prevent complications with certain apps, and so your computer will not be vulnerable to more advanced security risks. You can always enable automatic updates to save yourself the trouble.

5. Antivirus Scans

If you can do antivirus scans more frequently than quarterly intervals, then you should do so. Scanning your PC for malware or viruses every three months is the bare minimum, and it will allow you to take security measures if problems do come up. With regular scans, you'll avoid risks like having corrupted files or bad actors stealing your data.

Read Also: Proper Way to Deep Clean Your PC Tower

6. Deleting Unnecessary Files/Apps

If your PC is starting to slow down, then there several things that can be causing it. One of them would be having its storage full. If you happen to download a lot of files, you should also regularly check which ones you no longer need or no longer use. Check your downloads folder since most can be found there.

7. Update Your Drivers

Drivers are what make sure your apps run efficiently and effectively. Outdated ones can result in poor or faulty performance, and you might encounter compatibility problems as well. Some of the updates you should look for include those for your video card, chipset, BIOS, keyboard, mouse, sound card, and many more.

Related: 6 Do's and Don'ts: Computer Hardware and System Maintenance