Want your computer to zip along the information superhighway at stock-car speeds? Use these cheap tips to get it up to speed--save your dough for Quake 14.

Tip #1: De-fragment routinely

If files aren't launching quickly, give your hard drive a flossing. "As data is saved, your computer will put it wherever it can find space," says Dan Amrich, an editor at GamePro magazine. "After two weeks up to 15 percent of your data could be out of place." In Windows, use the de-fragmenter on your Start menu, or a program like Norton Utilities (www.norton.com) to bitch slap your files back in order.

Tip#2: Use an Internet cache

If you visit some Web sites more than others--say, a few containing the word moist--caching software like NetSonic saves Web pages to your hard drive. "The next time you visit the page, the page will load instantly from your cache," explains CNET associate producer Hunter Hoffman. A shareware (read:free!) version of NetSonic waits at www.download.com.

Tip#3: Update your video driver

If your machine has a video accelerator, odds are the driver software for it has been improved. "New ways to optimize chips and codes are constantly being found," says Amrich. A quick upgrade from your video-board manufacturer's home page(3dfx.com, Nvidia.com, and ATI.com are the big three) will help your games run more smoothly. If you're into that sort of thing.