Which factor can significantly improve system performance during intensive tasks?

Upgrading RAM can significantly enhance system performance, especially during intensive tasks, because RAM serves as the primary workspace for the CPU. More RAM allows a computer to hold more data and applications in active memory, reducing the need for the system to access the much slower hard drive or SSD for data retrieval. This results in quicker processing times and improved multitasking capabilities, as the system is less likely to experience bottlenecks when managing multiple applications or handling memory-intensive tasks like video editing, gaming, or large data analysis.

While other choices might have some impact, they do not provide the same level of benefit in terms of immediate performance gains during intensive tasks. For instance, while increasing non-volatile memory may improve data storage capacity, it does not directly enhance speed for active tasks. Reducing the number of software applications can help free up resources, but it might not be a feasible solution for users needing all those applications. Using external storage options can help with additional space but does not enhance the processing speed of current tasks directly since such storage is typically slower than RAM. Therefore, upgrading RAM is the most effective way to significantly improve system performance under load.