Be Smart About Your PC Upgrade

by: KayBrener
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Buying a new computer when the old one seems to have gotten too old for your taste may prove to be an expense that you cannot afford. Instead of cracking you head thinking about ways to make extra cash for such an investment, try upgrading your old computer so you can make it work as well as other, newer models. Here is the smartest way to do it.

Consider what your PC already has inside and make a note of it. There's no sense in upgrading your memory if you already have the maximum amount your motherboard will allow, and if you're seeking a performance boost, doubling your RAM can often be easier and cheaper than doing a CPU transplant. A good PC upgrade plan consists of knowing your current hardware, doing a little research, and finally, doing the hardware install.

The list of priorities for IT purchases must always start with the RAM. A little word of caution is necessary: take a look at your motherboard manual and other documentation concerning your existing hardware and see which type of RAM you must purchase. If the new RAM is not compatible with the rest of the computer, then it will be just wasted cash.

Buying RAM also depends on other considerations. For instance, a CPU with a high bus rate works well with a memory that has a low access time. In such situations, purchasing new or extra RAM is a must.

When I say graphics card, you see big cash saying good-bye to your wallet. Let me tell you something: you do not need an expensive, end of the line graphics card, unless you intend to run on your computer the latest 3D video games or complicated video editing software. If, instead, you do not care for all this and you are another type of user, then ponder more if you really need a new graphics card or not.

Graphics cards are quite expensive, so it is not worth spending over $600 only on this upgrade if you do not necessarily needed. For surfing the web, consulting your e-mail or writing text documents, making such a huge expense is simply useless. Another thing that must be kept in mind when purchasing a video card is to see which is the slot type your card goes on the motherboard. Whether is PCI, PCI Express or AGP, the new item must be compatible or otherwise, you will just throw money out the window.

With MP3s, digital photographs, and videos quickly eating up precious hard drive space, a hard drive upgrade is a must if you don't want to run out of space for future files. Grafting on an extra 200 gigabytes to your system for your files to reside on is faster and less of a hassle than having to backup to a thumb drive or DVD.

What is so convenient about new hard drives is that they are usually sold together with a piece of software meant to take all the information from your old data storage device, along with the already installed Windows and simply transfer it to the new one. With an improved hard drive, all the performances of your computer will live a new life.

Many PC gamers and aficionados upgrade their motherboards to stay on the cutting edge of computer technology. But if you've a plan for a new mobo, make sure you don't have a proprietary PC-think Dell, HP, IBM, et al.-as in some instances you'll need to purchase a new case just to get it to squeeze in, and you'll often spend several times as much for the newer main board than you did for the older one.

Even it is seems like a hassle, an upgrade to your PC will do justice to your needs and your wallet, as well. You will end up paying less than you would if you decided in favor of a new machine, but only if you plan thoroughly ahead.

About the Author

Kay Brenner is a PC Doctor expert who restores slow PCs, saving you from the hassles of struggling with a sick computer. To reclaim your dream machine you first bought, download a free PC Optimizer  

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