Computer
upgrades using new components are a great way to keep up-to-date
in today's fast paced computer industry.
It
doesn't take long before what was state of the art becomes just
so-so.
Unless you are running a single, specialized application to which
your PC is dedicated at some point, and probably sooner than you
would like, you are going to need to do a computer upgrade.
Upgrading
can but does not necessarily mean buying a whole new computer.
Component upgrades are a great way to keep your system up-to-date
and extend its life span. For this reason we recommend buying
computer systems that use industry standard, modular architecture
rather than an all-in-one design with everything built onto the
motherboard unless you can disable
the built-in system(s) and add standard replacement function cards.
(This is often the case with video, sound, and networking functions.)
Systems
that are not modular or that use nonstandard architecture and
components prevent easily upgrading individual subsystems.
When to Upgrade
Your PC
How
often you should upgrade depends on what you use your PC for.
Causal home use will probably not require upgrading as frequently
as a computer used daily in a work environment. The practical
criteria for deciding when to upgrade are:
- Your
computer is no longer able to run applications that you need
or want to use.
- The
speed at which you are getting things done on the computer is
costing you money or is frustratingly slow.
The
key to evaluating your need for upgrading and in determining what
kind of an upgrade you need lies in clearly identifying where
your system is inadequate, and what your plans are for computing
in the future.
It
is silly to buy a whole new PC just to get a faster modem for
improved Internet access for example. On the other hand if several
of the major components of your computer system have aged to the
point of inadequacy it may be less expensive and/or less trouble
to replace the whole system with a new one rather than to trying
to replace several major subsystems. This is particularly true
if the industry is shifting to a new standard, as was the case
when the PCI bus replaced ISA bus as the PC standard, and your
system is based on the older standard.
Typical Upgrade
Components
Different
parts of your computer system may become obsolete at different
times. The major components or subsystems within a computer that
can be upgraded independently typically include:
- Motherboard
and/or CPU and memory
- Disk
drive storage
- Video
card and/or display
Secondary
components that may be upgraded include:
- Network
cards
- Pointing
devices - mice, trackballs, and graphics tablets
- Keyboards
- Modems
- Sound
systems
- I/O
cards
Upgrading
Tips
If
money is not an issue, go for the latest, fastest, and best industry
standard equipment, but avoid the radically different and unproved
designs unless they give you a significant advantage.
If
spending less and getting more is important, consider buying one
or maybe two generations behind the latest developments. Typically
this equipment is more than adequate for any current application
and has a good chance of continuing to be useful for some time
to come while at the same time providing a considerable cost savings
over the latest, just released model.
Finding Upgrade
Components
You
can find the component you need to upgrade your system or even
a whole new system and have it shipped directly to you using our
Online
Computer Store. Simply enter the upgrade computer part you
are looking for such as hard disk, sound card, or video card in
the box below and then click on search.
Or
click
here to enter the online store and use the menu system to
find the parts you want.
Additional
Memory Upgrade Resource
Upgrade
your memory straight from the factory. Crucial Technology, The
Memory Experts.
