Before upgrading you need to know what uses you will be using the computer for.
If you want it for just office work you won’t need a high powered computer you could get a very basic computer for a very small price, you could use onboard audio, video and network connector’s this will take more RAM space but because you will not be using so much of it for your gaming its okay.
But if you are looking for a computer to handle high quality games you will be spending a lot more money for high powered hardware and more than likely you will need nearly all new stuff, such as the main part your motherboard as if you are running a older computer it is very likely that you will not be able to run a better CPU which you would need to run high quality games then if your motherboard doesn’t accept certain parts which you used on the old motherboard you would also need to get more components, for example if you used to use SDRAM you might only be able to use DDR.
Recommending certain hardware components it is possible to run into compatibility problems such as if you recommended a AGP graphics card not all computers will have a AGP slot only a PCI-E slot which means you won’t be able to use the graphics card you will have to buy a new PCI-E graphics card.
Maybe you are installing a new motherboard and want a old hard disk drive that already has Microsoft Windows XP installed on it they will not let you use it for piracy issues meaning you would not be able to use your old programs, or access your files unless you have something that allows you to read what’s on the hard disk. The best way around this it to reinstall windows XP or repair it as it will reconfigure all your settings for the motherboard. This may not apply for Linux or Windows versions below XP.
So when installing any new components you need to check what you can use such as the RAM common types are SDRAM and DDR with DDR there is all different types measuring in MHZ to find the correct type you will need to check the manual for the motherboard or the computer, if you don’t have the manual you can check your BIOS it will tell you what RAM you are currently using and the aim of that would be to try and match what you have.
By installing new hardware you will be expecting a faster computer (if you got the correct components allowing you to play games at a higher quality or just browse the internet faster because if you have installed a new graphics card for example it will not use as much RAM from your main computer as it has ‘RAM’ on the graphics card, the same can go for soundcards.
Comment Kian Ann
Hey Mike,
Actually, I think a lot of people upgrade “for the sake of upgrading”… especially computer enthusiasts! Heh. I was there before. Choosing a $700 2Ghz chip instead of a $300 1.4Ghz one, when I’m not even maximizing it with games or applications that require that kind of processing power.
After getting started with my laptop, I realise it takes the load off - I don’t spend quite as much on the computer any more, but that money is channeled to gadgets~! heh.
Comment Mike Markie
Ah yes, I would have to agree with you I upgrade just for the sake of it the difference in having a 3ghz Vs my old 1.8ghz was a big difference in the use of my programs though as I use things like Photoshop and other things that use a lot of processing power with the 1.8 I had to have everything on low quality settings so I could use the program but with a 3ghz it is so much easier and faster, and as people are saying its “future proof” will last along time untill I want a new one :D, all the things you can get now are mad though like 2×512mb graphics cards using SLI technology must be a dream for running games :D.