Introduction
If your computer system is running a bit slow or isn't able to run the
latest operating system, you may be thinking about upgrading your
computer hardware. Before you do upgrade, take a look at the following:
- RAM - If you haven't already "maxed out" your computer's RAM, adding more RAM could do the trick.
- Hard Drive - Replacing an internal hard drive is relatively inexpensive, but requires some computer know-how.
- Cabling and Ports - Parallel and SCSI ports are on the way out, while USB and Firewire are becoming the norm.
- CPU - If your CPU is old and slow, chances are an upgrade is available.
- Motherboard - the physical arrangement in a computer that contains the computer's basic circuitry and components
RAM
Every computer has a maximum amount of RAM that can be added. Check
the documentation that came with your computer to determine how much
RAM it can handle.
Most current operating systems run best with at least 128Mb of RAM, and preferably 256Mb or more.
Check RAM prices at one of the resources listed below, and make a
note of how much it would cost to boost your computer up to 256Mb of
RAM. Hard Drive
If you are using your computer primarily for office tasks, and have an
average number of documents, a 60Gb hard drive should be more than
sufficient for an up-to-date operating system, your office and Internet
applications, and all your files.
Removing an existing internal hard drive and replacing it with a
higher-capacity drive is something best done by a professional. If you
do install a new drive, be sure to backup your existing data before
making the switch.
If you merely wish to add to your storage capacity, you can add a
second internal (if your computer has a second drive bay) or an
external hard drive.
Use the resources listed below to determine how much it would cost to boost your total hard drive capacity to 60Gb. Cabling & Ports
The means by which computers communicate with peripheral devices
such as printers, CD burners and scanners have changed over the years.
Check the ports on the side or back of your computer and look for the USB  and Firewire 
symbols. If your computer doesn't have USB or Firewire ports, it may
require additional work to connect to new devices. The latest digital
cameras, digital camcorders, printers, CD burners, external storage
devices, and scanners all use USB or Firewire.
Of course, if you already have several devices that use SCSI  and/or
parallel port technology, you may wish to extend the life of your
existing computer as long as possible, rather than purchase new USB and
Firewire devices that would work with a newer computer.
If you are thinking of buying a new computer, but have existing SCSI
and parallel port devices, several vendors offer converters that allow
some
older devices to work with newer computers.
This can be a tricky equation, but the proliferation of options
used in the past has been shrunk down to USB and Firewire. Both
technologies work for Macintosh and Windows computers, and will
continue to do so for some time. Because of this consolidation,
USB and Firewire devices also tend to be cheaper than the comparable
parallel and SCSI devices they replace. CPU
Motherboard upgrades are often fairly inexpensive, offering an easy
route to a much faster computer. By replacing your computer's
"motherboard", you are also replacing the CPU, the heart of your
computer. Therefore it's a good idea to enlist the assistance of a
professional, or at least someone comfortable with hardware upgrades.
There are other components on the motherboard, which affect overall
system speed. Cheaper upgrades often gloss over some of these details,
leaving you with a CPU that doesn't run at peak efficiency. While
examining hardware reviews is always important when upgrading, in
the case of CPU upgrades, it's critical. Compare Costs
Now take a look at your favorite computer vendor's website, and find
out how much it would cost to purchase a computer with the same CPU you
were thinking of upgrading to, with a 60Gb hard drive, 512Mb of RAM,
USB and Firewire ports.
Compare this to the cost of the CPU
upgrade, new hard drive, and RAM you would purchase in order to achieve
the same configuration for your existing computer.
Finally, take into account how much (or how little) you use external
devices such as scanners, digital cameras, CD burners, and so on. If
you have a printer that works, and you don't intend to attach any other
devices to
your computer, an upgrade may be right for you.
If you're interested in adding digital photography and video-editing
capabilities to your computer within the next year or two, a new
computer with USB and Firewire may be your best bet. |
