| Upgrading your PC | | Print | |
showroom floor, doesn’t mean you have to buy it. Save yourself money and upgrade.
With the price of computers these days, it is important to get the most out of your
purchase. So you are may not be a computer whiz, you can still make some
additions to bring your computer up to date.
Upgrading your computer is cost effective and it can help you learn a little more
about the technology you are dying to have. Choose the tasks you are going to
tackle and get out your tool box. Not that you’ll be using it much, but keep it close
anyway. You will need a screwdriver or two and a little bit of patience.
Of course, there is a point when you have to say goodbye to your old PC but only if
your PC is more than three or four years old. In that case, you might as well spend
the extra money and get a new one. Computer technology has made major leaps
and bounds in the last few years. If your computer is three years old or older, you
won’t be able to upgrade enough to really make a difference.
Before you upgrade your computer system there are a few things you should think
about. What are you using your PC for? Are you browsing the net and performing
runof- the-mill applications? Then you could upgrade and improve on the aspects of
your computer that you are displeased with.
Adding memory to your computer is a popular and inexpensive upgrade that might
bring your PC back into good standing. It will increase speed and give you the ability
to access some of the newer games available. Taking your RAM up to 256MB can
have a major impact on the way you view your system. More memory also reduces
the potential of your PC freezing up. And you can do all of this for under fifty dollars
and if you know where the bargains are, for under thirty bucks.
Additional hard drive space is always desirable. No matter what you do with your PC,
more hard drive space is a good thing. If you want to download movies and keep
MP3 files, you will need more room. This is another frugal way to upgrade. Hard
drives are beginning to come in underneath the hundred dollar bar. This option will
give you more storage and speed. You can replace your current one or plug in a
second hard drive without breaking your bank.
Does your computer have a CD-RW drive? If not, get one of these nifty toys to
create your own CD’s. Save your most important files on CD’s. Make a copy of those
digital photos of the new baby and pass them along to everyone. Design your
personal techno mix for the long commute. Just like everything else that hit that
market a while ago, CD-RW drives are down in price.
Are you a photo fiend? Join the club.
If you are one of the many that loves graphics, you will be ecstatic with a new
graphics card. Images will burst with color and life. A graphics card will increase the
speed of deliverance as well as improve resolution. Get a graphics card to get the full
experience of the photos from your digital camera.
If you are a gamer these are a must have. Don’t go for the professional graphics
cards though. They will run you a couple of hundred dollars. Get a decently priced
layman’s graphics card.
Maybe a new monitor will satisfy your upgrade urge. This is a nice option because it
will continue to be useful when you get a new PC. Go with a snazzy new flat screen.
You won’t regret getting one of the crisp, new shiny models. Newer monitors are
very easy on the eyes and take up little space.
Whatever upgrades you choose, be smart about it. Don’t try to get the priciest
features because they may not be compatible with your computer. Also remember
that you can’t catch technology by the tail and hold it. Face it; you will be replacing
the computer you have eventually, so stick with the easy, useful upgrades. They will
tide you over until you are ready to purchase a new PC.
The Five Most Popular Computer Upgrades
Most everyone with a computer is looking to have the fastest, most efficient
computer filled with the latest computer technology. To keep up with the continual
changes as technology becomes more and more advanced; it requires complete
upgrades on the computer.
But, what are the best computer upgrades available?
Memory Upgrade One of the most popular computer upgrades is a memory upgrade.
A memory upgrade is one of the easiest ways to boost the performance of a PC.
Before making a memory upgrade, first check the BIOS operating system to
determine how much memory is already on the system.
To make a memory upgrade, it is also necessary to open the case of the computer to
find how many modules are currently installed and how many slots are still empty. It
may be necessary to take some out and replace them with larger modules if all of
the slots are already full.
After finding out the current memory situation, review the operating system and
application programs to determine how much memory is needed to make the
computer perform at its optimal level. In general, these programs provide a
minimum and a recommended rating. To reach the fullest potential of the computer,
the memory should meet or exceed the recommended level.
Before running out and buying a memory upgrade, however, check the computer
manual or go directly to the motherboard to find out what type of memory is
supported by the current computer operating system. If this information isn’t
gathered, the memory upgrade may not work.
When buying a memory upgrade module, it is best to buy the largest amount of
memory with the least number of modules. This way, there is room for growth in the
future. For example, instead of buying two 128MB modules, purchase one 256 MB
module.
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