Crash Course on Upgrading Your PC

Investing in a new computer can be quite a hassle, especially if you do not have too much money to spend on the latest gadget. If you still want to play some new release of video games that are simply too much for your old computer, then the right solution to your problem is named upgrade. This method will end up costing you less money, but you need to be smart about it.

Computer components work together in a consensus, which means that you must keep in mind the limitations they exert on one another. For instance, the motherboard of your computer allows only a certain amount of memory to be placed on it, so do not throw your cash away for something like it. So, the first step is to right down your PC current configuration, marking which parts can support an upgrade.

Memory-also known as RAM or random access memory-should be at the top of your list when considering your upgrade plan. Installing more memory usually results in a noticeable spring in your PC's step and a saving of cash. Before purchasing more RAM, be sure to consult your PC's manual to discover the type of memory your PC's motherboard is compatible with.

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.

Another aspect that must stand at the foundation of your upgrade plan is the main uses your machine performs for. If you are a 3D video games fanatic, or you work with complex and resource consuming graphic software, then upgrading your graphic chip is next on your list. This is among the most expensive investments in your upgrade, so evaluate the situation while cold headed.

If you use your machine just for surfing the web, writing e-mails and Word documents, then take the graphics card off the list. Remember, we are talking hard cold cash here, and it will be too expensive to purchase a $600 graphics card just to play Solitaire. There are also other aspects, if your graphics card is too old and it is need of dire replacement. See what kind of slot your motherboard has for the graphics card - PCI, PCI Express or AGP and plan your purchases accordingly.

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.

Another great plus of new hard drives is that they come with a special software that provide you with the ability to transfer all of your old hard drive into the new one. This means that you do not have to install Windows all over again and you do not have to appeal to intermediary backup solutions just for this. You will surely enjoy the advantage of having a new faster hard drive that will save and load files at a speedier rate than you experienced before.

There are also other aspects to be regarded when upgrading your PC. If your model is a brand computer, such as Dell, HP or IBM, putting on a new motherboard may prove to be quite a challenge. So, changing the motherboard during your upgrade effort may require other expenses, such as a new case for your computer.

Upgrading the components in your PC can give your old computer a much needed spring in its step. But before you open up your wallet and your PC's case, be sure to have a game plan before performing transplant surgery on your box.

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Kay Brenner is a PC errors consultant who specializes in restoring your slow PC, saving you from the hassles of struggling with a sick computer. To learn how to avoid computer problems, download a free PC Tune Up

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