Computer Running Slow? Upgrade or Replace

At some point you have been bogged down with a slow computer, one that doesnt quite respond like it used to. With the low costs of new computers, you have a difficult decision, should I upgrade or should I just replace.

If youre in the market for a new computer, you can spend anywhere from $7,000 for a hot gaming PC, down to $300 on a stripped down basic computer, the choice is yours. Although the optimal price for a computer usually is around $1,000-$1,500. Thats a good computer, but not so good that youre paying top dollar for cutting edge technology.

But, with a modest budget of around $30-250, you can get the most common computer upgrades, memory, video cards, monitors, or processors.

One very good tip is to always stay a generation or two behind the leading edge. For instance right now (April 2007) a GE Force 8800 GTX costs around $550-700. Which is fine if you must have the best equipment? But, you can purchase a GE Force 7900 which is only six months older for around $150. The cheaper version will almost always be more bang for the buck.

Computer processors seem to follow these same guidelines, by buying an older processor you can usually buy a great processor for about a third of the price of the best one on the market. Usually in the $200-300 range finds the best deals on processors. What youll find is that you get almost as much power as the top of the line at a fraction of the price.

In almost all upgrades, I recommend buying more computer memory. For just a $100-200 you can usually significantly increase the memory in your computer and this typically is the most cost-effective upgrade you can make.

Most computer upgrades are useful at least once. After youve upgraded a component once, typically hardware technology changes so quickly that its rarely useful to upgrade the same item again. For instance, if you upgrade the video card after 2-3 years, in 2-3 years most likely youd be better off just getting a brand new computer.

The problem is, eventually it wont make sense to upgrade. After all, you cant keep throwing money at a losing cause. Most computers even 3 years old, cant use the best processors/video cards of today. But, if you make some good upgrade choices, a computer could last you anywhere from five to ten years.

Certain PC Users that play all the new games typically need to have better than average computer systems. These systems become obsolete fairly quickly, and need to be replaced more quickly. Usually a good solid gaming computer can last 2-3 years before it needs to be replaced with a newer system.

If you decide to move towards a new computer, it’s become much easier with USB drives that can make easy backups of your important files. You can buy a 100GB USB drive for around $100, which is very handy to keep all of your important data.

Some of the best deals on computer hardware can be found in your Sunday circulars. Oftentimes with rebates, you can get hardware much cheaper than what it normally costs. Of course you actually have to mail in the rebates, even I dont always remember to do that.

Once you have a feel for how much it would cost to upgrade versus the costs of a brand new computer, that should give you an a good idea of whether to upgrade or replace. If you can put in a $100-300 and use the computer for a few more years then it might be worth it to upgrade. However if the new hardware appeals to you, and its cost effective, replacing your current computer might make sense. Tough decision, but one that can pay off big dividends.

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