Features - QOTW: How often do you upgrade your PC?

[bledd]

I used to do it every 6 months, either CPU/ram/mobo/gpu

Now it's more like every 3 years. Just went from Q6600, 4gb. To i5-2500k, 16gb. I'll be happy for a few years again.

[bobfoc]

Seems like there is a vast majority of us who no longer upgrade every year.

I have an i7 920 D0, and keep having the urge to upgrade but nothing seems to be a massive leap ahead.

Briefly owned a 2600K and board for a few days, but then sold it on for what I got it for as I didn't really notice much difference with what I use it for on a day to day basis. A few fps and native SATA 6gbs for my SSD didn't make me want to keep it.

I might sell my waterblocked 5970 OC shortly, to get a 7970 ghz or 680 4gb but will be keeping the cpu for a little while yet.

[cjs150]

Rarely. Other than gaming most PCs are good for 5+ years. Need cleaning every 3 months though.

Even for gaming if, like me you are still running a sub 1920x1080 monitor then graphics card is good for many years. I am still running an 8800 GTX and not struggling

[Animus404]

I have a Radeon 4870 which I bought during the release week, and a Phenom2 955 which I bought during release week. Since then I've only added RAM.

I'll probably upgrade when the new consoles arrive, until then my current PC will play most games without much hassle.

[ddg4005]

These days I mostly upgrade my boxes to new graphics cards once in awhile. My last upgrade saw one machine get rebuilt with a new motherboard, processor, case, memory, hard drive, CPU heat sink, external modem, and sound card (ditto for my second box minus the case). Since this was done last year I won't be upgrading anything on either PC for some time.

[Ceryndrion]

My current computer, is a mid-spec system, built in january this year, as an upgrade from my previous 18-24 month old computer. On average, small upgrades come every other year, with major rebuilds every 3 or 4.

[RhinoUK]

I try to get the most out of all the hardware and software and replace CPU, MB and Mem about every 3 to 4 years. Everything else gets upgraded as i can afford or if it limits the system somehow e.g. DX9 to DX10.

[robkewley]

6 months ago I swapped a HDD for SSD. I'd swap MB/chip sets more often if Windows licensing was more accommodating

[ZaO]

I upgrade on an "As and when I need to/can afford to" basis. Depending on which components are struggling with what I want them to do. What's the point in upgrading on a schedule?? Seems idiotic. But with that said. Looking back on the years I've been doing this, I would say that at least something, if not multiple things tend to get upgraded somewhere around every 2-3 years probably. Mainly depends on how much games have progressed in the given time really. The first Crysis, then BF3/Skyrim forced me to do upgrades earlier than I would've otherwise. Was perfectly happy with a 955 and CF 1GB 4870's until BF3 and Skyrim came out. The combo of those 2 games had me upgrade my mobo, ram, cpu and gpu within months of them being out! I then upgraded my graphics card again about 6 months later I think, and spent way more on it than I ever have on a graphics card in the past. I feel like a bit of a mug for it. But I just wanted to really enjoy 2 of the best games I had ever played. I really hope I never spent stupid money like that on a gpu again lol....

[B0FHY]

I used to upgrade the day new stuff came out, but after getting bitten on the ass with the GeForce FX 5800 card I toned it down slightly. Now I pretty much buy a new machine once every 30 months or so, but buy so excessively powerful (and often priced) components that it's still high-end by the time I want rid

[ZaO]

I used to upgrade the day new stuff came out, but after getting bitten on the ass with the GeForce FX 5800 card I toned it down slightly. Now I pretty much buy a new machine once every 30 months or so, but buy so excessively powerful (and often priced) components that it's still high-end by the time I want rid

I've never understood you dudes. Why not just buy last years top end stuff for half the price? Or at least something that's been out a few months at least? It'll still beast any game going and give you incredible performance. Prices for hardware in the first few months of it being out are terrible! I always look at it and think, surely no one is actually paying that right? But some of you are!

[pson]

i7920 at 4ghz I wont upgerade until I can double what I have and that still has not happened, its almost a 6 year old chip, I definatly made the right choice to skip the q6600 .

[Spank]

I try get the best I can afford & hope nothing needs upgrading (though if it comes to a point that I can't play new games even in lowest setting I will replace the GFX card), then replace the machine in 5/6 years or longer if possible

[clovy]

i upgrade whole rig every 3 years. but i upgrade VGA and RAM every 1 year.

[deejayburnout]

Just upgraded my PC in the last year and rather happy with it.

Maybe older technology but more than fast enought for my needs.

Maybe when games start asking for 4 cores and CPU speed of 3ghz as a minimum will I thing about upgrading.

[Sunvsmoon]

I usually do a complete build every 4 years and upgrade my graphics card after 18 months if needed. I also try to re-use components if possible from exiting build such as PSU, case etc.. seems to work out okay for me