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

[IxIGamerIx]

I recently just upgraded from i computer that i bought in 2006, it was a well needed upgrade

[Jonj1611]

Every 6-12 months for me, but not generally the whole PC, generally a part of it, mainboard/CPU, memory, hard drive, graphics etc. Though I must admit their hasnt been much reason to upgrade anything as of late.

[crossy]

I seldom completely upgrade my PC, much preferring to do smaller (and therefore cheaper) annual incremental upgrades. The exception being 2010 when I went for a new processor only to find out that I needed a new PSU, and then the HSF combo wouldn't fit in my slim line case, so a new case had to be bought. So while I was about it, I got a pair of new disks and a new graphics card too - boy, was the old credit cards hit hard THAT month!!

Graphics cards I tend to keep for 2-3 years, basically skipping a generation - e.g. I had a GF460 and would have been in the market this year for a (cheap) 670. Although I went with AMD instead.

Processors tend to be longer lived - so that's a 3-4 year cycle. Mainly because if the processor is upgraded then I'll need a new motherboard, and invariably, new RAM too - so that tends to be a major undertaking. This time around though I think I'll be defecting from AMD as Haswell looks like it could be very suitable (low TDP with good single thread performance).

Disks are done when, and if, I need a capacity upgrade. Although at the moment I'm keeping an eye out for a new SSD to migrate my 256MB "apps" partition to from it's current home on a HDD.

Windows OS I also deal with like the graphics cards, so I went 3.11->98->XP->Windows7 and by that plan I'll be very interested in Windows9 (or whatever they call it). My main OS - Linux - is Ubuntu LTS versions (can't be bothered with upgrades every nine months) to ensure stability and support.

And while I'll buy laptops, or desktops for other people, MY desktop is always hand built by me.

[jnutt]

I used to do it every 2 years or so. However since building an intel Q9550 in late 2008 only thing I'v e changed on it has been graphics and adding an SSD as a boot device. Time is coming soon for the next MB/CPU. Just weighing up and evaluating what's out there before I make the jump. Trouble is I could go IVY bridge but I could wait for HASWELL. Decisions Decisions

[OilSheikh]

I am at the point where I don't need to upgrade anymore.

i7 2600
P67
MSI HD6850 OC
4GB HYPERX DDR3
120GB HYPERX SSD
1TB F3

Only thing I would like to upgrade is to a silent PSU like Seasonic

[GunJob]

Every 6+ months I always end up buying something.

[Jingee]

Full system; 2- 3 years, but with incremental upgrades 6 - 9 months; drives and RAM, etc.

[mwarner]

Back in the late 90s and early 2000s I used to upgrade the motherboard & cpu perhaps once every 18 months and other bits every few months. System obsolescence was a big thing back then - CPU performance increases were regular and large - rather like mobile phones have been the last 3-4 years.

I last upgraded around 1 year ago, but that was to a second hand PC (HP xw6400 which I upgraded to 8GB / 2 x Quad Core Xeons / SSD) from a Q6600 (4GB + Velociraptor). I only bothered because it was cheap and was a mini project. I could easily live with my old Q6600 instead.

[big_hairy_rob]

very very rarely. The upgrade has to give a significant improvement in performance, and in the last 4 years, my only upgrade has been a monitor and a SSD (which is amazingly now in my server)

I have moved from constant upgrades to buying a good new system once ever 4-5 years. I can still play most things, just not at the same definition of others, but I have other things that my money is needed for.

[flearider]

thx to amd things last a little longer .. board and mem 2yrs old ..chv sniper mem ..just upgraded cpu to 8350.. still got my 5870 another yr maybe ..case 14yrs old but a 900d on order
so when it needs it it gets it .. but these days because of the power things don't need to be upgraded all the time ..

[brasco]

Mainly when I feel I can get a decent bump in performance, so 6-12 months sounds about right, individual parts more frequently but it'd average out about 6 months+

[ZaunGetZu]

Every two year is a complete overhaul and then upgrade components on the in between year

[Funkstar]

My current sysytem is about four years old now, and other than eventually moving to an SSD, I can't see me replacing it any time soon. I'll probably get another two years out of it unless something dies.

[Harkin]

I'm with Parm Mann, since getting a Sandybridge I have slowed down almost to standstill on my upgrades. The CPU is far from any bottleneck and any new games can be played with great framerates. The ONLY thing I'm looking to upgrade now is my GPU, I have a 650ti and I wouldn't mind a liitle more ooomph. I'm waiting for GTX 670 prices to drop by maybe another 15% and then I'll grab one. I reckon that will be me for another two years. I used to upgrade like a crazy fool but now it's pointless and costly when what I have does what I need and more. I can see why the PC market is plummeting :/

[Dareos]

No designated upgrade schedule. I buy components as needed and relocate existing tech to other rooms and expand the network.
I get a lot of pleasure from planning and executing a new build, but Cat has removed that pleasure by being right about his component choices all the time :-) ... Maybe not all the pleasure ;-)
I reckon it will be at least four years before I build another desktop but may buy a game changing tech piece if one comes on the market beforehand.

[=assassin=]

I bought my current PC in June 2010 and have only added a new 2Tb hard drive recently as I was running low on space, other than that, it's still fast enough so no need to upgrade to anything else yet.