When to upgrade?

[ajbrun]

I have just built a computer a few weeks ago, so I'm not planning to upgrade anytime soon (maybe in 3-5 years). I'm just wondering how/when you know it's time to upgrade individual components in the PC. Here are my thoughts - please correct me if I'm wrong:

Motherboard - I have absolutly no idea!
RAM - When the PC is getting slow/when modern software needs more
Processor - Same reasons as RAM?
Graphics Card - When you have enough money to buy a new one/when modern games need it

I think I covered everything. Please say if I wrong - my best guess is that a PC will last about 3ish years without a decent upgrade.

[Flash]

I tend to upgrade when everyone elses benchmark results start to make me cry

[Dorza]

Just upgrade when you think its worth it. Take into account what your useing the system for and make a calculated decision. Personally i dont like mixing old parts with new parts. (i like the whole system to age at the same time, lol) I prefer to hang onto an ageing system the just built a completely new one.

[ajbrun]

That's what I'll probably do, because right now, I built an OK computer. But in the future, when I have a full time job, I think I'll build an amazing one.

Can you tell me how you know when it's time to upgrade the motherboard - I've always wondered that.

[Steve]

Well my CD writer has been carried through to my third system... so I'm not exactly one of these who builds a totally new system.

I tend to upgrade a bulk of things at once. For example, by the time I feel the CPU needs an upgrade, it's a whole new socket type and RAM type...

[ekundo]

i upgrade when i cant play the new games anymore, works a treat

[Dorza]

Youll probably know when your mobo seems ancient compared to whats out at the time (in the future). When you find that no modern CPU/Memory or even graphics card will work with the motherboard (specialy the CPU/Mem), thats the time to upgrade probably. But if your mobo reaches this stage you'll need a new CPU and memory any way, so ud be having a new pc basicly, since them three bits are the core of the computer make up.

[ajbrun]

Well I probably wouldn't upgrade the CD drives unless some new extremelly fast drive comes along. I think it's only the inner workings of the computer that really need to be changed, like the CPU, hard drive, RAM etc.

One question though - what do you do with all the old parts that you've replaced? Do you sell them on places like ebay, or throw them away?

If you do sell them on ebay, wouldn't it be better to sell the whole system rather than just most of the components. Ie, sell the case as well?

[Steve]

One question though - what do you do with all the old parts that you've replaced? Do you sell them on places like ebay, or throw them away?

They do one of four things:

1. Go in an older PC of mine.
2. Go in my "box of history."
3. Go in a friend/family member's PC.
4. Get sold.

That's the order of preference too, don't ask me why, but a lot of stuff ends up in my "box of history."

[ajbrun]

Why even have a "box of history"? Is it because they might be worth more in the future, or you like looking back at what technology used to be?

[Steve]

Why even have a "box of history"? Is it because they might be worth more in the future, or you like looking back at what technology used to be?

Well, most people don't have a Cyrix MIII to look at with fond memories in future years.

[ajbrun]

I don't even know what they are!

[ed^chigliak]

I have fond memories of throwing a perfectly good cyrix chip in the bin because it wouldn't do floating point calculations and crashed most of my software within minutes. I actual retrieved the chip from behind my m8's sofa which is where he threw it for the very same reason. God knows why I thought I could do any better with the cursed thing. Ahhh.. fond memories of cyrix CPU's and if only I had had the forsight to see it as a technological jewel to be treasured for it's ornamental value.