Computer Upgrade vs. Replacement: A Practical Guide

There are a lot of reasons why you should consider upgrading or replacing your computer. Over the years, your computer’s operating system continuously updates and new programs become more difficult to install. It may also have difficulties opening installed programs and may have limited storage for other files. Additionally, your processor may not be able to support the task demands, and as a result, it makes the computer slow down.

When this happens, we become torn between upgrading or replacing the computer. Upgrading your computer may give you more speed and more storage but with almost the same cost as a brand new computer. And so you ponder whether it’s really best to put new parts inside your old working computer.

To help you decide, let us share with you some of the important things you need to know before making the final decision.

Computer Upgrade Options

Memory Upgrade

First things first, memory. One of the easiest upgrades you can do to your computer is by upgrading the memory or the Random Access Memory (RAM). Even if your computer is old, you can still upgrade this part. Installing one or multiple RAMs can be done to increase your computer’s memory. For instance, if you are experiencing a delay when you move large files or it seems that your internet browser tabs are taking their time, then one solution is to upgrade the memory.

Remember, although you can easily upgrade your RAM, you still need to know whether your computer’s system is compatible with the kind of memory you’re planning to add. To do this, you have to access the computer’s manual and specifications to see what type of RAM is currently installed on your computer. You can use various tools to aid you in determining what memory modules are compatible with your computer.

Storage Upgrade

If you have been receiving pop-up messages that your files cannot be saved due to low storage capacity or having troubles opening heavy documents and files, you may want to consider updating your hard drive or storage drives.

If you have at least one hard drive, you can upgrade it to a solid-state drive which is much faster as compared with an SSD. One advantage of having a solid-state drive is that it won’t be having problems with data fragmentation unlike computers with hard drives. However, if you already have an SSD, this will make your computer function better in terms of storage and performance, specifically when reading and writing.

Just like the RAM, storage drives are not hard to replace. You can also use tools such as System Scanner to help you see which types of storage drives are compatible with your system.

Other Part Upgrades

Overall, the memory and storage drives are the easiest parts you can upgrade your computer with while other parts can be a bit complex to upgrade. However, in general, you can also upgrade the motherboard, video cards, fans and processor (CPU) of your computer. You just need to make sure that the upgrade specifications match that of the original parts you would want to upgrade.

Should You Buy a New Computer Instead?

Now the ultimate question is, should you buy a new computer instead of upgrading a few parts?

Here are the things you need to think about.

Availability of Parts

If your computer is more than eight years old, there is no guarantee that the compatible parts would still be available in the market. Remember, as your computer ages and new computers are created, the parts specific to your computer may have been phased out, thus the availability would be scarce. So the best solution is to just buy yourself a new computer.

Pricing

The price for the parts that you would want to upgrade may cost you as much as buying a new unit for yourself. And that would not be a cost-effective move for you. So, you should just buy a new computer.

Performance

Would you want to upgrade the parts of your computer and put them into an old working computer? Maybe. But the performance would not be the same when you had it first. So, still, the answer is to replace it with a new computer.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the important things that you should consider before upgrading or replacing your computer. You just need to make sure that you weigh all the pros and cons so that you will not regret your decision later on.

J-BIT TECH can help you decide whether or not your computer needs an upgrade or needs to be replaced. We are a PC and MAC repair service that can help you build your custom PC in Albuquerque. Contact us today to get your computers assessed for upgrade or repair.