Upgrading Your Computer

Jack Carver will conduct this meeting in Bill's absence.  Want to see what's inside your computer?  Jack plans to bring in a computer to open up and identify the parts  and discuss what hardware can be upgraded and if and when it makes any sense to do so.  If time permits, we may also discuss software upgrades as this always somewhat goes hand in glove with hardware upgrades.

The following is taken from the 2/3/4 issue of PC Magazine.

Here are some rules of thumb for upgrading;
If you have ...
Windows 3.1 or 95, 64 Meg of RAM, 10GB Disk, 1 GHz Processor  --  Replace
Windows 98, 98 SE, or ME, 128 to 256 Meg RAM, 20 to 40 GB Disk, 1.5 to 2.2 GHz Processor  --  Upgrade
Windows XP, 512 Meg RAM, 60 GB Disk, 2.4 GHz Processor  --  Leave it alone

Before you start check out these sites as possible sources of help:
http://www.allexperts.com/
http://majorgeeks.com/
http://techguy.org/
http://extremetech.com/
http://www.pcmag.com/category2/1,4148,798223,00.asp

Practice Safe Upgrading!
Before  --
Run Windows Error Checking on your hard drive.
Run a full Anti Virus scan (make sure your AV program is current).
Defrag your hard drive (consider doing this in Safe Mode).
Backup EVERYTHING (data, photos, email address book, internet favorites or bookmarks, etc.
After  --
Create a startup disk.
Enable Windows System Restore.

Memory
Consider this first.
512 Meg minimum, twice that if huge graphics or video.
Easiest upgrade.
You must know what type memory you have (SDRAM, DDR SDRAM or RDRAM).
You must know CAS or CL if you have SDRAM or DDR SDRAM.
Check motherboard or chipset manual or vendor web site.

Disk
Go for 7200 RPM
Consider an external drive (you may need to install a USB 2.0 or FireWire card).
New drive should be primary with Windows on it.
If you want to keep your old drive, hook it up as a secondary (delete Windows Directory and put only data on it).

CPU
Trickiest and most expensive.
Potentially the biggest performance boost
Do your research on limitations.
Best left to experienced people

Windows
Consider going to Windows XP.
You may have to upgrade other software.

Add On Upgrades
Think about a new keyboard and MOUSE.
Install a DVD recordable drive.
Go for a new, larger monitor, consider flat panel.
Install a USB 2.0 or FireWire card.
Get a USB (2.0) hub.

Graphics Card
Leave it alone unless you want 3-D games

"So our answer to the age-old question 'Upgrade or buy?' is this:  It all comes down to what's important to you and how much you want to spend.  If your limit is $500, don't bother with a new PC; you're better off beefing up your system (if it's less than three years old).  But if you are willing to throw in another $250, buy yourself a new PC.  For the extra expense, a new system will far outclass an upgrade in both performance and features."  --  Jenn DeFeo (Associate Editor, PCs and Devices, PC Magazine