Upgrade or Buy A New PC?

If you have the uneasy feeling that your PC is as obsolete as a worn-out automobile with 200,000 miles on the odometer, it might be time for a new machine--or a few well-chosen upgrades. Here's how to decide.

Stan Miastkowski

Personal computer technology keeps speeding forward at a breakneck pace. Depending on how quickly a manufacturer rolls out new machines, it's only a slight exaggeration to say that the PC you purchased last month is already obsolete. If you bought late in a given cycle, chances are good that a newer (and maybe even less expensive) model has already replaced it. If you're one of those folks who always buys the latest and greatest, well, more power to you. Most of us, however, live in a world of limited budgets.

If your PC is getting long in the tooth, you have several options. You can, for example, upgrade your current system by adding new components or replacing some of its existing ones. Or you can just buy a new machine.

But before you decide what to do, it's a smart idea to do a bit of soul-searching and take a hard look at why you're unhappy with your existing PC. Is it too slow? Does it have reliability problems? Do you want to play the latest PC games, work with images from your digital camera, or edit video from your camcorder? Those are good reasons to consider an upgrade or new PC purchase.

However, you might also want to consider the possibility that your existing PC does meet your needs. Despite the seductive call of new, ultra-fast PCs stuffed with the latest features and tons of storage space, the bottom line is that many of us just don't need that much PC power. If most of your time is spent sending e-mail, surfing the Web, doing household bookkeeping, or even writing the next great American novel, you really don't need the blistering speed and bells and whistles of the latest models.

On the other hand, a few judiciously selected upgrades could help you ease into more-sophisticated computing without busting your budget. And although the computer companies won't like to hear this, upgrades can allow you to put off purchasing a new system for months, perhaps even years.

How Old Is Too Old?

Before we look at the types of PC upgrades you might consider, it's important to talk about which computers are worth upgrading. The best measure is the age of your PC. If your computer is less than two years old, it's a good candidate for upgrades. If your PC is much older than that, there's really no point in trying to upgrade it. PCs that are three, four, or more years old are simply unable to take advantage of the newest components such as hard drives or graphics cards.

In some cases, specific upgrades--such as processors (see Choosing the Upgrade Path)--aren't available for older PCs; in others they'll work, but at slower speeds. For example, while you can install one of the newest mega-space hard drives in your old PC, it won't work at maximum speed. Some older PCs also require special upgrade components--such as memory chips--that are difficult to find or so expensive that upgrades just aren't economical.

When to Buy New

Aside from the age of the PC, there's no hard and fast rule for when upgrades just aren't worth it. But if you decide to upgrade most of your PC's components with higher-end options, the price can quickly approach the cost of a brand new PC. In that case, you should opt for a new computer, which will give you a system where everything is designed to work together using the latest technology.

In addition, some applications require superfast systems. That's particularly true for editing video from camcorders or playing the latest eye-popping computer games. These require very fast processors, oodles of RAM, and big high-performance hard drives. Admittedly, you can get by with an upgraded system, but you'll have to live with compromises. You can, for example, edit video on an older, upgraded system, but you'll spend time twiddling your thumbs while the system catches up with you. And you won't be able to use some of the more advanced video effects that would be a piece of cake for a brand new system.

If you do opt for getting a new PC, you'll need to decide what to do with your old system. Forget trading it in; older PCs have virtually no resale value. But options are available; see "Hardware Tips: What Should You Do With Your Old Computer?"

Moving Data to Your New PC

If you do opt for buying a new PC, you've probably wondered, "How do I move my stuff from my old PC to my new one?" It's a major consideration, but there are answers. If your new PC comes with Microsoft Windows XP already installed, as it probably does, XP includes a "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" that will help you copy essential data from your old PC. (On your XP system, click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then choose Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.) If you don't have a home network, you'll need a special cable (about $20) to connect your old and new computers.

However, one thing the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard doesn't do is transfer your applications to your new computer. You'll need to reinstall them. To do the whole job, you can use a program like Eisenworld's $30 PC Relocator, which transfers all your applications in addition to your files and settings.

Choosing the Upgrade Path

Upgrading a computer isn't rocket science. If you're handy with a screwdriver, you can do it. But it does require some careful, methodical work. If you're all thumbs, or the impatient type, you can still forge ahead on the upgrade path, but it's not a bad idea to get a computer-savvy friend to help. Below, we've listed the most popular PC upgrades, along with typical prices, and links to PC World articles that give detailed how-to-do-it information.

One caveat: Don't expect to be able to upgrade your PC's microprocessor. Two to three years ago, processor upgrades from companies such as Kingston and Evergreen Technologies were readily available and popular. But they're usually not an option anymore because today's motherboards are designed for specific processors running at specific speeds. And even if you could upgrade to a faster CPU, you'd find that it wouldn't make a huge difference in overall system speed. The processor is just one of the many components in a PC that must work together for maximum performance.

Memory ($25 to $75)

Upgrading your PC's memory remains one of the most effective--and most economical--ways to bump up your PC's performance. It's also one of the most popular upgrades. Today's operating systems and applications run faster with large amounts of RAM, but if your PC is a year or two old, chances are that it came with just 64MB or 128MB of memory. Equipping such a PC with 256MB of RAM (about $40) will make a noticeable difference in overall speed, especially with today's memory-hungry applications such as office suites and graphics-intensive games. Plus, a PC with more memory is less likely to lock up or behave strangely. And 512MB isn't unreasonable to consider, either, though the performance gained from doubling RAM to 512MB isn't near that of going from 128MB to 256MB.

Depending on the design of your PC, you may be able to add to the memory you have, or you may need to discard what you have and start from scratch. For more information, see "Step-By-Step: Bulk Up Your PC's RAM."

Hard Drive ($70 to $140)

No matter what you do with your PC, you can never have enough hard drive space. That's especially true if you're an MP3 aficionado or you work with movie files. And your older PC probably came equipped with a relatively small 10GB or 20GB drive. After RAM, hard drives are the next most popular PC upgrade. Drives keep getting bigger, and prices keep falling. At press time, a fast 40GB hard drive was going for $85; an 80GB drive for $100; and a huge 120GB drive for $140. Drives that big give you space to expand. You can either replace your existing drive (new drives usually come with software for copying the files from your existing drive) or add the new drive and use it in addition to your existing drive.

Check out "Upgrade Guide: Install a Bigger, Faster Hard Drive."

CD-RW Drive ($50 to $100)

If your PC didn't come with a CD-RW drive that allows you to create your own CDs, adding one is a relatively simple upgrade that adds real utility to your computer. You can share digital camera photos with friends and family, make secure backups of your important data, or create your own music mixes. And that's just the beginning. CD-RW drives have never been less expensive, falling about 50 percent in the last year. Check out "Upgrade Guide" for step-by-step instructions on how to install a CD-RW drive.

Graphics Card ($100 to $150)

If you work with photos from a digital camera or play PC games, a new graphics card can not only make images pop up on your screen faster, but can produce sharper, higher-resolution images that are easier on your eyes. A new graphics card is an easy upgrade that pays off. But note that we're talking about "value" cards. Professional cards ($250 to $400) require cutting-edge systems with fast processors (usually at least 2 GHz) and lots of RAM, a must-have if you're a serious gamer who wants to take advantage of the latest games.

See "Step-By-Step: Upgrade Your PC's Graphics Performance."

Sound System ($100 to $300)

Most off-the-shelf PCs come with mediocre (if that) sound systems, including both the internal sound circuitry and the all-important speakers. If you're into PC music, a new sound card and latest-technology speakers make a difference you can hear. Numerous choices are available, from inexpensive to wallet-emptying, but spending $75 to $100 for a new sound card and $50 to $100 for speakers can give you a sound system that rivals the stereo system in your living room.

Check out "Upgrade Guide: Revamp Your PC's Sound System."

Monitor ($100 to $500)

Not every upgrade requires opening the PC case. Since you spend all your PC time looking at your monitor, investing in a newer, bigger monitor can be better than getting a new PC. Your eyes will thank you for it. If your old PC came with a 14- or 15-inch CRT monitor, stepping up to a 17-inch ($100 to $125) or even a 19-inch tube ($175 to $250) will make all the difference--especially if you roam around unwieldy spreadsheets regularly.

Or, you can opt for one of the hot new flat-screen LCD monitors. They're bright and crystal-clear. Even a 15-inch LCD monitor ($250 to $300) is a vast improvement over a small conventional CRT display (remember, when comparing LCDs to CRTs, LCD size is comparable to a CRT's viewable area diagonal, which is usually about an inch smaller than the tube size). And prices are falling: You can opt for a big 17- or 18-inch LCD for a few hundred dollars more ($400 to $600).

One of the best things about a monitor upgrade is that you can continue to use it when you finally do buy that new PC--just plug it in.