Upgrade or Buy New? Part 2
You've decided to upgrade--now the fun begins.Steve Bass
In addition to writing PC World's Home Office column, Steve Bass is the author of "PC Annoyances." Sign up to have Steve Bass's Home Office Newsletter e-mailed to you each week. Comments or questions? Send Steve e-mail.
Last time, I provided some advice and links to articles to help you decide whether to upgrade a system or buy new.
It's a big topic. The question has been plaguing me since the late eighties. (Didn't know I was so old, eh?) Back in those days, upgrades were horribly expensive. My first monochrome video adapter for an IBM PC was $350--and I was outraged when the salesperson said it wasn't included with the system. A few years later, an 80MB hard drive cost $800. For an eye-opener, read a 1992 article I recently reprinted in the Pasadena IBM Users Group newsletter.
The Upgrade Path
Upgrading a PC can be fun--and challenging.
For some rock-solid advice and recommendations, grab a cup of java and sit down with Eric Dahl's "Your Ideal PC." The article's deck tells it all: "Whether you're upgrading your machine or building one from scratch, we show you how to choose the right parts and put them all together." For example, on the second page of the story, you'll learn about choosing a case and power supply, and what specifically to look for in both; you also get some product recommendations. Later on, Eric shows you how to build a system, step-by-step.
Next check out Michael Desmond's "A Menu of Upgrades" for more advice, prices, and product ideas for upgrading components. For instance, he says that if the screen updates slowly, then new games will fail to run at full resolution if at all. Upshot: He recommends a moderate to significant upgrade to your video adapter.
Mike also suggests adding USB 2.0 ports to upgrade the way your system communicates with peripherals. I agree wholeheartedly. Not having enough USB 2.0 ports is a pain: It means swapping devices when you want to use, say, a camera but you've already got a scanner and an external hard drive hooked up. If you want more USB ports on your system and you're willing to open your computer's case, try an add-in card. Belkin's USB 2.0 two-port card costs under $15.
Dig This: So many of you enjoyed the Crimson and Viridian rooms, you may never forgive me for the Peasant's Quest. It's a game that sets you back 20 years to the ancient days of written-language games, such as Zork. [Thanks, Thom D.]
More to Ponder
We have a veritable slew of Expert Buying Guides, and all tell how to buy key components. Here are a couple of must-reads:
BTW, there are few manuals and docs I bother to read. But when a systemboard is involved, a manual is a must. It's usually written in an odd language that's somewhere between geek and Chinese, often with technical jargon that few of us understand. Alexandra Krasne, no slouch at things geek, had a similar experience with documentation and wrote "RTFM Part II, Looking Beyond the Printed Page."
Two great things about the column: First, Alex sheds some light on how to circumvent some of the appalling instructions. Second, she got to use "RTFM," an acronym that gives new meaning to anything Dr. Ruth, the noted sex authority and author, might have to say in print.
DVD Drives: A Special Situation
Some people are excited by the thought of backing up onto rewritable DVDs. That's a good enough reason to buy one for your upgrade (right, like you needed an excuse). Make your way over to Lincoln Spector's "DVD-RAM Hits Surprising Speeds," in which he talks about the mix of vendors hitching up to the new 5X DVD-RAM standard.
What, you say you're confused about the various standards? Well, check out "How to Buy a DVD-Rewritable Drive" for clues to help you understand the specs and tips to get the best drive for your dinero.
I know, you finally got a grip on the CD-RW specs; now there's more to take in, and it just never stops. But understanding the DVD specs won't help you much when it's time to make a buying decision. For example, let's say you've picked out a DVD burner and you're ready to upgrade right now. Well, along comes an annoying article like "DVD Recorder Prices Expected to Plunge" to really gum up your plans.
And there's yet another variable to consider when you're deciding on a DVD drive. In "The Perils of Non-Retail Drives," from the desk of PC World's Melissa J. Perenson, you'll learn that you need to be careful what you buy. OEM drives--"original equipment manufacturer" models that were destined to be sold to vendors such as Dell or Gateway, but are instead sold at discount--may not be such a hot deal.
My Wife's Upgrade
Here's what I did: I bought a cheapo PC and shuffled some hard drives.
With Judy's PC on its virtual last legs, I decided not to spend time or money upgrading it. Instead, I bought a low-cost system from a local system reseller I've used for a decade. The system has no name and I got it without a hard drive, putting my wife's recently upgraded, big and fast drive into it.
One problem I faced is what to do with the old PC. Well, I believe in hand-me-downs, so I'm going to pop in a hard drive, do a little fine-tuning, and send the PC to my niece.
OTOH, what to you do if you've upgraded your system and have leftover components, things that have no practical value? Recycle them. Read how in "PC Recycling Made Easier" and "Where to Recycle Digital Gear."