Computers and Upgrades
By: Aaron Guhl
There will eventually come a time when your computer just can't handle current application and programs like it used to. And since everyone wants their computer to run as fast as possible, then as they get older we start to think about saying goodbye to that trusty machine. But, before tossing it out the window, perhaps there are some things you can do to breathe new life into your computer that will help you get one or two more years out of it. Here are the three top upgrade options available to computer users today.
Memory, or RAM, is one of the vital components in your computer. It is what allows you to run more demanding applications and allows you to run more programs at the same time. It is also one of the easiest upgrade options available to everyone. It is the most popular to upgrade and most frequently upgraded component in computers. You will also see a lot of improvements when upgrading your RAM, especially if your computer did not have much to start out with.
So if you decide that it is the RAM you are going to upgrade in your computer, you will need to decide how much memory your computer currently has it in. Also, your computer's motherboard has what's called slots on it. These slots are where the RAM is housed. You will need to then find how many available slots in your computer are available for additional RAM. If you bought your computer from a reseller or manufacturer, then you can usually find how much RAM is in your computer and how many slots are available by looking in the user manual. If not, then you will need to either check the BIOS or the operating system for these details. Then find out what RAM is compatible with your computer and purchase the most amount of RAM you can while taking up the fewest amount of slots. This is usually what is recommended.
Another popular upgrade today is a DVD or disc burner drive. While most computers include this at the time of purchase, some older PC's only have a standard CD-ROM drive. If you are looking to purchase a new disc drive for your computer, it is recommended that you look into purchasing a DVD+R/RW drive. This will allow you to read DVD's and CD, as well as burn both DVD's and CD. Many DVD drives come with decoding software that will allow you to watch DVD movies on your computer. Other DVD burning software is also included in many packages.
If you love to play video games, then you may find yourself in a position where your computer will need a more powerful video card. Most computers come standard with a built-in graphics processing unit on the motherboard. This is called on-board or integrated graphics. In these cases, you will want to upgrade your computer with a new video card as with almost all new video games today require a high-end video card such as the GeForce 8800.
There are so many brands and models of video cards available today that it can be very confusing when trying to choose which video card to buy. Today most video cards use what is called a PCI-Express slot. While some older video cards use an AGP slot. Refer to your computer's user manual to find out which type of slot your computer has so that you can purchase the right kind of video card.
These are only three of the many ways you can improve your computer's performance through upgrades. You can also choose to upgrade your computer's sound card or motherboard, as well as many more options. If you feel that your computer just isn't performing as well as it should, then first look into if upgrading it is a more financially effective choice. Often times it may only require spending 100 to 200 dollars to get your computer to where you want it.