Computer Upgrade
I’ll start with the upgrade, as it can slightly influence the decision of what is right for you. Upgrade (Upgrade) – this word means updating or improving what is, in this case, a computer. This issue, upgrade, does not apply to laptops. Due to the difficulties of assembly, upgrades to laptops and netbooks are not carried out.
So, after working for some time on the computer, you began to conceive that new programs do not work so fast, you also feel a lack of power in games, and you wondered “what to do?”. There are three options: reconcile (but this is not for us), buy a new computer (system unit), improve an existing PC. There may not be money to buy a new computer, by the way, I wrote a system unit, because it makes no sense to change the monitor if it suits you. It remains to improve the old PC. We can improve it by simply replacing the components (components) in it. But first, we have to search through a lot of information. You need to find out and understand what exactly you need to improve. But first you need to make sure that this power is not enough, i.e. hardware and non-software issue. To do this, you need to regularly check, clean and defragment the disk, have a 2-3GB swap file (at least), and scan your PC for viruses. And, having rummaged, you came to the conclusion that the problem is still hardware, you need to change! Let’s look at a few options:
New programs, such as an office, are slowly working for you. This is usually due to either a small amount of memory, or a weak processor, or both. If you are working with 3D-graphics and slowness is shown on it, you may need to change the video card or all at once, then it’s easier to buy a new system unit.
You have installed a new game, and it “slows down”. Then you need to update the video card, and also, possibly a processor with memory.
Another small note, if you bought a cheap low-power computer, it is quite possible to raise it, over time, to medium.
RAM, memory update is required when it is not enough, of course, for now for the Windows 7 operating system, 4GB of RAM is normal, but less is often bought. If you have less, then in any case, you should buy a memory. If in the region of 4 GB, then the increase will not give particularly noticeable results, only if you and the processor update, there will be results. Before buying, be sure to check what memory you had and buy the same. It makes no sense to take a faster memory or a newer one, the new one may not be compatible with the motherboard, and the existing memory will slow down the faster one. After purchasing an additional slot, you just need to install it.
The processor is a bit more complicated. Considering that you will spend the first replacement no sooner than in 1-2 years (for me 3), by that time the processors for your motherboard may simply not remain, but we will assume that they still exist. First of all, you need to decide which processor you want. If you look through the price lists, you will surely come across 3 types of processors: weak, medium, powerful. You need to immediately decide how much money you can / want to spend on it. For example, you had a couplet of a budget computer, on an Intel Core i3-540 processor (at that time the newest and cheapest) for the LGA1156 slot (3800rub), after a year or two you decided to update, but by that time 2- 3 new line of processors for new platforms, and much faster. But nevertheless, you update by looking at (necessarily) the compatibility of the motherboard and processor, be sure to update the BIOS, for example, for me, this makes it possible to use new processors. So, having clarified all the information and updating the motherboard, you can buy a new Intel Core i7-880 (18000rub), or Intel Core i5-760 (8000rub), for the LGA1156 slot. In relation to the old processor, you will get a very large increase in performance. In this case, examples of abstracts, I just opened the price on it and collected it, that’s why I say that compatibility should be clarified. And examples of prices are, by the way, the current line, taken today, two years later the same Intel Core i7-880 will not be released, so its price will be 2-3 times lower, or maybe 4.
Once again, distracted by BIOS updates, it must be updated! Not a single consultant will tell you what has changed with the new version, so there is only one to ask the manufacturer or yourself. The update is simple and fast, you download the file from the manufacturer’s website, start the installation, and after the reboot the BIOS is updated, before it was all worse in this regard.
But from abstraction to reality, I will give an example on my computer. At one time, when Intel Core 2Duo first appeared, I took the “average” Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 and the corresponding motherboard based on the P965 chipset. A lot of time has passed and those processors that were already out of stock.