Upgrading your PC

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Published on: 23-05-2004
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Upgrading Your PC

Introduction to upgrading your PC

Is your computer looking a bit long in the tooth? If so, there are plenty of ways to breathe new life into an old system.

One of the frustrating things about technology is the fact that any computer you buy always seems to be out of date the moment it is delivered. There is always something bigger, better and faster coming along, and just to rub it in, the new models will probably cost the same.

It’s wrong to assume that your PC is obsolete just because a newer model has come out. That’s just part of the computer industry’s fiendish master plan to get you to buy a new PC every 2-3 years. It’s perfectly possible to get the latest technology without starting over and buying a new system. There are various ways to improve performance and add features that won’t cost the earth.

Software and Operating Systems

When is it worth upgrading software?

For many people, the first item to consider upgrading will be software. If you’ve got an older PC running Windows 98/ME you may well be thinking about upgrading to Windows XP. It’s a tempting idea, as you can get the Windows XP Home Edition upgrade CD for about £85. XP looks a lot nicer than 98 or ME, is more stable and adds plenty of new features, so it’s a quick and easy way of giving an old PC a bit of a facelift.

However, the advice here is … if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. If the software you’re using does all the things that you want it to do then you really don’t need to spend the money on expensive upgrades. Admittedly, XP does offer you a number of welcome improvements, particularly in simplifying tasks such as networking or setting up internet access. If your PC is set-up and working properly, then XP won’t necessarily make it run any better. In fact, you may find that not only does it run slower, but any existing software such as drivers for your printer, may not be designed for use with XP. Upgrading to XP could mean that you have to spend some time downloading all sorts of additional software updates and additional software. Fortunately, Microsoft has a handy little website - Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade Center (there is also an XP Pro site).

Memory

When to upgrade the memory

More often than not, the best upgrade you can give an aging PC is to “slam in the ram” - but don’t overdo it. For 98/ME it is recommended that you should consider at least 256Mb of memory and even getting up to 512Mb. Be aware however, that 98/ME does have a problem using over 512Mb of memory without fixing the “problem” first. With XP already on your system then you can add in as much as your motherboard will allow, 512 is enough but 1Gb will see your heavy-duty tasks such as editing full-screen video improve, and most newer motherboards will handle up to 3Gb quite happily.

You do have to open your computer to get at the memory modules on the motherboard, but it’s a fairly straightforward procedure. The manuals originally supplied with the PC will help here; they will show you the exact location of the modules and should also specify the type of module you need and the maximum capacity the motherboard can use.

There are a lot of different types of memory, with confusing names such as SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, PC-2400, so sometimes the best thing to do is just pop-out one of your existing modules and take it along to your friendly computer store. Be very aware that memory modules are very sensitive to static, so use an appropriate anti-static bag and observe the basic rules for handling static sensitive items. A better alternative is to use someone like Crucial. Memory manufacturer Crucial has an excellent website at www.crucial.com/uk that has a handy “memory advisor” feature, which will help you figure out the type of memory you need. You don’t have to buy from Crucial but they do offer good prices with free delivery and a 256Mb upgrade could cost as little as £35.