If you are thinking of upgrading your computer, there are some factors you should know before doing so. One of these factors is your motherboard. Sometimes, it isn’t financially viable to upgrade your motherboard. While new hardware can be expensive, older hardware doesn’t perform as well.
RAM
Adding more RAM is a relatively inexpensive and easy upgrade to your PC. RAM is short-term memory that stores current processes. However, it won’t help your PC if it is not being used. Increasing RAM can help you make your computer feel snappier, but it won’t do much if your system is running slowly or is not optimized. Most PCs come with two to four gigabytes of RAM, and you might not need more than that.
RAM saves CPU time and is critical for fast processing. Upgrading your PC’s RAM can dramatically improve its performance. There are several types of RAM, including SODIMM and DIMM modules. In general, desktop computers need DIMM modules while laptops typically use smaller SODIMM modules.
While adding RAM is an easy and cheap upgrade, it is important to note that the return on investment is not as great as it used to be. An increase of eight gigabytes will give a noticeable boost, but a jump of 32 gigabytes won’t give much of an increase. Furthermore, adding more RAM won’t be as expensive as boosting hard drive space, which is a more affordable upgrade.
SSD
An SSD upgrade can give your PC a significant speed boost. SSDs have boot times that average between 10 and 13 seconds, and they open files and applications quicker than HDDs. The speed of your PC depends on its storage speed, which directly impacts its boot time, application loading, and access time.
In addition to speed, SSDs are quieter than HDDs, which means you won’t have to listen to the whirring of a fan to get a file. These drives also have built-in power failure circuitry that can protect your data from being wiped out in case of power fluctuations. Furthermore, some SSDs come with backup batteries, which provide additional protection from power outages. Having a slow computer can lead to frustration, constant restarting, and a lot of wasted time.
The SSD can be an excellent upgrade for older computers, but you’ll still need decent amounts of memory and processing power to get the most out of your new PC. If your computer is over five years old, an SSD might even be too slow to keep up with the new technology. The downside is that SSDs can damage other parts of your PC, so you might want to consider upgrading your RAM before making the switch to an SSD.
Graphics card
The best time to upgrade your graphics card is before you run out of money. GPU prices have been rising in recent months due to shortages and increased demand from cryptocurrency miners. Luckily, the situation is improving. You can still get a great card for a very reasonable price. Nonetheless, if you’re a gamer, it may be time to upgrade your graphics card.
The main sign that your GPU is past its prime is a declining frame rate in modern games. Your graphics card is the main factor in framerates, so if you’re having trouble with 60 FPS in popular games, it’s time to upgrade. Ideally, your graphics card should be able to push up to 144 FPS, even for competitive eSport games.
Before upgrading your graphics card, make sure you know what kind of games and programs you’re going to use it for. For example, you’ll want to know how many cores you need to run your games. Also, you’ll want to think about the clock speed of the graphics card. For example, if you’re planning on playing VR flight simulation games, you’ll need a faster graphics card than someone who’s going to play 1080p games. You’ll also want to consider other features such as whether the graphics card will fit in with your current case.
Hard drive
Usually, a computer has two storage drives: a primary and secondary hard drive. The primary drive contains your operating system and installed software. The secondary drive is for documents, videos, and other types of data. If you notice your hard drive getting slower or running out of space, you may need to upgrade your hard drive. If you have enough space, you may also upgrade to two or more drives.
A faster hard drive can make your computer faster. While the speed boost isn’t nearly as noticeable as having more storage space, it will greatly improve the overall performance of your computer. It should also make large files and software load more quickly. Additionally, as your hard drive gets older, it becomes less reliable, so it’s important to upgrade as soon as you notice it’s failing.
Upgrade your hard drive to a solid-state drive. These drives are faster than traditional HDDs and can dramatically improve the performance of an older computer. SSDs also require less power than HDDs, which helps prolong battery life.