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Computer Upgrade





Should you get a computer upgrade or junk it and buy a new PC?  If upgrading your old computer costs roughly half as much as buying a new one then perhaps you should invest the money in a new system.



What if your computer isn’t working well?  Sometimes this could spell disaster.  Upgrading a broken computer will do just that.  You will have an upgraded broken computer or a very slow computer.



If your computer is in good shape and is just running slow, then a computer upgrade might be just what is needed.  It could add a couple of years to your computer’s lifespan.



Aztec North can assess your computer and let you know if you should upgrade and if so, what upgrades will be best for your computer.

 

Different Types of Upgrades

 

  • Memory

  • Wireless Modem

  • Hard Drives

  • CD-ROM Drives and DVD Writers

  • Wireless Keyboard and Mouse

  • Power Supply

  • Video Board

  • Mother or System Board

  • CPU (central processing unit)

  • Case cooling

 

Memory – adding more RAM memory can help optimize the performance of your computer.  512 Mb is the minimum required for Windows XP running SP3 updates and Windows Vista.  We recommend 1 Gig minimum for a more reasonable speed.



Wireless Modem – Changing to a wireless "G" or "n" system with speed enhancement can increase the speed of the modem and make internet use quicker.



Hard Drives – Many older computers have small hard drives and can’t fit the newest software programs.  By adding a new and faster drive, you will increase the disk storage space and the speed of the computer.



CD-ROM Drives and DVD Writers – Transferring large files from your hard drive to CD-ROM and/or a DVD writable will free up hard drive space and increase the speed.  Read more information on CD ROM drives.



Wireless Keyboard and Mouse – By changing over to a wireless keyboard and mouse, you’ll be able to bring the keyboard over to a nearby table all without being confined by wires.



Power Supply - As you add more powerful components you will need to increase the wattage output by upgrading the power supply.



Video Board - This upgrade is one of the most overlooked in increasing the speed of your computer.  A faster video board will have 512M and higher video memory.  They also tend to be very expensive.



Motherboard or System Board - This is the main circuit board of the computer.  Upgrading will allow a faster CPU and memory to be used.  Key specifications to look for are CPU clock speeds and System Bus Speeds.



CPU - The "Central Processing Unit" or CPU is the main integrated circuit or "chip".  This chip is the brains of the computer that coordinates everything that happens when the computer is on.



Case Cooling - The faster the computer, the more heat that is generated.  Heat build-up can damage many of the electronic and mechanical components of the computer.  Fans to move air in and out of the case as well as other methods are used to keep the heat down.









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