When is the Right Time to Get Rid of That Old Computer?

With hardware manufacturers introducing new innovations every year, some of which are truly game-changing – you will often get the feeling that your not-so-old computer is suddenly getting behind the curve. Ever get that feeling? Well, it's only human.

Truth of the matter, it's not always easy to understand just when is the right time to upgrade to a new system, versus upgrading some parts or just waiting a bit longer for an upcoming technology. To make a good decision, it's usually best to stay up-to-date on the latest technological news.

But if you don't have the time or the inclination to really keep up with such technicalities, this article will help. Rather than going into specific models and parts, we shall present an overview of the best options, respective to the age of your computer. Here's what to do:

If your computer is 10+ years old

In your computer is not of this century - then you really need to get up to speed on the technological front. Might as well donate that old machine to charity, a museum, or just try to sell it via on-line auctions, maybe to a collector.

Sorry... we just don't think you may be able to magically restore that old tin back to working condition. Since a computer over 10 years old is obsolete by several generations, there really is no way you can use it for the kind of things most users take for granted these days.

Looking on the bright side, the cheapest computers available in stores today are significantly faster than your old computer. As such, you won't necessarily have to spend a lot in order to get a decent piece of machinery that's many times faster.

If your computer is around 5-7 years old

Should you realize that your machine was not made earlier than 2005 or so, there may be some hope. You'll never quite get it to work like a charm... meaning it will always perform much more slowly and unresponsively than a newer computer. However...

If you're willing to compromise a bit in terms of speed/performance for the sake of preserving your budget, there are ways to spruce up a machine in this age group. Look into the possibility of adding more RAM or a new graphics card (ask your local computer technician for a quote); perhaps throw in a cool looking, slim and inexpensive LCD screen, and you may still get some use out of that aged PC of yours.

If your computer is 3-5 years old

So you own a computer that is *almost* - but not quite - of this generation? In that case, there will often be minor touch-ups you can do to boost up its stamina without depleting your bank account. Most notably, consider adding more RAM and/or a SDD drive and a better graphics card, and you may be able to energize that old PC without letting your spending get too high.

Actually, even without spending much money, you may be able to get the trick done: consider following the tips on the computer too slow homepage to speed up your computer.

In all cases, when a computer gets close to this age, it's about the right time to start looking into the new models available! If you can easily afford it, you can just go out and get something more up-to-date.

If your computer is just 1-2 years old

Sure enough, technology advances at an increasingly fast speed – but still, a computer that is less than 2 years old will usually still be good enough to get the job done, unless your work requires intensive computing power.

If that's the case, you can always get a performance boost by adding more RAM and especially by getting an up-to-date graphics card. The former may set you back a couple hundred bucks if you choose a high-end model, but it can make your computer significantly faster, especially if you play games or work with rich media.

Sometimes our consumerist impulses will drive us to getting a new computer even before our current machine has started to become obsolete. Don't get caught up in this kind of temptation, especially since there are often ways to upgrade a computer and bring it closer to the state of the art.

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-By Dominic

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