Desktops forum: What should I do: upgrade my computer or buy a new one?

"6 Years old? DEFINITELY past expiration date..." - Not by a long chalk. I am writing this on an 8-year old HP Pavilion laptop. It runs perfectly, although not on Windows any longer, but Ubuntu. If someone is not inextricably tied to Windows, installing a Linux OS would be an option to rejuvenate the oldie.

"Windows XP is a major NO-NO!" - Yes and no. Definitely no good on a computer that goes online, yet possibly desirable as a stand-alone, offline legacy system. There is some excellent yet defunct MS software (e.g., Encarta, Picture It! Photo, even the humble Photo Editor) that would only run on XP.

I am an experienced eBay user and when I decided to upgrade my old Dell E510 I found Dell Financial Services, an ebay seller, listing an array of refurbished computers. If you look at any of their listings you will see that they state their items are 1-3 years old. Anyway, I bought a Dell Precision T3400 workstation for $285 with $10 shipping. After checking completed listings for this computer I found I had paid a little above the average selling price. When it arrived the DVD ROM drive didn't work so they refunded $40 of my purchase price...fast. I just stuck in a spare DVD R/W drive I had.

This computer has an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU running at 3 GHZ, 8 GB of RAM and a dual Nvidia graphics card. It looks almost new and runs an old copy of Vista Home Premium I got several years ago.
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These computers come packed in Dell boxes just like a new computer. I was so impressed I bought my wife a Latitude 531 for $166 with free shipping, and a Dell 19 inch high resolution monitor, that matches my old one, for $78.

I would never consider upgrading an old computer again.
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i just did it myself. my hp is 7 years old. i used the same case and put in a new cpu, motherboard, power supply, graphics card and a fan. after rebates it came to us$270. i had never done anything like it before and it was so simple to remove the old parts and put in the new ones. the problem i had was not knowing how to hook up all the connections from the power supply. so, i took it to a store and paid $30 for cable management and it works great!
waiting now for the prices of hard drives to come back down after the flooding in thailand so i can install a new one and keep my xp.
a very basic new one from a store would cost at least $100-$200 more than i invested in this and would not have the same power and speed.

Microsoft is about to stop supporting Windows XP and Vista, so if you have any technical problems in the future, Microsoft won't be able to help you. If you are conscious about the poise of your XP computer, upgrade to a Windows 7 or Windows 8 when it's available. This will give you up to 3-6 years of support from Microsoft. You could upgrade to 7 via the XP, but it may brick or not be the fastest around, just like the issues iOS users had with the update of iOS 5. So, yes, I recommend you upgrade to a Windows 7 PC with an Intel processor.

You install Linux instead of Windows. It's quite a leap, if you're not willing to learn a few things, like a few command line inputs, and the different programs, HOWEVER, the LATEST Linux has all the bells and whistles and runs about 3X faster ON THE SAME hardware as my XP did.
As mentioned elsewhere, if your system still does what you want it to do, keep it, backup your information (VERY regularly... a terabyte portable drive made for this is only around $50) and save for one YOU want when it comes out. I wouldn't own one, BUT you might consider simply getting the latest iPad, if that's what you want.
Unfortunately, desktops are going to be a dying breed in the next few years as people switch to ultrabooks, pad-type devices, and other portable devices.
Personally, that old XP system (I dual boot so I still can use my windows-only software if needed, and no messing with virtual machines) still does what I want it to, and, as I stated, when booted into Xubuntu (Linux) runs about three times as fast for web surfing, file reading, etc.
I personally detest the eye candy in Windows 7, which makes it much more difficult to use, and Windows 8 will be worse. Give me my text-oriented dropdown menus, no icons (they all look alike to me) and something that works rather than is "pretty." You'll find you have to RELY on the desktop search (and it won't find hidden files, etc.) just to open programs, with Win 7. Me, I prefer finding them in my dropdowns, thank you.
That hardware, if its proven the test of time (as mentioned above) should still be fine even in a few years, unless there is something new you want to do with it. And, it's not worth trying to upgrade it to install Windows 7, if that's what you really want. If you want speed, install Linux, or get a portable device with Android (Linux) or an iPad.

And Microsoft helps you now? LOL Every time I ever called them, they wanted a lot of money to support their product. I gave up calling them years ago and I just do the best I can Googling the issues now. Google leads you to lots of forums where you can usually fiind the answers you need, Microsoft is useless. Yet for some reason I keep sticking with them instead of going Mac.

Many people get too focused in on their system hardware and are disappointed in their results when upgrading. The trick is to track down bottlenecks and eliminate them. To do this, you must first determine your goals and assess the "total" system of hardware, software, and network.

If you play video intensive games online you should make sure that your connection speed is up to the task and that your network resources are capable of delivering everything your hardware will handle. Only after assuring yourself that these are maximized should you proceed to your hardware. Even if your needs involve more intensive use of your local system hardware, it's good to know that your money is invested wisely.

With a six year old system your upgrade options are limited by your motherboard capabilities. You are most likely confined to a single core processor and one gig of DDR memory, possibly with AGP video. These are simply not up to the task of more than light internet browsing and local office applications. Fixing any one of these bottlenecks would only bring to light another. In your position, I would begin with a decision about what I was willing to spend and then assemble parts within that budget. The best value in hardware is always found just behind the cutting edge. The last two systems I built were quad core with lots of DDR3 memory and powerful video processors, but the system I use the most is a lowly used dual core with onboard video and 3 gig DDR2 memory that I bought from Directron for less than $150, including a 17 in LCD monitor, backlit keyboard, and precision lazer mouse. Only you can know how much system you will need, but plan on today's latest and greatest being heavily discounted within a month or so. In the future, our weak link in tech progression may be shipping times.

Some say to get new, but that is expensive. If you are a gamer, and I doubt, then go for a new system with graphics being your main priority. If you are the casual user, such as flash (online) games, word processing, music, web browsing, then that system should last you for a while longer. You could put Ubuntu Linux on it, which is not Microsoft, and is much faster for your system. It is easy to do, and you can keep the data you have on your system now. You can even use it with XP too. Get it here:
http://ubuntu.com
If in doubt, get the 32-bit version.
If you find you want to do more at once, get more RAM. But first we need your specs to help you with that. Alternatively, just google "[your system model here] ram". You can then make your computing experience more enjoyable.

If your computer is six years old by human years, then it is almost fifty years old in computer years. That being said, what you do really depends on what you use your computer for. if you are just reading e-mail, you can do some minor upgrades. However for more intensive tasks, a new computer would be advantageous. Motherboards have made quantum leaps in that time, as have the CPUs, and storage media. If you upgrade your MOBO, , CPU, GPU, hard drive, as well as moving on up to Windows 7, you would be better of starting from scratch. I would heartily recommend a SSD as your boot drive, and at least 8 gigs of memory. The SSD make my system fly, and the prices are coming down while at least in the short run Hard Drive prices are up.

Think software first - OS and application. I too am in a similar dillema and have decided to wait for Windows 8. Once XP becomes unsupported - sounds worse than it really is - future applications most importantly browsers don't work so well. But this takes a long time to happen but who doesn't want all of the whiz-bang possible. Hardware is easy, get everything as fast and powerful as affordable. But my suggestion - making the assumption that mobility is not that important to you - work towards a dual machine comfiguration. Of course desktop real estate comes into play but I was able to run 3 machines off of a single monitor and single keyboard/mouse combination in a very small space. I had a 33" flatscreen TV - a little excessive but that is what I already had - and used the various TV Source selections to go from one computer to the other and then also to the TV using the remote control. I used a Wireless Keyboard/Mouse on a TV tray and a USB A-B-C Switch to select the current PC. Now you have the flexibility to build a machine to your specifications. Keep in mind that the old power supply and disk drives in your old machine are likely to die any day now - you're lucky if they have lasted 6 years. If you're not so handy swapping components around, I guess you have to buy something. Upgrade old ?? Might be less expensive but not too dependable. If you do save that power supply or disk drives, replace them as soon as possible down the line - they fail. I like to cruise CraigsList - the computer section that is - and can usually find some inexpensive short term alternatives if you are taking a step-by-step approach - find a box close to what you eventually have in mind - Windows 7 preferrably. Processor, memory, video, disk/DVD drives - get plenty of capacity. If you can find the right combination in a new system, go for it. As a package a lot of times you can find a good deal especially when you consider the OS is included. Now after all the decisions made to this point, if you have the dual machine in place, start transferring applications to the newer machine - re-installing would be a good consideration here. You should at least have at a minimum Windows 7 but hopefully you will at least get to be able to consider Windows 8 - last I heard 3rd Qtr 2012, maybe that will change. Keep in mind though that moving up to the newer Windows, older applications and drivers have software level compatibilty issues - this is why I still recommend a dual machine configuration - if you can't run it on one, run it on the other. Keep in mind that this DUAL approach will also require multiple connections to the Internet - router time. When all else fails, buy a new machine and start all over. Decisons, decisions..............

Six years old and running XP - get a new one. Evaluate your actual computer use - what do you really do with your computer? Then either get a Win7 now in configuration of your choice or wait about 6 months and get a new system with Win8. If you do a lot of music, photo or video editing now or plan to in the future then get a bigger system (bigger power supply, more RAM, more HD space and an Intel i7 system) If you are more of a web surfacer, email and some documents etc then you don't need that and an i5 core will be just fine for you. Desktops now you get more bang for your buck but there are also plenty of deals available on larger laptops. You can find really good systems for around $600.

I would get a large HD in any event and optimum for me is a smaller faster SSD drive for my OS and then very large HD for my data. If you don't need speedy initial access to the data drive you can get a really large "green" (5400 rpm) drive for much less. I find that with the slower spin these drives are quieter, cooler and last longer. My current system has a 120 SSD for C (OS & most programs), a 1 TB WD green caviar for D (divided(data & music and a 1 TB WD green caviar for photos. Because I store a huge number of photos and art on this system but I can wait a few seconds for access this works well for me. If you were a gamer you probably wouldn't be asking this question.

<div>Keep your old system and after you have backed-up and transferred all data give it a good clean out (both dust and old programs) and do some minor upgrades (like larger or 2nd harddrive) and use it as a complete back-up for everything important. Be sure and connect it to the web periodically to update any critical updates but otherwise I'd leave it off for safety.
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Have fun

Hi John Allan,

If you are talking about replacing a PC, my first question would be do you still use it? A decade ago, this would be a strange question, but with the push to the cloud and our web-centric world you need to be sure you are going to use it as a stand alone PC for the next 3 to 6 years before you part with your money.

If you do need a new PC, you will probably need new to upgrade software as well, which frankly is one of the real reasons just to upgrade what you have. Don't let this cost sneak up on you. Software upgrading done wrong can easily double the cost of a new computer.

Okay, still want need more PC than you have? Buy one. PCs are incredibly cheap recently and if you need more speed and power over everything else, you can have it for very little coin. You need to upgrade all of your software, so find the vendor that puts together the right basket of goods for you. Upgrading nowadays cannot over come 6 years of technological improvement.

Thinking you might want a laptop, but still want a full size keyboard and mouse? Get a laptop with a docking station. Best of both worlds.

Just figured out you just use it for browsing the internet? Buy an Ipad and the keyboard attachment. It isn't a PC, but everyone who buys one of those things ends up spending every waking moment on it. You can too.

Hi, in my opinion and experience I believe that is better to buy a new computer. With the prices so low of the machines
of new generation, I think it is better to buy a new one insted of upgrade the old one.
besides the new printers, scaners and so on only works with the the new systems.

Are you looking for a Desktop or Laptop? I would buy a new one, if yours is 6 years old there are so many things to upgrade and then you still have a 6 year old computer, may work good but if you decided to sell it you couldn't get much for a 6 year old computer. Also most computers will only hold so much upgrades, example..a 6 year old and probably wouldn't hold more them 2GB Ram...you can buy new ones now with 8-10G and would be upgradeable in the future. After 4 years...get a new one. Start with Costco or Sams'. Costco gives you an extra year warranty and you can call their support [which is awesome] any time. They have come down a lot in cost the last few years. I like Dell

I had a laptop that was older than six years old and the hard drive died so I'll keep old hard drives but I won't trust hard drives that are over 5 years old unless you want to lose your data. Old laptop components are smaller and heat up faster than desktops. They can be replaced if you can get the parts but laptops can't easily be upgraded.

It is also hard to get hard drives that are exact replacements because everyone wants newer and better. Some companies that sell computers have ones that have a better upgrade path than others.

Try this experiment. Go to any computer store and ask them if they have any software that runs on Windows 95 and see what the salesman has to say. Remember that Windows Xp is good but it is about 10 years old. It almost isn't worth it unless you have a program that you can't live without.

Machines running Windows 7 are so much faster that I don't think I would go back to the older machines.