|
Hardware and Software Upgrades
Even now, cutting-edge systems equipped with the newest CPUs and most lavish
features aren't exactly impulse items. For a modest investment, you can breathe
new life into your existing system, and extend your original investment a few
more years. In short, the best low-cost PC could turn out to be the one you
already own, once it's decked out with the right upgrades. The big question
is which upgrades are worth the money? To help you decide which upgrades make
sense for your needs, we examine the components in your existing system, the
applications you use most often, and your budget. We'll ensure you spend your
money on the right components to keep your system running for another year or
two -- until new machines are even brawnier, less expensive, and harder to resist.
A general rule of thumb: Each upgrade takes anywhere
from 15 minutes to 1 hour. If you have to pay more than about $300 to eke another
year's use out of your PC, or you have to add more than three components, it's
probably not worth the money and effort it will take.
(This rule applies to internal components such as the CPU, RAM, and Hard Drive,
not to external peripherals like monitors, printers, or scanners. It's easy
enough to move these devices to any new system you buy down the road.)
Here's what's considered minimum requirements nowadays:
- 1.0Ghz Intel/AMD
- 256MB RAM
- AGP 4x Video Card w/ 64MB
- Monitor 17" SVGA
- CD-R/RW 52x24x52
- Sound Card SB 128bit
- Hard Drive 40GB @ 7200rpm
- 10/100Mbps Network Card
- Modem 56k V.90
- USB ports 2.0 Compliant
- Microsoft® Windows XP Home Edition
We do not recommend hardware upgrade of Pentium IIs and IIIs.
The cost to upgrade these PC's could easily exceed the value of the computer
itself.
Please contact
us to discuss how we might help you with your requirements.
|
