If you’re computer is slowing down or can’t support that new program you installed, your computer is probably due for an upgrade. There’s several ways to go about this especially for a desktop or custom PC. If you want to upgrade your laptop, there are some upgrades that are similar to a desktop but is more limited in the number things that can be upgraded. In this article, we’ll go through some of the ways we can upgrade a desktop or custom PC and the benefits of doing so. Normally, this isn’t a hard procedure to do yourself, especially if you built the custom PC yourself, but some manufacturer-made PC’s might require a professional to upgrade it since they are all designed differently and put together in certain ways.
Memory – Ram
The Ram or memory of the PC is responsible for storing and processing the data that is being used at the moment therefore controlling the speed in which everything is running. Most motherboards in a PC come with several slots for the RAM that you can fill entirely. Checking the specifications of the motherboard will allow you to see how much RAM it can hold. If you’ve already filled out all slots with the highest possible memory, then an upgrade is not possible. Changing out the RAM and maximizing the memory that the motherboard can take can drastically increase the loading and processing power of your programs on the PC
Hard Drive
The hard drive stores all your data and also controls how fast the data will be read and written. Accessing the data from the hard drive, such as opening programs and looking at photos, is dependent on the type and size of the drive and determines the speed in which it is accessed. There have been recent developments to the types of drives that are available and upgrading these drives to the more recent technologies can also speed up the loading of data on the PC.
Graphics Card – GPU
The GPU, or Graphics Processing Unit, handles the anything graphics and video related and the way everything is displayed on your monitor. Graphics heavy programs need a GPU that can handle all its functions and you can experience lagging and slowness when running these programs if the GPU is not powerful enough. Upgrading the GPU can let you handle the latest video editing programs and video games that require these high-end cards.
Most, if not all motherboards, come with a GPU on the board for basic tasks, but it may not be able to handle certain programs or even run videos with high resolutions. Usually a separate graphics card will be required to be able to handle every task you will need.
Processor – CPU
The CPU, or Central Processing Unit, is one of the most important part of the PC because it handles all the input/output operations for the parts connected to the motherboard. Upgrading a CPU depends highly on the motherboard and its requirements and the installation of a new CPU can be quite a delicate task that might not be the easiest thing to do for someone who has never installed or changed one out before. It requires knowing how to connect it precisely onto the motherboard and applying the right amount of thermal paste as to not harm the motherboard and other parts of the computer.
Upgrading the CPU can significantly increase the speed of the computer as it’s responsible for performing all the logic and processing power for anything connected to the motherboard.
Motherboard
If you are considering purchasing a new computer, upgrading the motherboard might be a cheaper option for you as it is usually the first thing you can swap to allow for future upgrades to be done on your time and budget.
The motherboard or mainboard is an important part of the system that connects all the parts together and allows for them to communicate with each other. It holds and connects the all the main parts of the PC.
Power Supply
Deciding whether you need to upgrade the power supply can be questionable if the computer is running fine on the one already installed. Upgrading a power supply is usually required when upgrading other parts of the PC, especially the GPU or the RAM, as they draw the most power in a computer. Upgrading the power supply usually doesn’t affect the speed of a PC but may be needed when upgrading other parts of the system to have them running properly.
Cooling System
Possibly the most overlooked part of a PC is its cooling system and some PC’s might need a major upgrade as the more powerful computers can run extremely hot inside its case and cause damage to all the parts as it ages. The cooling of the CPU and the space inside the case is crucial to keep all the parts running at its optimal performance and can affect the speed of the computer when one part starts to fail because of the heat inside the computer.
Conclusion
If you’ve built your own custom PC, handling these upgrades shouldn’t be too difficult but for someone that has purchased a ready-made computer, you might want to consider upgrading these parts to give it a longer life so you don’t have to purchase a new PC every couple of years.