Have you ever just wanted to yell at your computer because it's running too slow? At that exact point in time, I know, you want to throw it out the window and get a new one right? Upgrading your computer can be a real advantage to improving business productivity, improving the performance of games or applications and making a real performance increase to the time it takes to do basic or complex tasks. But do you really need to upgrade, or buy a brand new system? I've seen too many people get new computers when all they needed was an upgrade, and others upgrade when they need brand new computers. At what point is your technology upgradable, and when is it better left as computer parts in the recycle bin?

This can be a tricky question to answer, as every situation is different, people have different budgets and different uses for their own computers. Talking in generalities, we can simplify computer users into 3 groups, Internet users, Gamers and Business users.

“Internet” Computers

These computers are pretty much only used for word processing and browsing the internet. Usually student computers. Despite what other people tell you, a 200 MHz computer is capable of doing this, without a problem. Provided it's got the right software. Most people that think they need to upgrade their computer because it's “running slow” in this category most probably just need to reformat it or sometimes, just a change in antivirus software can mean a drastic performance increase.

Gaming Computers

Gamers are a breed unlike any other. Computer parts are constantly being upgraded and replaced for newer faster better parts. And if they can be, they'll be over clocked and run quicker than the manufacturer's released them at. Gamers generally don't get “New” computers; it's more often a progression from one set of parts to another, many times keeping the same case, until they feel it's appropriate to upgrade it.

Business Computers

Business computers very rarely need to upgraded, depending on the business of course. For web design firms to run the latest software, they many need to upgrade certain components in order to do so. But for Point Of Sale computers, or computers with QuickBooks that run basic programs, they very rarely need to be upgraded. In some cases the file that once was small has now become huge and in order to process the data the computer needs to be faster. But in most cases a good cleanup and reinstall will fix up any problems that are bugging the business owner.

All in all upgrading or getting new computer parts is usually only necessary if you're getting new software, or handling bigger files with your current software. If the computer seems to be running slow after 2 years of using it, but there's no extra software being used usually a clean install of your operating system (usually Microsoft Windows) or sometimes, a simple virus scan will do the trick.