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Should You Upgrade An Old Computer SystemShould You Upgrade An Old Computer System
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One of the risks associated with upgrading hardware is that it does not take long before the upgraded machine becomes a collection of different upgrades. Invariably there is no clear history of what was installed, by whom and why.
Just as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, so an upgraded computer is only as reliable/fast as its oldest and most vulnerable parts. In some cases upgrades, such as extra hard drives or CD-Rom drives can overtax power supplies. It is not unknown for an old system, although reliable, to become ‘unresponsive’ when a new product, such as a hard drive, has been installed. Newer peripherals such as CDROM burners may not work well with an older computer that does not have enough processing power (two low of a speed) to handle the demands of the newer hardware.
Although upgrading may appear to offer some immediate savings, in the longer term, new systems are a better investment. The purchase of a new system from a reputable and well established manufacturer / supplier can compare very favourably to a series of upgrades. By purchasing systems that are ‘one generation’ down, perhaps a demonstration model, significant savings can be had. There are also a number of companies that supply refurbished systems that offer excellent value for little more than what it would cost to buy and install just a couple of upgrades in an older system. The installation of a new system also brings the benefit of a warranty, anything from 90 days for a refurbished system to three years from companies such as Dell and Compaq. In many instances the retired system can be used for a less demanding activity such as a shared Internet terminal for clients.
Pentium 166 New Pentium 1GHZ (Upgrade including install) Hard Drive $200 $900 Memory Upgrade $ 50 CD Burner $200 Network Card $ 50
Total $500 $900
Based on April 2002 prices
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