3 Best Ways to Upgrade My Computer | Simple Computer Upgrade Guide

By

Sherly 

Written by

Linda 

Last updated on April 22, 2024

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Should I upgrade my computer or buy a new one?
What parts of my computer should I upgrade?
Upgrade the hard drive
Upgrade the RAM
Upgrade the graphics card
More about upgrading your computer

Should I upgrade my computer, or buy a new one?

A computer usually lasts around 3 to 5 years. When your computer is getting too old, it will start to significantly slow down. For example, it will take a long time to boot up, it will crash frequently, and you'll run into problems when opening or running programs and apps.

So the question is, should I upgrade or replace it? Whether it makes more sense to upgrade your computer or get a new one depends on a few factors.

Lifespan of a Computer: Under normal usage, both desktops and laptops typically last around 5 years. Beyond this point, their hardware may become outdated and unable to meet the requirements of newer software, leading to the need for replacement. At this stage, it's advisable to consider purchasing a new computer.

Usage: If you only use your computer for word processing, upgrading your components can be enough. If you play a lot of games or run big image or animation software, go for a high-end computer.

Price comparison: If the cost of the upgrade is much less than the price of a new computer, and your computer isn't too old, then upgrading makes more sense than buying new.

Related reading: What Should I Upgrade on My PC for Gaming?

[[2]] Which parts of my computer should I upgrade?

Buying a new computer is easy: you can consult with an expert, and then buy a pre-assembled machine or build one yourself. But how do you upgrade a computer? Which upgrades will make the most difference to its performance? As it turns out, there are just three upgrades that you can do to quickly and effectively improve your computer's performance:

• Upgrade the hard drive
• Upgrade the RAM
• Upgrade the graphics card

#1. Upgrade the Hard Drive

If your hard drive is full, you have limited storage space, and you encounter various hard drive errors, you need to upgrade the hard drive.

You can upgrade a smaller HDD to a larger one, or swap the HDD for an SSD to gain faster read and write speeds and better reliability. To effectively upgrade an older computer and boost its performance, upgrading the system disk from an HDD to an SSD is a good approach.

How to upgrade HDD to SSD without reinstalling Windows? Clone it. You can use a tool like Partition Master to clone and migrate the operating system from HDD to SSD without boot issues.

Download this free partition manager and learn how to migrate OS to SSD.

Note: If there is insufficient unallocated space on the target disk, migrating the operating system to an SSD or HDD will delete all existing partitions and data on the target disk. Back up any important data to an external hard drive beforehand.

Step 1: From the left-hand menu, choose "Clone." Select "Migrate System" and click "Next" to proceed.

Step 2. Select the target disk you wish to clone to. Click “Next”.

Step 3: Review the warning, then click “OK”. All data and partitions on the target disk will be erased. Make sure you have backed up all important data beforehand. If not, do it now.

Step 4: Preview the layout of the target disk. You can also click on the Layout option to customize the layout of the target disk as needed. Then, click "Start" to begin migrating the operating system to the new disk.

5. When you see the confirmation message, check the box next to "Change the boot order to boot from the clone target disk," then click the appropriate button for your needs.

• Restart Now: Immediately restart the computer and boot the operating system from the new disk.
• Finish Later: Make the change at a later time.

Aside from OS migration, the utility also offers comprehensive hard disk management features, such as:

• Clone Disk • Combine Partitions • Resize and Move Partition to solve low disk space issue • Create/Delete/Format partition, wipe data • Disk/Partition conversion, etc.

#2. Upgrade the RAM

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. If your old computer is slow at transferring large files, or if it crashes or freezes when you try to run several programs at once, then you may need to upgrade your RAM. Installing new or additional RAM is one of the easiest upgrades you can do.

You can check the memory usage in the Task Manager.

Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, select Task Manager, then click “Performance” and “Memory.”

Increasing computer memory adds to the amount of memory available while the system is running, making it faster and capable of running more programs simultaneously.

Guidelines for Upgrading RAM: 1. Verify Compatibility: Before purchasing new RAM, check your computer model and motherboard specifications to ensure compatibility with the new memory module. This information is usually available on the manufacturer's official website. 2. Know Your RAM Type: There are different types of RAM, such as DDR3, DDR4, etc. Make sure the new RAM you choose matches the type currently used in your computer. 3. Memory Capacity: Determine how much additional RAM you need. If you frequently run large applications or multiple programs simultaneously, more memory may be required. Generally, 8GB is a basic requirement, while 16GB or higher is suitable for professional workloads. 4. Channel Matching: If your computer supports dual-channel or quad-channel RAM, try to buy identical memory sticks in terms of brand, model, and speed for optimal performance. 5. Check Voltage: Different RAM modules may require varying voltages. Ensure that your new RAM's voltage is compatible with your motherboard to avoid potential issues. 6. Power Down: Turn off your computer and disconnect it from power before replacing the RAM to prevent damage from electrical shocks. 7. Install Properly: Refer to your motherboard manual or online tutorials to insert the RAM correctly. Typically, memory slots have guide notches to ensure the RAM is fully inserted and locked into place. 8. Verify Installation: After restarting your computer, enter BIOS or system information to confirm if the new RAM is recognized. If the operating system fails to detect it, updating the BIOS might be necessary. 9. Test Stability: Use a memory testing tool like Memtest86 to ensure the newly added RAM is stable and free of errors. 10. Quality Assurance: Opt for reputable brand RAM sticks with good warranty policies to safeguard against unforeseen issues. By following these guidelines, you can successfully upgrade your computer's RAM and enhance its overall performance.

There are a few things to keep in mind when upgrading or replacing RAM in an older PC:

• The new and old RAM modules should have the same speed. • The old RAM and the new RAM need to be from the same brand, or you risk getting a blue screen of death. • The timings should also be the same. • Be aware of how much RAM each individual slot supports.

#3. Upgrade Your Graphics Card

A graphics card's function is to convert the display information required by the computer and provide scan signals to the monitor, controlling what is displayed. Thus, a high-end graphics card can quickly supply signals to the monitor.

If your computer frequently has frozen or laggy graphics, you might want to upgrade your video card. Video cards in older computers tend to be weak. A video card upgrade can make a big difference in performance, especially for gamers.

How to Upgrade a Graphics Card

If you need to upgrade your video card for a better gaming experience, check the system requirements for your game to find out which card is right for you.

More about upgrading on PC

See more about upgrading on PC.

1. Can I upgrade the CPU without changing the motherboard?

Some users might suggest upgrading your motherboard or CPU, but this can be difficult. First, because part of your computer's CPU is soldered directly onto the motherboard, it's not something you can upgrade yourself. Second, swapping out the CPU can be tricky, and you'll need to make sure it's compatible with your other hardware.

However, if you insist on upgrading the CPU, make sure your motherboard is compatible with the model you want, and pay attention to compatibility between the CPU and other components, such as memory.

Note: It is recommended to back up important data before changing the CPU. On some older systems, such as Windows 7 and earlier, driver issues after a CPU change could prevent the system from booting.

How can I upgrade my computer for free?

Upgrading your computer's hardware can be costly, since you have to buy the parts. If you want to improve and speed up your computer, try these suggestions.

• Uninstall unnecessary programs
• Update drivers
• Reinstall the system, but back up important files first
• Clean dust from CPU fans, motherboard, and RAM slots
• Utilize free disk cleanup tools to remove system files or junk files, optimizing your PC

Step 1. Download and install the Partition Master Suite on your computer. Click on the panel to download the PC Cleaning Tool.

Step 2. Install the CleanGenius tool on your computer. First, go to the “Clean” tab and click on “Scan.”

Step 3: CleanGenius will immediately scan all useless files, select system junk files and invalid entries, then click “Clean” to clean up your whole PC with one click.

Step 4: When it's done, you'll see how many MBs or GBs it cleared out. Tap “Finish” to complete the process.

Final Award

By the end of this article, you should have a good idea of which parts you should upgrade in your PC and how to do it quickly. The main parts that you can upgrade are the hard drive, RAM, and graphics card.

You can also optimize your computer by learning how to speed up Windows, for example.

• Change Power Plan
• Disable Startup Programs
• Disk Defragment and Optimize
• Speed Up Windows 10 with ReadyBoost
• Clean Up Disk
• Extend System C Drive
• Install the Latest Windows Updates
• More Practical Tips...