What to Upgrade

When it comes to adding stuff to your PC, what are the most popular upgrades? Memory is always good (you can never have too much memory!), but other upgrades are driven more by the particular applications for which you use your computer. For example, if you play a lot of PC games you should consider upgrading your system's video card and monitor; if you listen to a lot of MP3 files, consider better speakers and a fast CD burner.

Table 2.1 shows the most popular hardware you can add to your system along with why you'd want to make that upgrade, and the approximate cost of the new hardware.

Table 2.1. Popular Hardware Upgrades

Hardware

Approximate Cost

Reason to Upgrade

Memory

$40 $60 (128MB module)

To increase the speed at which your applications run, the number of programs that can run at the same time, and the size of individual files you can work with

Ports

$20 $100

To let you add more or different devices to your system; this is a good option if you've run out of USB ports, for example, or need to connect multiple printers and only have a single parallel port (another option adding an external USB hub to increase the number of USB connections in your system)

Video card

$20 $400

To display higher-resolution pictures and graphics, provide smoother playback for visually demanding PC games, or add a second monitor for some high-end programming or development activities

Monitor (traditional)

$100 $500

For a larger viewing area especially if you're playing graphics-intensive games or watching DVD movies

Monitor (LCD)

$300 $2000

For a flatter display and to free up some desk space (plus, they look really cool!)

Sound card

$20 $250

To improve the audio capabilities of your PC system; this is particularly important if you're listening to high-quality MP3 files, watching surround-sound DVD movies, playing PC games with so-called 3D sound, or mixing and recording your own digital audio

Speakers

$15 $200

To upgrade the quality of your computer's sound system; speaker systems with subwoofers are particularly popular

Keyboard

$15 $100

To upgrade to a more ergonomic or wireless model

Mouse

$5 $60

To upgrade to a different type of controller (such as a trackball), a more fully featured unit, a more reliable optical model, or a wireless model

Joystick or other controller games

$10 $300

To get better action with your favorite game

Modem

$15 $150

In case your PC doesn't have a state-of-the-art 56.6Kbps model, or if you're upgrading to broadband DSL or cable service

CD-ROM drive

$20 $150

In case your computer doesn't have one, or to upgrade to a faster unit

CD-R/RW drive (burner)

$30 $200

To add recordable/rewritable capabilities to your system

DVD-ROM

$50 $200

To add DVD capability to your system

DVD-R/RW (burner)

$250 $450

To let you burn your own DVD movies

Hard drive

$70 $400

To increase the storage capacity of your system (can be either external or internal)

Removable drive

$20 $200

To add removable storage capacity to your system typically in the form of a Zip drive (or a floppy, if your system didn't come with a 3 1/2" drive)

Media card reader

$15 $50

So you can read data from devices that use various types of flash memory cards

Network interface card (NIC)

$10 $30

To connect your computer to a local area network

Wireless network adapter

$30 $80

To connect your computer to a wireless network

Scanner

$50 $300

So you can scan photographs and documents into a digital format to store on your computer's hard drive

Printer

$50 $1000

To improve the quality of your printouts, to add color to your printouts, to add photo-quality printing to your system

PC camera

$20 $200

To send live video of yourself to friends and family, to participate in live video chat, or to set up your own Webcam on the Internet

Digital media hub

$150 $500

Connects your PC to your home audio system, so you can listen to digital audio files and Internet radio on your big system

There are also parts of your system that you can upgrade or replace, but probably don't want to because the process is too difficult. These components include your PC's microprocessor chip and power supply. If you have lots of hands-on experience under the hood of your computer, you might be comfortable performing this type of major upgrade. If you're technically timid or an absolute beginner, leave these types of upgrades to a professional.

note

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All the prices here and elsewhere in this book are approximate, and subject to change. In general, the cost of PC equipment decreases over time, and if you shop around a little you'll get a better deal than if you buy from the first store you walk into. So don't take these prices as gospel do your homework to find the best bang for your buck when you're ready to upgrade!




Absolute Beginner's Guide to Upgrading and Fixing Your PC
Absolute Beginners Guide to Upgrading and Fixing Your PC
ISBN: 0789730456
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2005
Pages: 206

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