PC Upgrade Guide: Which Computer Parts Should You Upgrade
PC upgrade guide can help keep up-to-date with upgrades for your computer components is impartial as it helps your computer operate at top efficiency. This is common knowledge but exactly which parts should be updated is lesser-known. Keeping your RAM, HDD, or SSD storage, CPU, and graphics card in top shape will help you gain consistent and speedy computer performance.
RAM
Your computer’s RAM (Random Access Memory) temporarily stores the data that you are presently using on the computer. The two most common types of RAM are SRAM (Static RAM) and DRAM (Dynamic RAM). The main difference between these two types of RAM is that while DRAM refreshes thousands of times per second, SRAM does not need to refresh. This means that SRAM is faster and more expensive than DRAM.
If you’re experiencing performance issues such as freezing graphics, slow performance, or lag then it might be time for a RAM upgrade. Fortunately, adding more memory to your RAM is one of the easiest and simplest PC upgrades out there. Upgrading RAM can instantly improve almost all slow-running computers.
As for how much RAM you need, that depends on the activities you use your computer for. If you use your computer for light streaming and web browsing, you likely do not need more than 8GB of RAM. For those who do serious multi-tasking like mid-range gaming, intense web browsing (having 30 tabs open at a time), and photo editing, 16GB is our recommendation for you. A RAM of 32 GB would be for PCs that are used for large and/or professional workloads, such as video and audio editing or gaming.
Keep in mind that in some laptop builds, RAM is soldered to the motherboard. In this case, you should take your laptop to a professional to have it upgraded.
Related: Should you replace or upgrade your computer?
Hard Drive PC Upgrade
All of the data on a computer is stored on the hard drive. Hard drives generally last for 3-5 years. A few common signs that the hard drive needs an upgrade include slower performance, corrupted files, and unusual noises like clicking sounds. It is important to back up your hard drive as soon as you notice that it may be close to failure. You could do this through an external hard drive or cloud storage. If you notice your computer malfunctioning this way, you should consider a PC upgrade from a Hard Disk Drive to a Solid State Drive.
Hard Disk Drives (HDD) are the traditional hard drives that spin. They are cheaper and a lot slower than the Solid State Drive (SSD). They can be louder and heat up more than SSD’s. The SSD is a newer technology that is smaller than the HDD and does not have any moving parts. A lot of PC’S upgrade from HDD to SSD because of the large improvement that a computer’s performance sees afterward.
CPU
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) acts as the brain of the computer. It receives and processes data and it performs calculations. CPU’S can last for 10-20 years. Upgrading your CPU will result in better performance with less power usage. If your current CPU’s usage record shows that it’s operating at its maximum on all cores, you may want to upgrade it.
However, compatibility is often an issue when upgrading a computer’s CPU. In some cases, upgrading your processor may also mean you’ll have to change the motherboard too. This might also require you to purchase a new RAM. Hence a need to ensure that before you think of PC ugrade, you should first get and answer for what should I upgrade on my PC?
Related: How To Fix A Slow Computer
Graphics Card
Your computer’s graphics card is responsible for rendering images on the computer’s display, making it the key to a great gaming experience, video editing, and high-end video viewing. Along with a well-functioning CPU, a good graphics card will allow you to play the best games with the top settings.
The different types of GPU’s include the Video Graphics Array (VGA) which is the minimum standard and allows 256 colors and the Quantum Extended Graphics Array (QXGA) that allows millions of colors and is high performance. There’s also the single GPU which is better for standards users and the Dual GPU which is more expensive and offers increased graphics performance, making it good for game users. Depending on whether you have a single GPU or a dual-GPU configuration, graphics cards usually last for 5 or more years.
When random lines and dots start to appear on your screen or incorrect colors pop up on your display this is known as artifacts. Artifacting is a sign that your graphics card needs an upgrade.
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