One of the most common dilemmas among computer users today is whether it is worth the money to upgrade their system or if they would be better off buying a new machine altogether.  Because computers have come down so much in price, in most cases, buying a new computer is the way to go.  But for people who are attached to their computers or whose computer is relatively new, there are upgrade options that might be more cost effective.

 

            Upgrades can vary in cost depending on the computer and on the type of component you wish to upgrade.  Memory upgrades to increase your computer’s speed run generally from $25 to $75.  A new hard drive to store more data typically costs around $100, depending on the size.  CD writers run between $50 and $100.  New monitors run anywhere from $100 to $500.  New computers, though more expensive than these upgrades, have come down tremendously in price.  If you already have speakers, a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse, you can purchase a new tower for just under $500.

 

            The primary factor to consider when deciding whether to upgrade or buy a new computer is age.  Generally, computers under two years old are the best candidates to upgrade.  Because technology changes so rapidly, after two years, most new components are too outdated to work well on older computers.  Because a lot of upgrades, particularly operating systems, have minimum system requirements, many upgrades will not work on older computers unless you upgrade other parts, as well.  What you think will be a simple upgrade can turn into a costly expenditure.   Buying a new computer will ensure that all of your computer’s parts will be designed to work well together.

 

            Another factor to consider when deciding whether to upgrade or purchase a new computer is the intended use for the computer.  For people who use their computer for basics, such as word processing, e-mail and the Internet, older computers work fine.  Computers more than two years old work well for this kind of use.  Generally, the biggest complaint of people who use their computers for little more than e-mailing and word processing is that their computer is too slow.  This can be fixed fairly inexpensively by adding more memory.  However, for people needing a lot more speed, higher end graphics and the newest and best programs, an older computer will simply not be able to live up to these expectations.  For families, a suggestion might be to give the older computer to a family member whose needs are more simple and purchase a new computer for the user who needs the faster computer with the additional features.

 

            Older computers also generally need to be repaired more frequently than newer ones.  If your computer visits the repair shop more than a few times, this could be a sign that you should purchase a new computer.  New computers cost about the same as two or three large repair bills.  Why waste money repairing a computer that will likely continue to cause problems when you can buy a new one that will be fast and up to date for about the same cost?

 

            The important thing to keep in mind when making a decision to upgrade or buy a new computer is that there are plenty of options available to fit anyone’s budget.  Shop around for the cheapest parts that are compatible with your computer.  When buying a new computer, give yourself time to look around for the best deal, since most computer manufacturers and retailers offer special deals and upgrades on certain new models if you wait long enough.