Upgrading and Rebuilding?

chrislo

chrislo

New Member
Just curious, when you build your PC's how long do you use them before you start to upgrade them? Then how long before it gets so outdated you build a new machine from scratch (All new parts including the case and power supply)?
 
I try to upgrade when what I have will no longer work, usually about 1 1/2 years. But I end up building a new one every 3-4 years.
 
chrislo said:
Just curious, when you build your PC's how long do you use them before you start to upgrade them? Then how long before it gets so outdated you build a new machine from scratch (All new parts including the case and power supply)?
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It depends on a few things. First, I'm the go-to person in the family/friends circle for system building, and more often than not, their uses for the system are not the same as mine. Sometimes (I'll ask them first) I'll buy a newer part for my system, and give them my current part, as sometimes even the most basic newer part is going to be overkill for what they need. I usually split the difference, too, as far as the cost goes since it's a win/win for both of us.

The last time I built myself a completely new system was probably about a year ago. Before that, it was early 2002, so about 4 to 4 1/2 years. During that time, however, I'll occasionally upgrade certain parts, as mentioned above, or if I have a pressing need to tinker; upgrade memory here, PSU there, etc.

Very rarely will I junk old hardware; usually only if it's not working and unrepairable. I try not to sell it either. I'll recycle old components for repairs or swap-outs on older units, and have built lower-performance systems for specific occasions. For example, my 7 and 9 year old sisters needed a very basic build).
 
The build in my sig is my first from scratch. I've continued to upgrade since I built the rig in August. Nvidia did some market research and found that people usually upgrade their video cards every 12-18 months. Nvidia's new product releases typically reflect that number.

Soon, I plan on getting a new 45nm Intel processor, watercooling and a full tower case. After that, I'll probably wait a couple years to buy anything else.
 
imsati said:
It depends on a few things. First, I'm the go-to person in the family/friends circle for system building, and more often than not, their uses for the system are not the same as mine. Sometimes (I'll ask them first) I'll buy a newer part for my system, and give them my current part, as sometimes even the most basic newer part is going to be overkill for what they need. I usually split the difference, too, as far as the cost goes since it's a win/win for both of us.

The last time I built myself a completely new system was probably about a year ago. Before that, it was early 2002, so about 4 to 4 1/2 years. During that time, however, I'll occasionally upgrade certain parts, as mentioned above, or if I have a pressing need to tinker; upgrade memory here, PSU there, etc.

Very rarely will I junk old hardware; usually only if it's not working and unrepairable. I try not to sell it either. I'll recycle old components for repairs or swap-outs on older units, and have built lower-performance systems for specific occasions. For example, my 7 and 9 year old sisters needed a very basic build).
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I am just thinking how far I can take a PC that I build. I was hoping I can get it to last me a good 6 years with upgrading the video card since I am into gaming. I gave people in my family my older computer, they had some problems but after a reformat they seem to do them well. If I had to upgrade the processor or motherboard its not really worth it, just build a new one I feel.
 
mep916 said:
The build in my sig is my first from scratch. I've continued to upgrade since I built the rig in August. Nvidia did some market research and found that people usually upgrade their video cards every 12-18 months. Nvidia's new product releases typically reflect that number.

Soon, I plan on getting a new 45nm Intel processor, watercooling and a full tower case. After that, I'll probably wait a couple years to buy anything else.
Click to expand...

So far out of this video card I got three years, its hard but it still able to play COD 4 well and Crysis ok. I heard about this new smaller processors and that made me think they might chance the pins on them and then you need a whole new motherboard. Now you have a major upgrade on your hands.
 
If you look at past history, they do major changes to the CPU architecture every 3-4 years. Requiring a major rebuilt to keep up. Sometimes even faster, aka socket 939.
 
Yea I noticed that, if you look at my spec's what I had was the best of the best at the time. Now its no longer top of the line.
 
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