When to replace personal computer?

Question

In 2004, I purchased my first computer with these specs:

-Processor/Display: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor (2.80GHz, 533 FSB)
--Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
--Memory: 256MB DDR SDRAM at 400MHz
--Hard Drive : 40GB2 Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive
--Monitor: 17 in (16 in viewable,.27dp) E773c CRT Monito
--CD or DVD Drive: Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + FREE UPGRADE! 48x CD-RW Drive
-- 3Yr Ltd Warr,At-Home Service,and Tech Support plus Nights and Weekends
--40GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive
--3.5 in Floppy Drive
--Microsoft® Works Suite - Includes Word 2002, Streets & Trips 2004
-- Norton Internet Security™, 90 day trial
Norton Internet Security™ 2004 15-mth (3 extra mths included)
--Dell Quietkey Keyboard and Dell 2-button Scroll Mouse
--Integrated Audio
--Dell A215 Speakers
--Dell Media Experience™

Over 3 years have passed and now we're having issues. (cont)

It has been used a LOT in the past few years, and after bringing it in for an upgrade we were told to look into replacing the dang thing.

While I respect this "professional," I always want some OTHER opinions. Should this computer last us another 2 years? Should we just upgrade the hard drive?

Answer 1

It depends really on what you use the computer for....

If all you do is use it for office work you don't need to care about upgrading and then you could squeeze a few more years out of it.

If however you are using it for gaming/programming or anything that requires speed you need a new computer.

Even having said that 256MB DDR SDRAM at 400MHz is WAY too low to even begin to use anything new. The BARE minimum right now to run any type of software is 512MB of DDR2 RAM which has not only more memory but DDR2 is faster then your current type of RAM.

Nowadays if you want to use any of the new software that is out there the minimum you need is a duo core Pentium 4 processor and at least 2 GB of DDR2 RAM to run anything comfortably.

If I had to give you an overall opinion it is this...if you use it for anything other then printing out documents at the office you need an upgrade badly.

Answer 2

Whether you need to replace the exiting Dell P4 2.8Ghz computer, you need to consider the following:

1. What you really use this PC for? What applications do you normally use? Just use it for Internet e-mails, simple daily expense projections, sending photos, find a road directions?
If the above are the actual activities. Your PC is powerful enough. All you need to do is to : a. increase the RAM memory from 256mb to 1GB. It will cost you about $75. This will greatly increase the speed of your PC. b. If you wish, you could buy an external hard drive 80MB, it cost about $90.
Put all program files on the C drive (40MB), all other files saved on the external hard drive.
You need to perform system maintenance on weekly basis -
a. disk fragmentation, b. clean disk files, c.run Norton Anti-virus, or, Webroot Spysweep, to eliminate cookies.
Even you only have very basic softwares (You do not have
Microsoft Office Suites - Word, Access, Excel, Power Point,
Outlook, Publisher), you still can do what you need to do.

If you are connected to a broadband, cable, you could do
most of the things very fast. You do not need "to replace the dang thing!"

2. Besides, a decent PC will cost about $1,500- $2,000. The new PC will be installed with Windows Vista - That will be a
new learning curve to you. Especially, the Vista is not fine-tuned yet. Do not jump in. If you search the "Yahoo Answer-Computer section"- You will find the comments from many users of Vista - not favorable.

If you follow my recommendations did the upgrade, your PC can last another 3 years. Good Luck!

Answer 3

What issues are you having?

With 256MB of ram your machine is sluggish.Its slows down your performance.You should add another (DDR512MB PC3200) atleast any brand will do.

Its unessary for you to get another desktop..this one will do just fine for another 2yrs.

It will be wise to get a new harddrive with bigger capacity 120gb will be fine since the price have drop down drastically.Your current drive may die down within that 2yrs.You can still bring foward the new hard drive you bought if you plan to upgrade to a new machine.

If you think your machine are not powerful enough to run new games or other programs which need higher pc specifications than its your choice of buying a new desktop.
If you use your machine as normal applications such as browsing the net, playing videos or audios etc it will be a waste if you upgrade to a new desktop now.

Wait for another 2yrs, you will get a better one then what currently have on the market right now.

Get a new security suite such as Kaspersky which are lighter
in resource compares to Norton that many complains its drains their PC down.

To fix some diagnostic issues, run and install this program it may help solve your problems you are having.Its free and reliable.Becareful not to run the One Click Mantainace for the first time.When running the startup scan (Startup Manage) allowed only the Startup program that you trust it may delete the programs that you want on startup if you are not careful.

http://www.download.com/Advanced-WindowsCare/3000-2086-10407614.html

It is advisable to run system defrag once a week.
The main problems lays on your ram usage.Upgrade it and you see the difference on your machine.1Gb is recommendable.
Its better to have your machine formated to NTFS if you not done so.Formating will atleast bring a new life to your windows.

Answer 4

2 options, one, upgrade the RAM (to 512MB) and HD (If you need more storage space) and use it for another year until the new Windows Vista is stablize. Two, Get use to Windows Vista now, its buggy so you will have problems like your current system. I replace my computer when a new OS comes out, usually 4-5 years. This is just to get used to a new system since everything will follow the new OS soon.

Answer 5

Just clean up your hard drive or upgrade the hard drive and ram
If its slow just save all important data and just flush your hd and re-install the os , only install the programs you need and start using your cdrs to record your important data or just buy another hd and add it up to the one running ... save your personal data on it and let the first one running your os and programs . It will run like new . Another thing .... remove norton software and get other similar software as norton will drag your computer on start ups especially expired versions . " Too many backups"
By the way im a comp tec and yep we usually say upgrade to a new system as most of us gets comisions for it. but i dont like to lie to ppl . You have a very good system on your hands . Dont trow it out the window without me been outside waiting for it. :-)

PS. I have a Celeron 400 mhz ....
And i dare some one telling me to upgrade ...
it runs as fast as my laptop 1.8g

Answer 6

you better off getting a new pc. instead of going with dell or something, build it yourself. its very easy and all the instructions come with the parts, and you can get something much cheaper. with a store bought computer like a sony, etc. you pay a lot more just for the name.
you can send me an email and give me a pricerange, i can find a setup for you in about 15-20min, then if you want you can list everything pick out on another ? and see what others think.

Answer 7

Hi. I would upgrade the harddrive and add as much RAM as you can afford. Should last at LEAST another two years. Consider a new graphics card.

Answer 8

yep most people buy one every three yrs after that parts and updates are like outdated .... you do have a nice computor and you might get it fix but when a computor repair place tell ya its about dead they mean it.... id fix it one more time.. my first one i had over 8yrs and it was better than any ive had since but it did cost alot more to it was hand built which is better sometimes i think

Answer 9

It is still good, better than my computer. unless you want to spend money and get newer one it is up to you.