Should I buy a new CPU?

Question

My computer is a Compaq. The sound does not work, and the moving images (such as on U-Tube) freeze and don't move. I have been told I need a new sound card, but a tech I know put one in, and the USB ports stopped working, so I had him remove it.

Also, I'm sure I have many things loaded and running that are unnecessary, but I'm not sure how to eliminate them without eliminating essential things!

I have DSL, so it's pretty fast, but I want sound, and I want moving images.

My keyboard, mouse & monitor are just fine. The USB ports work well now, so I have a printer and can upload my photographs.

I wonder if I should just buy a new CPU and start over. If so, what kind do people recommend?
I've had HP in the past. Also, about how much would one cost if that's all I purchase? I've only purchased entire systems in the past.

Thanks for any ideas.

OK, I will add some details!

It's almost four years old. From reading the replies so far, it seems like I'm in the "dinosaur" age with this one. I can afford a new CPU if I don't buy any other stuff, and I won't need to. The keyboard, mouse and monitor are fine.

Any recommendations besides Sam's Club? We don't have one. I also don't belong to Costco, although they may have a wonderful price so I suppose I could join, if I'd save more than the $50 fee on the computer.

Help! I don't understand all the computer lingo in the last reply..... and I don't know the specs of my computer. Sorry to be so ignorant here.... This is what my tech says, that I just need everything re-loaded and to start over, and it will be like new. It would save me money, anyway.....

Answer 1

First, after a certain amount of time, developers get faster machines and develop more complex code. So things that they build now are too much for really old machines.

Second, if you are having that much trouble with a sound card and a tech messed up USB to put it in, you had a bad tech (I think).

According to Moore's law, computers double their speed every 18 months. If it has been three years since you bought your machine, you are 4 times slower than newer systems. If your machine is 4 1/2 years, make that 8 times slower.

Now... new machine or try to upgrade? Up to you. I won't tell you what to buy and I'd be silly to make guesses at how you want to use your machine. But...

If you decide that it is time to buy and IF there is a Sam's Club in your area and someone you know has a card, go there to look. (Notice I didn't say "buy.") Comparison shop them against some of the other high-tech chains. SOMETIMES they will buy out a bulk run. My wife and I got our HP boxes from Sam's and we love the silly things. We got P4 dual-core processors, lots of hard drives, nice video card, flat-panel LCD (mine is 17", hers is 19"), 7 x USB ports, parallel port, seril port, fire-wire port, ethernet port, modem port.... dual CD/DVD ROM, one of which is also a CD/DVD writer. And neither machine was over $1700. To me, it was a true bargain. On the other hand, there are those who would NEVER buy from Sam's in a gazillion years, for fear of getting burned on service issues. To each his/her own.

Answer 2

First and foremost, you need to list the specs of your computer or at least tell us when you bought it. If it's really old then you might be due for a new computer but if it's not, then doing some cleaning or maybe a reinstallation of your operating system might be all you need.

Answer 3

try a DIY PC and reload the software you already have. If your existing PC casing/CD drive/hard disk/etc can be re-use, you only need to get the motherboard/RAM/CPU.save $$$

Answer 4

think you should. you should try Dell and don't buy Samsung. it really sucks. you should ask for a recommendation in the shop.


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