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I frequently get calls and emails from coworkers who are interested in either upgrading or replacing their current PC. This page is designed to help address some of the common questions about this decision and hopefully provide some insight as to what direction to take when you feel like the ol' Gateway you bought eight years ago has seen better days. I hope it helps!

Do I need to upgrade?

    This simple question really boils down to what you use your computer for. If there is a new program you want to use that wont run or wont run well on your current system, then yes, an upgrade is in order. Most of the time though people tend to upgrade because they want to do what they are currently doing, only faster. A new computer will let you do this; and often the speed difference can be very dramatic if you have an older system. I think the smart thing to do is to write down what you use your PC for and what you wish it could do. Use this list and compare it to what is below to get a feel for what you can do.

    I want to:

    Make my PC run faster: 1. Add more RAM. It's cheap, easy and will improve the performance of your PC. 2. Get rid of all that crap that is clogging up your system... Yes, I know you love this stuff, but it does slow the box down. Weatherbug, Webshots, Incredimail ... all that stuff down by your clock. They are little vampires sucking away at your PC resources. 3. Download and run Spybot. It's free, fast, easy to use and will kill off all the spyware you didn't know you had on your machine. 4. Consider upgrading your operating system. If you use Win95 or Win98; it's like tying a boulder to your system. Pry open your wallet and go buy WinXP. It's faster, more stable and is as bug free as a Microsoft product gets. Also, consider Linux. It's an operating system that is free, fast, and rock solid. Ask your geek friends about Linux.

    Burn CD's : All you need is around $50 and you'll have a nice little CD burner, complete with all the software you need to back up those files and make those CD's! Installation is a breeze... if you can use a screwdriver you can install a new drive in about 15 minutes. It's not rocket science. If you're not in the mood to DIY, your local computer store will be happy to do it for you. you can also bribe your computer geek friends to do it for you as well. Beer, cookies and cigars work wonders when you need a favor.

    Pitch the damn thing in the river and start over: You're not alone feeling this way, but before you run out and buy the latest and greatest thing you saw on TV consider the list you made and try to match it up. Here are some general guidelines ...

If you want to use the PC for email, CD burning, digital photography and the occasional letter and video game...

Processor: Mid range Pentium 4 ( 2.0 to 2.8 ) or AMD Athlon 2200 or higher processor. Ram: At least 512 MB of DDR ram. More is better. Video: Unless you're a serious gamer or high end photographer, a built in Video card is fine. Ditto sound. Unless you're planning to set up a big Dolby surround rig, stick to onboard sound cards and some decent desktop speakers. Modem / LAN : Get both, so your covered for all types of hookups to the internet. Monitor: I suggest a 17 inch or bigger. You'll be tempted to save money by buying a cheap Walmart monitor. Don't do it. Spend the cash on a good name ( I like Viewsonic ) and you'll save yourself a raft of problems down the road. Extras: Make sure you have at least two serial and  four USB ports. You'll need them to plug in equipment. Don't let some salesman tell you don't need them, you do need them.

You should be able to pull this off ( with a new case and monitor ) for around $500-$600. Less if you build it yourself.

Extras! :

DVD player : Are you REALLY going to sit at your PC and watch movies? Want the DVD burner? Bare minimum for a good one is $80. Video cards : If you're a gamer, spend the cash on ATI or NVidia cards. Your local computer geek will be happy to chat for hours on this sort of thing. Plan on spending $350-$500 for a cutting edge card. Flat panel monitor: Very sexy, very cool, and essentially unnecessary for most users. For the same money you can buy a much bigger, better quality CRT monitor. Think about it before you drop the cash. Plasma screens: Uber-sexy, and starting around $6000 for something decent. If you can afford this, just go buy a PC package with the screen included.

Who should I buy from?

It's hard to tell from the yellow pages who is a solid, reputable builder and who isn't. My best advice is to ask your friends. Odds are good they've had some experience with it or know someone who has. If you don't have the skills to build your own, a local shop is a good choice; especially if you go to them already knowing what you want to use the PC for ( Make your list! ). What about Dell, Gateway, and so on? What you really get with a national company is good support. Many people like the security of a 24/7 help and support center manned by people who almost know what they're doing. If you like this, go for it. The actual quality of their products can vary widely. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for with the big names. Don't expect a $499 "complete" system to be the same as a $2000 custom built rig. It won't be. Ever. Just remember that while your local guy can't likely match a low end $499 system, they can take the $2000 and give you a MUCH better system. Think before you spend.