I was just curious how often some of you guys update your computers. I built mine 3 years ago, and it still works great, but I see systems like mine now selling for like 500 dollars at the big box stores, and that really makes me want to go build a newer updated faster one!

 

built one to the hilt in 01, just redid it, not as extreme, but still cutting edge last year

 

Did you go and get a whole new case, and the whole deal, or just freshen yours up?

 

kept the same case, but got all new guts

 

When I was gaming, I would build a new computer about once every 3 years. After about a year or so--depending on what was going on in the video card market--I would upgrade the video card.

My last box made it about 4 1/2 years, but it recently got replaced with a relatively high performing Dell. Not sure how long this one will stick around, but I suspect at least four years.

 

I agree with Deluxe. I would build a new base PC every 2-3 years, but spring for upgraded video every year or so. As fast and awesome as PCs have gotten, when it comes to gaming, people don't realize how big a deal video is.

I know tons of people that buy a big-box PC with integrated video and cry that it's brand new with a hojillion gigs of RAM and some new game runs like crap. This is where being an informed consumer comes in.

I'd built all my PCs for years, because I could get what I wanted and it was much cheaper, but now it's hard to build one for the same price, let alone less. I ended up buying from Dell (with my corporate discount, mind you) because it worked out to be less than I would spend on components. So far it's been a great PC (had it a year now) and what's great is that I can crack it open and all the parts are made by ASUS and other real and trustworthy companies.

 

i am on computer #4.
#1 was state of the art when i bought it 15 years ago.it lasted 4 years before it became too slow to work with the upgraded internet capabilities.
#2 was a compaq that is still in use in the shop office to keep track of truck maintenance.
#3 was a 2 year old dell that got hit by a power surge during a lightning storm, and melted the motherboard.
#4 (in use) is an e machines that is 5 years old.
i may replace it next year and retire the compaq in the shop.

 

Yes, you can do that. If you do a lot of intense gaming and with what the new games video/system requirements have become...and becoming. Yes by all means build yourself a faster, more powerful and better performing computer. Component prices are very affordable now. Places like TigerDirect can build you one for a very reasonable cost.

However, the line between what is a gaming and/or business "rig" has become even narrower since you bought yours. Video gaming has been pushing the graphics limits for years with the improved overflow into business uses. The "big box" companies have come to realize this and why you can buy a $500 rig that is suitable for both. (Yeah, I learned long ago, "intergrated graphics chipset" is NOT the same as a "gaming video card".)

I have had five computers since 1996.

Began with a HP Pavilion 120 workstation in 1998. It only had a gig HD, though. Enough for the business (email mostly, browsing, some image collecting) and "just" a "little" gaming. But even then, this simple "workstation" desktop would have been $2000 or so. But it didn't take long for prices to drop since then.

between late 2000 to 2007, the next ones were:

eMachine 433, win98, 4gig HD w/ ProRage Turbo card.
eMachine 600 Win98se, 10 gig HD w/Intel intergrated chipset
HP Pavilion P4, 2 ghz, WinXP, 32 HD w/Intel Intergrated chipset


Up til now, all have been trades as I could never afford a brand new computer. These were primarily for the business and only secondary for any gaming. By 2007, however, computer prices had dropped so drastically a "high end" rig was now affordable that could do both equally well for my needs.

My present one is a Dell and bought in late 2007 for $550. Largely, because they offered new computers with this OS installed...and their quality had improved over HP (which did not offer XP anymore). Also Dell dropped their "propriety components" several years earlier that made any upgrading problematic back then.

It is a 530 Inspiron Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.2 ghz, WinXP, 1 gig RAM, 320 HD with a separate Nvidia 8300 GS card. Shortly after, I upgraded the RAM to three. Right now video "gaming" card prices have dropped considerably and the one I had been wanting is very affordable now. Also the final upgrade I could do, is replace the current "stock" Dell 300W PSU for a better, higher one. Doesn't sound like much of a change, but this is really all that is needed to turn my Inspiron into something more than a workstation.

But now, for what I paid two years ago, I can get a decent "gaming rig" with all the power and performance needed to play any new game ready for release now and/or in the next few years...and still meet all the requirements. Well, at least you hope. But then, PC gaming performance, power and "eyecandy" has been nearly rivally console gaming in some areas and this is expected to continue.

A business computer does not need nearly as much power and performance, though. Yet, it does have its' own particular needs that have come to be expected and to perform best with. And IF you a graphics designer, it helps to have all this too.

 

Well, let's see.

My desktop pc is almost 7 years old. I built it, from components, and it still does what it needs to do.
No. . . I am not a 'gamer'. Not at all.


My wife's desktop is a Dell.
I WILL NOT buy another Dell!!
We had an issue with it, not too long ago. First problem. PC was two years old.
I went into my 'pc cabinet' and pulled the documentation, to get the CDs to restore the pc.
NO restore CD in the sealed packet.
After explaining that this is the first time that I've needed the CDs, Dell refused to supply me with something that they had not originally put into the box.
I am NOT paying $40.00 for a CD that I should have already had.
Again, they did not supply the CD, as they say they supplied, in their documentation.
After three letters, they will not reply to either calls, e-mails or snail-mail.
No more Dell in this house.
So, I restored it the old-fashioned way.
(XP Pro CD, then downloaded all of the drivers, then installed programs.) Dell's 'restore' CD would have put the machine back into 'factory fresh' condition in 1/3 the time.

My daughter's pc is a Gateway.
HDD fried in a power outage/surge. (Her hair dryer was plugged into the surge protector and the pc was plugged into the wall! What a concept! Protect a hair dryer!)
Sent HDD away - retrieved data. (Daughter didn't listen about BACK-UPS, either!)
New HDD (Seagate 500 gig) and Gateway sent me a 'Restore CD'. . . FREE!

Son's pc is a Compaq, that I got from work, for a $75 donation to charity.
I only added an NVidia (1 gig RAM) video card, for his games.

5 laptops - HP/Compaq. Nice little business pcs. nc6000 and nc8230.

 

I update every 2 years but I think I am going to hold off for as long as possible. I can't imagine what sweet processors I will be able to buy in 5 years.

 

All my computers are at least 3 years old at this point. I use to upgrade regularly, but I just don't game as much. Not really that important unless you are a gamer.