Monday, February 18, 2002		Article

Don't upgrade, buy new
Vipul Verma

WHEN should one get his computer upgraded, whether upgrading is a correct idea or is it better to go for a new computer? These questions often hang in the minds of computer users. Well! This is an old debate.

Often it so happens that when the user buys a computer, he keeps all options of upgrading it open and also pays a premium for it. However, when the actual time of upgrading the computer comes, the technology becomes too old and generally it becomes a generation old. In all such cases, the user is made to think that is it feasible to invest in the old technology? Well! This is the point where the confusion reaches its nadir.

However, despite being a critical problem, the solution to the problem could be simple. Nevertheless there cannot be universal solution suitable to all type of computer users. The solution to this problem will largely depend upon the use to which the computer has been put to. Generally speaking, on an average, a home computer user would not need the upgrade for the present computer for a period of roughly three years. However, in case of the computer, which has been put to normal kind of office use, the upgrade over the present computer would be required after two years. Whereas in case the computer is being used for any commercial or professional purpose, then the need for an upgrade could be felt roughly after a year or so. These benchmarks are only indicative and do not hold true in all cases.

In the present circumstances, if the person has to upgrade from an old technology, then the options are really limited. Because, currently the technology is on the verge of taking a turn further, therefore the question of upgrading is really limited. Normally, persons who have Pentium I and Pentium II range of computers have practically little options with them. Taking example of Pentium I first, in the present circumstances it is not at all advisable to go for upgradation because the technology and the components used in those computers do not match the current technology and components.

First of all, the bus speed of Pentium I computers was 66 MHz whereas now the minimum bus speed is 100 MHz. Secondly, the architecture of motherboard and processor of Pentium I is totally different from the current processors and motherboards. Therefore there is no compatibility between the two. The next problem could be of RAM. In Pentium I, EDO RAM was being used, which was of different size and speed. Normally, the EDO RAM runs at the speed of 66 MHz, whereas now the standard speed of the RAM is 133 MHz.

Moreover, also due to the difference in the size, the EDO RAM is not compatible with the present hardware and also the present SDRAM cannot be put in all Pentium I computers. Now if you opt for component-to-component upgrading, then practically you will see that you have to upgrade motherboard, processor, RAM at the least for basic upgradation, whereas the CD ROM and the hard disk could also need to be replaced depending upon their size, speed and their workability. Since, in Pentium I computers, the size of hard disk was not much and therefore in the present day circumstances the need would be felt for a higher capacity hard disk, as even the present operating systems consume a lot of hard disk space and the new generation computer programs also need lot of space to load and run.

Regarding the CD ROM, if the CD ROM is functioning properly then there would be no need to upgrade it with a new high speed CD ROM because it is not dependent upon the type of computer you are using. Practically in the old computer, you are left with just floppy drive and the cabinet. In case, the upgraded motherboard is of ATX type, then you may need to change even your cabinet also, because the earlier cabinets will not hold new architecture AXT motherboards. In this situation, you are practically left with your old floppy drive only and rest of all components either needs upgradation on replacement. In this situation, a better idea would be to go for a new computer instead of dismantling your old computer, which can be put to some other use.

Taking up the case of Pentium II computers, again the choices would be limited as there will not be much upgradation options. However, upgrading a Pentium II computer would be somewhat more reasonable than upgrading a Pentium I computer. In the early models of Pentium II, the architecture of processors and the motherboard was of old type and slot type of motherboard and the processors were being used. Now these motherboards and the processors are out of date and thus cannot be upgraded. However, if someone is having socket 370 type of motherboards, there would be some options of upgrading with the early Pentium III processes like 550 MHz, 600 MHz etc.

Given the limitation of the clock multiplier, even these motherboards would not accept further advanced processors, therefore it leaves very little option of upgrading to the Pentium II computer also. Practically, even in this case also a person would be required to dismantle this computer and ultimately buying almost all new components. However, the hard disk, CD ROM, floppy drive and the RAM in some cases could be used for the upgraded computers. But since, the upgradation in the speed of the processor would not be much, therefore it would not make sense to upgrade it. Taking up the case of Celeron based computers, all Celeron-based computers, which run on Intel 810 chipset motherboard and 815 chipset motherboard have scope for upgradation, whereas the others, which run on old motherboards can not be upgraded now for the simple reason of compatibility of hardware. Taking the case of Pentium III computers, you can only increase the speed of the processor to the maximum supported by Pentium III range of computers as you cannot upgrade it to Pentium 4 computers. All the Pentium III computers can be upgraded easily with the recent processors provided the motherboard matches the processors front side bus speed.

From the above analysis, it works out very clearly that options of upgrading a computer does not exist much and thus the users should not unnecessarily spend their money on searching for options. Practically if you see, the losses in case of upgrading are more than buying a new computer. So, even at the time of buying a new computer, you should not pay any premium on hardware due to its upgrading capacity as in the future it may not remain worth exploring the upgrading option. What you should actually look in your computer is its present usage and the price you are paying for it. And whenever the need arise, given the state of technology and the age and generation of your computer, the choice should be in favour of buying a new computer instead of getting it upgraded.