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SDRAM, DDRAM, RDRAM FindITallAt.theshoppe.com |
It's every computer shopper's nightmare: you buy what you think is a top-of-the-line computer expecting it to last at least a couple of years, and two days later someone comes out with a faster processor. Or worse still, you see the same system you bought advertised two months later for half the price you paid — or less.
With processor speeds doubling roughly every two years, this nightmare scenario is a reality far too often. Moore's Law, which states that the transistor density on computer microprocessors doubles every 18-24 months, continues to hold true. Fortunately, there are some recommendations for extending the useful life of your PC.
Purchase a system that can be upgraded later on.
You may be tempted to buy the latest, greatest (and most expensive) system. However, you can often save a considerable amount of money by choosing a mid-range system and upgrading it a couple of months or years down the road when the price for those higher-end components comes down.
Upgrade your RAM first.
When your PC no longer seems to be keeping up with the newest software, a memory upgrade can greatly enhance your computer's performance. Consider this:
Adding RAM can give a bigger performance boost than upgrading your processor or adding a new hard drive.
According to Family PC Magazine and Crucial's own tests, more memory will usually make your computer run faster than a new processor or a new hard drive will. With Windows 2000, you could gain 115% or more with a RAM upgrade.
Adding RAM is more cost-effective than upgrading your processor.
The Council on Computing Power reports that processor upgrades can cost $541 more than a 64MB upgrade while giving less dramatic results. Crucial's own tests show that a Pentium II system with more RAM can actually be faster than a Pentium III system with less RAM.
Adding RAM is easy to do yourself.
So before you throw away your old system, consider upgrading your RAM. In most cases, a memory upgrade can greatly enhance your computer's performance for a fraction of the price of a new system.
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