Computer Upgrades
Date: Friday, March 10
Topic: News
A smooth transition to a new computer isn't guaranteed, so why not upgrade? A corollary to Murphy's Law states that the day after you delete a file, throw out a software manual, or give away an old computer is the day you desperately need it. Your old system may not be suited to high-speed graphics or fast-paced games, but if it's sporting a Pentium II CPU or better, it's probably more than adequate for word processing, Web browsing, and other basic tasks. New home networking products make sharing a high-speed Internet link cheaper and easier than ever.
If your old computer is too slow, consider adding more RAM. Upgrading your PC's memory is easy and still relatively cheap (though not as cheap as it was a few months ago). It's often an effective performance booster, especially if your old PC has less than 128MB of RAM. Upgrade Guide: Install RAM modules step by step for more on memory upgrades.
Another way to breathe new life into an old system is to reinstall Windows and your applications. Over time, Windows accumulates bugs and glitches that slow performance. After the reinstall, be sure to download all patches available for your OS from Microsoft's Windows Update site.
If your PC has to go, consider donating it to a charity that accepts computers.
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