Quote:
Originally posted by Arnabas:
*sigh*
I am just falling farther and farther behind. I just don't have the resources to update right now, as much as I wish otherwise.
Let me ask a question or two, though. Please bear in mind that I am fairly computer illiterate ("turn on power/ insert disc/ play" being about the extent of my knowledge). If I want to update, I can simply buy components and not a whole new system, right? For example, I can just go buy a new motherboard and put it in, giving me more speed but with all my programs, games, etc. being untouched, right?
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Mostly this is true. If you have a system built in the last couple of years, chances are you already have the necessary power supply to hook up to a modern mobo. If you don't have an ATX power supply, or the output is less than 300W you will likely need at least a new case to go with the mobo, and chances are you'll want memory to complement the new setup.
As an example, my last machine was an AMD K6/2-450Mhz with PC133 memory. When I upgraded, I kept the HD, the video setup, and all my peripherals (keyboard, mouse, etc) but I had to upgrade the mobo to support the T-Bird 1.2gHz cpu, and in order to avoid hamstringing the cpu I installed 266Mhz DDR memory.
If I upgrade again in the next couple of months, I will likely switch mobos again in order to gain the ability to run 333Mhz memory to make the most of the faster CPUs.
Additionally, if you have anything less than a GeForce3 Ti video card, you will almost certainly want a GeForce4 Ti video card in order to be able to play any of the latest games.