Building a New Computer

[ManBearPig]

Well, basically I wanted to say I decided I'm going to build a new computer this summer (new monitor too) for around $2000. I'm excited. Anyway, to make this a useful thread I'll add a poll.

 

[AdvancedRobotics]

last time i upgraded my PC was many years ago. i could care less.

i use my R52 lappy for everything, or i borrow a macbook from work. or i chill at work and enjoy my huge mac display

 

[Matt2]

I try to make a major upgrade at least every year.

I just spent my upgrade money for this year on an Xbox 360 and some games, so I think PC gaming for me has officially ended.

 

[quakefiend420]

every few years or so i build a new rig

however i'll usually do small upgrades inthe meantime

basically once it gets to the point of it being more cost-effective to build a new one than to upgrade the old one, i build anew

 

[txrandom]

I built one like 3 years ago and then another like 6 months after that. I got a laptop about 6 months ago and I'm not planning on doing any major upgrades for a couple years. I did just get a new harddrive though!

 

[Al Neri]

im about to build a final computer for myself. i realized that if i want to game I use my xbox (not even 360), it is going to be:

A64 3000+
Literally (for now) VooDoo 3 card I bought like 6 years ago for video
1gb ram
500 gig hard drive

that will suit my needs (surfing the web, web design)

 

[blackrod]

blackrod upgrades when blackrod feels like upgrading.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

What is a major upgrade? My motherboard and processor are two years old (A64 3200). My 1gb PC2100 is from that time as well. My video card (x850) was replaced 8-10 months ago when the old one failed (9600 pro). My hard drives are from 2001 and 2002, but I am replacing them next week. Oh, and my monitor is from July, but my old one was from late 2002.

 

[clamum]

Every few years. The one I have now I got before going up to school in the summer of 2003. I did a few upgrades to it but nothing real major. I hope to buy new parts after the holidays.

 

[JeffCos]

where's the option for every few days?

 

[potato28]

I'd say about every 4 years...

 

[ManBearPig]

A64 3400+ (NC) | BFG 6800GT OC | Fortron 530w PSU |
DFI Lanparty UT | 1.5GB Kingston Value RAM | Audigy 2 ZS Gamer |
Diamondmax10 w/ 16mb cache| Antec P160| Logitech Z2200 2.1 | NEC 3500A | Fe991sb 19" CRT monitor

For some reason i just really want to build a new one. I mainly want a new CPU (at least dual core, quad core if its mainstream this summer) and a GPU. Other than that, i don't really care so much. i would upgrade if i could, but its s754 and AGP

 

[uhohs]

imho, it's kinda stupid to spend 2000 on a computer these days.

 

[ManBearPig]

maybe around 1500 then. 1500-2000 range i guess.

 

[ManBearPig]

bump

 

[sniperruff]

as soon as something major breaks. as long as this axp 1700+ keeps soldiering on, i ain't giving up on him!

 

[her209]

I don't upgrade anymore.

 

[Red Dawn]

When ever.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I don't usually build whole new systems.

That being said, at least once per year, I do somewhat major upgrades (One or more of these: more Ram, faster vid card, faster CPU, new mobo (if necessary))

 

[Brainonska511]

Depends. In my house, we were using a Dell Dimension v350 (w/ a Pentium 2) and Windows 98 for 6 years before it started to act up and die. We still use another computer that is an early P4 machine (5 years old at this point). The last pre-built computer in my house is at least 2 years old at this point and going strong. I built my first computer last September (2005) and upgraded it in May 2006 to a dual core and a dedicated GPU. That computer will probably last at least 2 years in its current state. At that point, the last 2 Dells in my house will probably be gone and some kind of new machine will be added so there is a total of 2 computers in the house.

 

[NatePo717]

I built my system about a year ago (my 7800GTX burnt out after 3 months or so so I replaced it with the 7900GT). With the way this system performs I should be good for another year. Only thing I have upgraded is the storage space which I don't consider a major upgrade.

 

[Stunt]

When the software requires the upgrade.

Had my last computer for 5 years, just bought a new one for Windows Media Centre PC.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

I'm slowly upgrading components in my main rig one at a time and saving those parts to assemble into a 2nd rig. I had to replace my mobo when my first one needed an RMA, so when I got it back from MSI I kept it as my 2nd S939 platform. I just recently picked up an Opteron 165 to replace my A64 3500+, so I'm saving it for the 2nd rig. My next plans are to upgrade my GPU, then my RAM, and along the way I'll pick up some HDD's and optical drives, and then finally a case and PSU.

Sure, I'm committed to the S939 platform for a while, but with a new GPU and better RAM to go with my OC'd Opty 265, I think it will do everything I need it to do for a couple more years. In the mean time I'll use the old parts to build a media center PC.

 

[FeuerFrei]

System replacement timeline: 1996>2002>2005

I keep the upgrading to a minimum