Reply:
I'm the kind of guy who drives his automobiles for ten years. I also keep old computers. My lab is, in some ways, a museum. There are lots of good reasons to keep older machines: They cost a lot of money when they were new; and many of us are reluctant to discard something for which we spent good money when it still "works." That is key: So long as they still work, old computers, like old shoes, probably are "comfortable." They have an operating system we are happy with and applications that we know how to use.
The trouble is: you have asked the question: That means at least something in your relationship with the old computer is not just exactly perfect. You have looked at another machine and decided that yours is somehow lacking in comparison. It may be speed of performance, ability to run newer applications, or capacity to hold your data.
First: let's lay out the "upgrades" that might be appropriate:
 | Adding memory |
| Adding a graphics processor |
| Adding a hard drive |
| Adding an optical device (CD or DVD reader/recorder) |
Memory: Many computers are built and sold with too little memory. Within certain practical limits, adding memory is usually a good idea. Always visit the motherboard manufacturer's web site and get their recommendations for the type and size of memory to install. All memory chips are not equal. They are not all interchangeable. They do not all work together. This said, you may get remarkable improvement by increasing the memory in your machine.
[Note: I did say "within certain practical limits." Some motherboards will allow you to install more RAM than current operating systems will support. If you are among the 90% of users with a 32-bit version of Windows, for example, the operating system cannot address more than about 3 Gigabytes. I recommend at least 512 Meg for Win XP. But above this point, be aware that some applications not only fail to use more memory: they sometimes actually crash and will not work at all. This is an artifact of the compiler parameters used by the software developers. The older and more venerable your application, the more likely the memory size parameters will not allow it to run in a machine with more than about 750 Meg of RAM. For graphics or engineering applications, check with your software vendor first, and then go on up to 1, 2, or 3 Gigs if the software will make use of it.]
Graphics Processor: A graphics processor card includes memory so that your load on the installed RAM is lessened. It will free the CPU by off-loading much of the graphics processing. So you get three benefits: More memory for your applications, more processing power for your applications, and faster graphics displays.
Hard Drive: If your hard drive is more than about 50% full, you need to do everything you can to clean it up: Delete unused applications and unwanted data. Run disk cleanup utilities from the operating system. Then, if there is an available slot in your computer, consider adding more storage. Notice I said "adding more" not replacing. Replacing a hard drive involves hours of rebuilding: reinstalling your operating system, all your applications, and possible irrevocable loss of data on the old drive. Be aware some older motherboard BIOS do not support hard drives above a certain size. Check the documentation for your motherboard. You will also need to review the load on your power supply before making this addition.
Optical Drive: If you do not have an optical drive that can both read and write CDs, this is a very likely upgrade. It may be possible to replace an existing CD Read only unit with a device that will allow you to both read CD-ROMs and read and write to CD-RW media. Beware of the temptation to load an older machine with DVD writing software. Unless your system is capable of the processing and bus speeds, you will be disappointed. Read the literature that accompanies the drive.
This is supposed to be a quick answer to a simple question. But, really, there are very thick books on this topic. You can go to the library or to a book store and browse for hours. When all the study and research is done, I seldom recommend more than these upgrades. You might do something else, but that would get us into an area where I would need very specific information to recommend the action.
The factors that influence whether an upgrade is appropriate include:
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Age of the computer - "museum" pieces probably can't use modern memory and may not accept other modern devices. |
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Condition of the computer - You may be putting expensive additions onto an essentially valueless box. Consider its value to you: Do you really want this modification? |
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Adequacy of the power supply. Lots of machines have been built and sold with inadequate power supplies. You need to know if yours can handle more load. |
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Availability of expansion slots and cables. Get out the book that came with your system. Open up the cabinet and look inside. You need to have both available connections on and to the motherboard and available physical space to mount the unit. Sometimes, the cables for an add-on cost as much as the unit itself. |
Revised: 20 June 2007