Should you buy new or renew your computer?
Aysë Stenabaugh
Jesters Computers
(28/2020) If your computer is slowing down or is no longer able to support your needs, you may find yourself questioning if its time for a new computer. While that may be a great option, it may be possible to upgrade the hardware or software in your current computer to extend its life. Not only will upgrading
your existing computer likely save you money, you won’t be starting from scratch, which can reduce your frustration.
Is it possible to upgrade your machine? While it may take a professional to determine if your machines hardware can be upgraded there are a few devices that either can’t be upgraded or have limited upgrade capabilities. Some devices such as mini desktop computers, all-in-one computers and laptops don’t have the same potential to upgrade as
desktops do. These devices are typically limited to storage and memory upgrades. Desktops on the other hand, offer more flexibility since additional hardware including (but not limited to) motherboard, CPU and video card can be replaced.
Is it worth upgrading? Technology is always changing so there will likely always be something newer and faster available. Instead of focusing your attention on purely specifications, we suggest placing more emphasis on ensuring that your computer will meet your needs while providing wiggle room for potential future needs. Some upgrades will
provide little to no performance boost so it is important to know what you should expect so that you can determine whether it’s worth it. A good repair shop will be able to do a cost/benefit analysis rather than pressuring you to replace your device.
There are several reasons why you might want to reconsider upgrading your machines hardware. If you are running Windows 7 still you can upgrade to Windows 10, however previous versions of Windows will not upgrade. Hardware on older machines should be evaluated by considering the amount of use and likelihood of hardware failure. Sometimes
the underlying issues can be the result of software conflict and performing a fresh install of Windows on your device and re-installing only the software that you use may be all that you need to resolve your issues.
Performing regular maintenance: Maintenance on your device by a trusted technician is recommended to help remove potentially unwanted programs, viruses, malware and other junk as well as diagnose any potential hardware issues. For example, If your computer is more than five years old and you’ve never replaced the hard drive, a replacement
drive especially a solid state hard drive, will offer a significant performance boost. Upgrading your hard drive should be done BEFORE your existing hard drive fails so that your data can be cloned to another drive preventing you from having to re-install any software – everything will be as it was but much faster.
Replacing your computer: Replacement of a computer can be overwhelming especially with so many options. If you are considering purchasing a new computer visit our website at www.jesterscomputers.com for our printable recommendation guide for purchasing a new computer. Once you purchase a new computer your personal data like documents,
pictures etc. can be transferred to your new device. Those who purchase a custom-built desktop from us are provided with a data transfer FREE ($65 value).
Technology can be scary but it doesn’t have to be! At Jester’s Computer Services we pride ourselves on gauging our customer’s experience and needs to provide the best recommendations. In addition to offering upgrades from Windows 7 to Windows 10, all customers unfamiliar with Windows 10 receive a mini one-on-one tutorial to help answer
questions you may have when using Windows 10 for the first time. Visit www.jesterscomputers.com to access our free tutorials, tips and tricks! We can be reached at 717-642-6611 or visit us at the shop located at 5135 Fairfield Road Fairfield, 17320.
