Poll: PC upgrading

[Hurr Durr Derp]

It's a familiar thing to most PC gamers, and one of the reasons many gamers turn to console gaming in stead: upgrading your hardware. Some people do it piece by piece while others just buy a whole new PC every so often, but if you're planning to keep up with the latest software and games, there's no escaping it.

How often do you upgrade your gaming system? And what do you pay most attention to? Graphics power, overall performance, cost/power ratio?

Personally, I only upgrade every 3 or 4 years. I sometimes do little upgrades if there's a new game I really want to play, but otherwise I'd rather spend my money on other things. Also because of this, I tend to pay extra attention to price vs performance rather than just getting the newest/best stuff available.

 

[veloper]

I upgrade when I really want to play a certain game and my rig is nolonger above the recommended specs.
All about the games.

 

[Jandau]

Roughly every 3-5 years, and I don't buy cutting edge since it's badly overpriced. Year old hardware is dirt cheap in comparison and works quite good.

 

[WolfLordAndy]

I upgrade when I really want to play a certain game and my rig is nolonger above the recommended specs.
All about the games.

More or less this, as it ends up, that tends to be every 3-5 years. You don't need cutting edge to run games. I've had this computer 2 years now, and it was hardly top spec, but I'm still able to play anything new that comes out (unless its for some reason programmed not to work, i.e. enforced Vista Exclusive type stuff...)

 

[Leorex]

i just buy a new computer.

 

[jamesworkshop]

I Intend to upgrade my computer in 2011 because 2010 doesan't look like the games will require better hardware
Ass Creed 2
bioshock 2
dead rising 2

but its going to be a new machine i7 and 6gb of ram

 

[thiosk]

I dump in a nice chunk of cash every 4-5 years or so and do a complete rebuild. That build will typically last three years before I have to do much of anything. I've bought new video cards at the end of that window, then transferred that card into the new machine when the time comes.

My current core i7 build will probably last quite a long time; i can get a cheaper 9800 video card and SLI them together if I need a little more oomph.

i just buy a new computer.

look, you are an escapist, i'm an escapist, so we're friends. Friends don't let friends buy prebuilt machines. If you have half a brain you can part together a computer for half the cost and better performance than any dell, alienware, or other mass produced el cheapo machine. The markups are extreme.

 

[orangebandguy]

i just buy a new computer.

Same. Graphics cards cost a bomb anyways.

 

[Little Duck]

I tried to upgrade my laptop, which you can do so long as they run on the same power equip but the company that suplies the parts don't want you to that. I don't know why.

 

[thiosk]

I tried to upgrade my laptop, which you can do so long as they run on the same power equip but the company that suplies the parts don't want you to that. I don't know why.

This is why for performance, you put the money in a desktop. Much more upgradable. Laptops are disposable, portable machines-- you run em til they die, bury them, and get another less expensive and long battery life machine.

Spending three grand on a gaming laptop is the height of silliness.

 

[fix-the-spade]

I upgrade when it can't play the games I want anymore.


The current one is 2004 vintage and still going strong, althought things do get upgraded/replaced as and when they wear out. So it's had disc drive, graphics and memory upgrades in that time.

When it eventually becomes unworkable, Falcon Northwest Fragbook here I come!!!

 

[Little Duck]

I tried to upgrade my laptop, which you can do so long as they run on the same power equip but the company that suplies the parts don't want you to that. I don't know why.

This is why for performance, you put the money in a desktop. Much more upgradable. Laptops are disposable, portable machines-- you run em til they die, bury them, and get another less expensive and long battery life machine.

Spending three grand on a gaming laptop is the height of silliness.

I see a future!

WHEN ANY MACHINE REGARDLESS OF ORIGIN
CAN HAVE UPGRADABLE PARTS, ECHANGABLE PIECES AND CAN STICK WITH THE SAME EXTERIOR!!!!


Mostly because that is the "green" way to go as the manufactureres make less material, just new parts which fit into machines in different ways.

 

[Pielikey]

Ugh. Please don't remind me about how I need to upgrade this lunchbox.
Playing Team Fortress on a Pentium 4 Processor is about as easy as pushing out a kidney stone made from legos. And the 9500 GT peice-o-crap isn't helping it either.

I upgrade whenever my old hardware seems obsolete or doesn't run well enough to handle today's games.

(Which it doesn't, but I don't have the money to upgrade, so it looks like I'll be playing PowerPoint Fortress 2 for awhile.)

 

[SomethingUnrelated]

I upgrade it when I can run games on higher settings. Part of my problem may be that i'm running Vista.

 

[Agayek]

I upgrade a piece or two of my computer (video cards and maybe processor basically) every 2-3 years usually. Anything else waits a solid 6-10 depending on games and whatnot.

The one I'm currently using I bought in 2007 for Crysis. Since then, I've upgraded the video cards from 2x 8800 Ultras to a GTX295. That's pretty typical for me.

 

[Abedeus]

A bit of "spare cash" and "when I can't run new games on Medium anymore".

 

[Arcanz]

I upgrade when I can't run new games on normal or low. Then I upgrade the whole thingy to be able to do it on maximum. After an upgrade I wait until I can't run any new games anymore. I've always said if I am going to upgrade my system, I'm going to upgrade it so I don't need to upgrade it anymore in a couple of years. It's better to pay a little more so I can use my hardware longer, than to go cheap and have to replace it soon.

 

[mayney93]

i upgrade with my spare dosh coz im like that plus i get the best parts i can for my money that will last ie i recently got a 880 w psu and a haf 932 that shud last at least 2 - 3 years

 

[Aunel]

I play PC games on my laptop, and it can still run games very good

but I would upgrade whenever my pc was beginning to suck.

 

[CrysisMcGee]

I dump in a nice chunk of cash every 4-5 years or so and do a complete rebuild. That build will typically last three years before I have to do much of anything. I've bought new video cards at the end of that window, then transferred that card into the new machine when the time comes.

My current core i7 build will probably last quite a long time; i can get a cheaper 9800 video card and SLI them together if I need a little more oomph.

i just buy a new computer.

look, you are an escapist, i'm an escapist, so we're friends. Friends don't let friends buy prebuilt machines. If you have half a brain you can part together a computer for half the cost and better performance than any dell, alienware, or other mass produced el cheapo machine. The markups are extreme.

I try to do it every 2 years. Upgrade, that is. Maybe get a new system every 4 years.
Alienware is not a bad choice if you want a prebuilt machine. Fuck Dell. But you are always better off building it yourself. Of course, that can come with a headache.

Or, go to your local computer shop, and see what they charge to put it all together. If it's around 100 dollars, I say go for it.

i just buy a new computer.

Same. Graphics cards cost a bomb anyways.

*Hrk* sorry, I choked a little. You have to pay close attention to what you're getting with a pre-built machine. And built-in video cards don't cut it if for gaming.

A computer works like running water. You want to keep the pipes as fat as possible, to allow for the greatest flow. However, any 1 point on your computer can slow down the entire flow. This includes Processor, RAM, Video Card, and to a lesser extent hard drive. If you have an awesome machine, but a crap video card, its gonna run only as fast as the video card allows.

A fleet always moves as fast as its slowest ship.