Computer parts and upgrades
Before replacing a computer, it is worth knowing whether one part is holding it back. Often one is, and the fix costs a fraction of a new machine.
The upgrade that changes the most
Replacing a mechanical hard drive with a solid-state drive changes how a computer feels more than any other single change. Starting up, opening programs and switching between them are all storage work, and a machine that felt tired often feels new afterwards.
If a computer is several years old and still has a mechanical drive, this is almost always the first thing to look at.
When more memory is the answer
If a machine slows down specifically when several programs or many browser tabs are open, and recovers when you close some, it is running short of memory. Adding memory addresses that directly; a faster processor does not.
Whether it can be added depends on free slots and what the board supports — worth checking before buying anything.
When an upgrade is not worth it
Sometimes the honest answer is that a machine has reached the end of sensible investment: the parts it would need are expensive relative to its remaining life, or the design does not permit them. We would rather tell you that than take payment for parts that will not help for long.
New parts carry a one-year warranty, excluding acts of God, physical damage and neglect.
Common questions
How do I know which part is the bottleneck?
Is it cheaper to upgrade or replace?
Related reading
Storage and memory
Desktop computers
Why buy from a repair shop
Find the right part
Components, with live pricing and stock, are on the main 1ComputerOutlet site.