How to Decide Which Components to Upgrade
Type of case they have
The case is usually not critical to the performance of a Personal Computer, as it is only a framework that safely and conveniently secures all of the more essential components in place. The customer may choose to upgrade their case if they dislike the esthetics of the old one. Changing the case would also be advisable if the old one does not have sufficient space to fit the new configuration of components, or if it does not allow convenient access for cleaning and maintenance. For some high-performance PCs, airflow is a crucial factor, and that generally necessitates a larger case. Logically, a computer that outputs less heat can have its parts closer together, allowing the whole machine to fit in a more compact shell.
Type of motherboard
The motherboard, similarly to the case, needs to be chosen based on other components of the PC. On the basic level, it needs to have a compatible CPU socket and enough RAM slots for the desired configuration. It will also need to have a sufficient number of PCI Express slots for installing all the necessary expansion cards, such as the GPU, dedicated sound and networking cards, and other equipment. If the customer’s expected use case benefits from features such as overclocking or PCI express lane bifurcation, the motherboard must support them as well.
Amount of RAM
Ram is a vital part of any PC build, but the necessary amount and speed will depend on the intended application. Current memory options allow for extremely high clock speeds, but it is important to remember that it will not always translate into increased performance in gaming and work scenarios. Changing the capacity is a more straightforward upgrade, although it might not be necessary for some systems. Simple web browsing and content streaming will work well with only 8 GB, although installing 12 or 16 will grant more flexibility in the future. Most gamers will also be satisfied with 8 GB in 2020, but future games will likely demand more RAM, so 16 GB is a safer option (Techquickie, 2020). Video editors might need more system memory if they are working with high resolution and high bitrate files, which are becoming increasingly common, making 32 GB a necessity. Finally, professionals working with complex 3D models and analyzing large data sets could need extremely high amounts of RAM: from 64 GB up to a terabyte, depending on their specific needs.
Type of video card
The video card has a direct impact on the performance of a computer, and it must fit the customer’s use case and budget. NVidia offers a wide range of GPUs at different price points and performance levels. Both games and professional applications can benefit from the company’s ray tracing technology and the capabilities of tensor cores. Choosing a specific model depends on the customer’s budget and workload.
Type of processor
The processor plays a central role in the operation of a PC. Its performance needs to be appropriately matched to that of the GPU to avoid bottlenecking either of the parts and wasting money on hardware that cannot be utilized to its full capacity. Depending on the expected type of work, a CPU with a certain amount of cores might be recommended. Gamers are unlikely to benefit from a high number of threads, so they can use a 4, 6, or 8 core CPU with a higher clock speed. Other applications that can take full advantage of a multithreaded workload can warrant a processor with more cores running at a lower clock speed.
Type of hard drive
Upgrading a hard drive is a simple process without many complicated factors. If the customer needs to store more data or their drive is old and slow to read and write files, they need to upgrade to a larger capacity storage device. If the budget allows for it, the hard drive can be swapped for a substantially faster solid-state drive that will make the system run much quicker. One could also install a small SSD for the operating system and most used applications, and combine it with a large HDD to store other files.
Type of monitor
There are many options when it comes to monitors, and it can be confusing for the average consumer. The size of the monitor is the simplest parameter, as it primarily depends on the amount of money a person can spend on this part. The resolution and refresh rate are tricky, as higher numbers in these categories will require significantly more processing power. Gamers will likely want a smoother display that can run at 120Hz or more, while people working with graphics and media might need a high-definition panel. Color accuracy is also essential for some applications, as many content creators require a well-calibrated monitor to view their pictures and videos accurately.
Type of power supply
The power supply is a part that people might look at as an opportunity to save money, but this is not recommended. If the wattage of the unit matches the combined power draw of all the PC components, the computer will run, but there are several reasons to use a more powerful solution. The primary one is that power supplies degrade over time and can decrease their output. The second is that if a power supply fails, it can damage other expensive components of the PC, which can result in hundreds if not thousands of dollars of damage.
Case Scenario
Components
- Upgrade motherboard?
Yes. The customer’s PC needs upgrading RAM, among other components. The current motherboard has DDR RAM slots, which are not compatible with DDR4 RAM that is used in modern PCs.
- Upgrade video card?
Yes. The customer plans to use the PC for video editing. Although most software for video editing does not require powerful video cards, except for DaVinci Resolve, it will nevertheless benefit from the use of an upgraded video card (Andrews, 2020).
- Upgrade RAM?
Yes. Since the customer is going to use the PC for video editing, the current 2GB of RAM will be insufficient for this purpose. Specialists suggest that at least 16 GB is needed for comfortable work with video editing software (Andrews, 2020).
- Upgrade CPU?
Yes. The customer complains that the PC is slow and sometimes non-responsive. The most effective way of coping with this problem is to upgrade the CPU (Thomas, 2018). Choosing a CPU with a greater number of cores and clock speed will boost the performance of the customer’s PC.
- Upgrade hard drive?
Yes. Since the customer plans to store large amounts of data, 150 GB IDE hard drive will fail to meet the customer’s needs. Apart from that, it is recommended to transit to SSD instead of HDD. For the purpose of video editing, SSD is the preferred choice since it prevents dropped frames and allows for streaming multiple clips simultaneously (Andrews, 2020).
- Upgrade CDRW ROM?
No. CDRW ROM is not crucial for the customer and does not have a significant impact on PC performance. Given the restricted budget, this upgrade should be omitted.
- Upgrade monitor?
Yes. Since the video card will be upgraded, it is necessary to ensure that the monitor is not weak for the new video card (Hale, 2019). Moreover, the customer’s intention to use the PC for video editing implies that they will need a better quality of the picture and a higher screen resolution.
- Is a new power supply necessary?
Yes. The power supply should be upgraded when other PC parts are replaced with the ones consuming more energy (Thomas, 2018). The recommended upgrades include a more advanced video card and CPU, which may require more energy. Apart from that, it is unknown whether the customer’s power supply is functioning properly; therefore, it is recommended to upgrade it.
- Based on your answers above, what components will you be upgrading?
The components that are recommended for upgrading include the CPU, graphic card, motherboard, RAM, hard drive (storage), power supply, and monitor. The table below presents the components that have been chosen to replace the parts of the customer’s PC.
Table 1. PC Components are recommended for upgrading.
Note. Data concerning the prices, characteristics, and compatibility of the components were retrieved from the PC Part Picker website.
- Will these work together?
Yes, these components will work together. The compatibility of the components has been checked using the PC Part Picker website.
- Why do you feel that this is the best course for upgrading this PC?
The proposed upgrades are made to meet the customer’s needs as to the future use of the PC for video editing and data storage. The upgraded CPU will make the PC work faster. The video card will allow for comfortably using video editing software. The new monitor will ensure compatibility with the video card. The choice of the monitor is explained by the fact that for video editing, refresh rate and response time are not as important as resolution. Finally, the semi-modular power supply is the best choice for this customer in terms of the price-quality ratio since it provides good temperature control, cable management, and efficiency for a reasonable price (Cho, 2019). Overall, the recommended upgrades are considered to meet the customer’s needs and fit into the customer’s budget.
What troubleshooting procedures will you use?
One problem that may arise while PC building is poor cable management (Hale, 2019). This problem was addressed beforehand by choosing a semi-modular power supply that facilitates cable management. Another problem is forgetting to mount the motherboard’s I/O shield before installing the motherboard (Hale, 2019). It will be necessary to make sure that the motherboard’s I/O shield is in place before mounting the motherboard will all the other components.
Procedures
Provide a step-by-step list of how these components will be installed. Why did you choose to install the components in this way?
- Install the CPU into the appropriate socket on the motherboard.
- Install RAM in two RAM slots.
- Mount power supply in the case. The fan of the PSU should be oriented toward the vent of the case (Intel, n.d.).
- Install motherboard once the I/O shield is in place.
- Install the video card in the appropriate motherboard slot.
- Install SSD and connect it to the motherboard.
- Install the operating system.
The components should be installed in this way according to the instructions provided by the Intel Corporation.
- What safety procedures will you follow?
The safety procedures will include the following:
- Unplugging all computer equipment to eliminate the risk of electric shock.
- Removing woolen or acrylic materials, including clothes and carpets, to eliminate the risk of the emergence of static electricity that will damage components.
- Disconnecting the power if the components become hot.
References
Andrews, J. (2020). How to build the best PC for video editing. Logical Increments. Web.
Cho, A. (2019). Building a PC: The ultimate beginner’s guide (Part 1). SmartBuyer. Web.
Hale, B. (2019). 31 common PC building mistakes to avoid. Tech Guided.
Intel. (n.d.). How to build a gaming PC.
Techquickie. (2020). How much RAM do you actually need? [Video]. YouTube.
Thomas, T. (2018). PC hardware upgrade guide: Which PC components to upgrade. Techsiting. Web.