Is it Time to Retire That Old System?
By Ryan Hutzel

Many times, I get the question: "Do I need a new computer, mine is only six years old?" In my mind I think, wow, six years! This is becoming a common place with people that have grown up with computers. We remember the old days of the 100mhz machines and how much faster 233mhz was. Now everything is getting washed together with newer specifications, bells, and whistles.

In the past year, I have taken three manufactured computers and upgraded the hard drive and memory in the each of the units. The owners were absolutely delighted that the computer seemed to be new and running faster. This is a strange phenomenon, because the CPU in the computer was not any faster, however the data access to the hard drive and the ability to access the data from ram had increased. This creates a smoother ride for the user's experience versus what they remembered when they first purchased the computer.

The moral to this article in brief is to consider a few things when the thought a of a new computer crosses your mind. To start with let's consider age and speed. Five years ago (2002) 1ghz or higher was common. Today, even the newest version of Microsoft Office (2007) only requires 500mhz and 256mb of ram. This was very common five years ago. So, the next question to think about is, "What do I use my computer for?" If you use your computer only for the following things, you may be able to breath some life into that old machine without investing in a brand new one.

• E-mail
• Internet Surfing
• Word Processing
• Basic Gaming (Flash based, 2d)

If you computer is mainly used for the above, then a new hard drive and ram upgrade would be ideal for your situation. You may get another two years out of your system, maybe more. Consulting your local computer repair shop can help assist you in this process.

Ryan Hutzel is the owner of Ryan's Computer Consulting Services based in Greencastle, PA. More information can be found http://hard-drives.ryansccs.com for data recovery help and how-to's.

Please visit http://www.ryansccs.com for additional computer information and services.

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