[OT] How often do you upgrade your computer?

[Flinx]

I was reading the recent thread regarding the game Freedom Force. It sounded like fun so I went to get it this weekend. Unfortunately, while I meet the system requirements for the game, I don't meet the 'recommended' requirements. Since I prefer to enjoy a game rather than be frustrated by one, I decided not to bother.

Anyway, it was about 4 or 5 years ago that I got a computer with a processing speed just one level below what was "top of the line" at the time (I have a Pentium II 400 Mhz). It's still great for the usual word processing, playing on the internet, etc. and I have no intention of upgrading just to play a game. However, this problem is going to come up more and more often so getting to my original question (finally)... How often does everybody upgrade their computers?

 

[Vhane]

I believe three years is the recomended interval for upgrade ---just think of it as a continuous payment (kinda like cable).

 

[DWARF]

Wait, they have the internet on computers now?!!!

 

[Darklance]

I'm a big computer buff and I don't usually upgrade entire computers. I do it myself and order the parts cheap offline. I end up doing so every 6 months or so. Sometimes its just to add ram and a new video card and other times I scrap the whole thing.

If all your doing is word processing, what you have is fine. I use my computer to play games so its somewhat of a necessity.

 

[Lothaire]

I ocassionally do upgrades, mostly adding a little RAM, an ethernet card when I switched to broadband, swapped out video cards.

I usually just buy a new computer every three years or so. I've given up any hope of staying on the cutting edge, and I really don't play any computer games other than Blizzard ones, which always have nice low system reqs.

 

[Crothian]

I got this piece of over paid crap spring 98. I'm thinking of upgrading, but have yet to actuially do so.

 

[Skullfyre]

Not as often as enough

 

[Kiir]

It really depends when i have money. ALl my systems are now over 3 years old though, so I will be upgrading this month from my celeron 400 to a athelon 1.7XP hopefully. I think every 2 to 4 years is about right for upgrading if you upgrade to about a step behind top of the line when you do it.

 

[JoeGKushner]

About every two years.

 

[Flinx]

Thanks for the replies. As I said it's been at least 4 years for me so maybe it's time to bite the bullet and upgrade.

Thinking about it brings up a follow-up question: What does everybody do with their old computers? Resell? Recycle? Donate? Just curious.