When it comes to adding stuff to your PC, what are the most popular upgrades? Memory is always good (you can never have too much memory!), but other upgrades are driven more by the particular applications for which you use your computer. For example, if you play a lot of PC games you should consider upgrading your system's video card and monitor; if you listen to a lot of MP3 files, consider better speakers and a fast CD burner.
Table 2.1 shows the most popular hardware you can add to your system along with why you'd want to make that upgrade, and the approximate cost of the new hardware.
Table 2.1. Popular Hardware Upgrades
Hardware | Approximate Cost | Reason to Upgrade |
|---|
Memory | $40 $60 (128MB module) | To increase the speed at which your applications run, the number of programs that can run at the same time, and the size of individual files you can work with |
Ports | $20 $100 | To let you add more or different devices to your system; this is a good option if you've run out of USB ports, for example, or need to connect multiple printers and only have a single parallel port (another option adding an external USB hub to increase the number of USB connections in your system) |
Video card | $20 $400 | To display higher-resolution pictures and graphics, provide smoother playback for visually demanding PC games, or add a second monitor for some high-end programming or development activities |
Monitor (traditional) | $100 $500 | For a larger viewing area especially if you're playing graphics-intensive games or watching DVD movies |
Monitor (LCD) | $300 $2000 | For a flatter display and to free up some desk space (plus, they look really cool!) |
Sound card | $20 $250 | To improve the audio capabilities of your PC system; this is particularly important if you're listening to high-quality MP3 files, watching surround-sound DVD movies, playing PC games with so-called 3D sound, or mixing and recording your own digital audio |
Speakers | $15 $200 | To upgrade the quality of your computer's sound system; speaker systems with subwoofers are particularly popular |
Keyboard | $15 $100 | To upgrade to a more ergonomic or wireless model |
Mouse | $5 $60 | To upgrade to a different type of controller (such as a trackball), a more fully featured unit, a more reliable optical model, or a wireless model |
Joystick or other controller games | $10 $300 | To get better action with your favorite game |
Modem | $15 $150 | In case your PC doesn't have a state-of-the-art 56.6Kbps model, or if you're upgrading to broadband DSL or cable service |
CD-ROM drive | $20 $150 | In case your computer doesn't have one, or to upgrade to a faster unit |
CD-R/RW drive (burner) | $30 $200 | To add recordable/rewritable capabilities to your system |
DVD-ROM | $50 $200 | To add DVD capability to your system |
DVD-R/RW (burner) | $250 $450 | To let you burn your own DVD movies |
Hard drive | $70 $400 | To increase the storage capacity of your system (can be either external or internal) |
Removable drive | $20 $200 | To add removable storage capacity to your system typically in the form of a Zip drive (or a floppy, if your system didn't come with a 3 1/2" drive) |
Media card reader | $15 $50 | So you can read data from devices that use various types of flash memory cards |
Network interface card (NIC) | $10 $30 | To connect your computer to a local area network |
Wireless network adapter | $30 $80 | To connect your computer to a wireless network |
Scanner | $50 $300 | So you can scan photographs and documents into a digital format to store on your computer's hard drive |
Printer | $50 $1000 | To improve the quality of your printouts, to add color to your printouts, to add photo-quality printing to your system |
PC camera | $20 $200 | To send live video of yourself to friends and family, to participate in live video chat, or to set up your own Webcam on the Internet |
Digital media hub | $150 $500 | Connects your PC to your home audio system, so you can listen to digital audio files and Internet radio on your big system |
There are also parts of your system that you can upgrade or replace, but probably don't want to because the process is too difficult. These components include your PC's microprocessor chip and power supply. If you have lots of hands-on experience under the hood of your computer, you might be comfortable performing this type of major upgrade. If you're technically timid or an absolute beginner, leave these types of upgrades to a professional.