Building with "Upgradability" in mind

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demechman

Weaksauce
Joined
May 19, 2005
Messages
126
Why is this such a big deal for some people. On my last build I thought I would just buy the most expensive/quality components I could with the thought that I can upgrade some of the components if better versions are released. What I have found is that by the time a significant improvement is made in a component it requires all the other components to be changed out.

The results of my experiement have lead me to the following philosophy of system/comoonent selection

1. Buy what you want/need now
2. Wait at least 1-2 years and if you find software that will not run then its time to buy all new

Upgrading seems like a waste of money. My computer is about 4 years old but I have not encountered any issues yet.
 
lucky for you. My mode of operation is this, throw $200-300 per year at the comp and upgrade different components. This allows me to have a very competant pc at a low dollar and allows me to offset part of the upgrade by selling relatively new and useable components.
Example: I bought a new cpu and mobo last week(the ones in my main rig) Total cost $310 with taxes(yes i'm in Canada) and now are selling the E6750 and Gigabyte ga-ep45-ds3l and should be able to get $150 for both. This nets me out @ $160 to upgrade.
 
i mean there are stuff you can upgrade...

like before Vista came out, 2GB RAM was the norm?... then Vista required at least 2GB, i could upgrade to 3-4GB... DDR3 is the 'new kid on the block' now, and i don't think DDR4 would come so soon.... i'm looking at a build for 4GB right now, with upgrade to 8GB (i sometimes run Virtual Machines, ram would be useful)

i don't want to pay money now for a good GPU, so i'm looking at a 785G IGP to tide me over

and you could sell out old parts (in the classified subforum) to finance the new part...

if you don't want upgradability, then go for a laptop if you don't need power


EDIT: and one big thing would be SSDs... they're still a little expensive now, but by this time next year, you should be able to add a 32-64GB SSD to your system for OS, quick load and stuff... it's like planning for the future. just in case...
 
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I also usually do what hossdaddy said, hardware changes too fast and going to all these hardware websites gives me the upgrade bug.
 
That is an interesting way to approach the problem. There is no best way and I just feel like I have been approaching the problem in a sub-optimal way.
 
Agreed. I run with hossdaddy's method (E5200 is the... 10th[?] CPU since last Summer, Mobo has gone through half[?] of that). The whole buy now for later doesn't bode well with me; Buy now for NOW, deal with the upgrades later.
 
Yes, tech changes fast: Intel's tick/tock cycle = new arch every two years; 6-8mo GPU refresh from both ATI/nvidia; SSDs, USB3, etc. I typically upgrade my systems every two years; and when I say upgrade, I mean update only the parts that don't cut it for me anymore. Selling old parts has been funding my upgrade addiction for the past couple of years now. :D
 
I'm currently working on a build with some upgradability in mind for a friend of mine:

AMD Phenom II 710
Gigabyte 785G AM3 mATX mobo
2GB DDR3 1333 RAM
ATI HD4870 1GB GPU
Seagate 1.5TB HDD (reused from old build)
CM RC-341 Case
Antec EA500 PSU

Here's my logic to it:
- DDR3 RAM will only get cheaper in the future but DDR2 RAM prices will definitely increase. In addition, by going with DDR3 RAM, I believe there's a slightly higher chance of compatibility with future AMD AM3 CPUs.
- Some of Gigabyte's older 965 mobos supported Intel's Wolfdale and Yorkfield CPUs even though there was no official support by Intel.
- Over the past few months here on the forums, I've been rather surprised about the good number of 2-3 year old socket AM2 mobos that actually supports some of the latest Phenom CPUs. Does bode somewhat well for AMD's AM3 CPUs and socket.
- The Phenom II 710 is more than sufficient for current games but the mobo should, considering the above three points, offer my friend to upgrade his CPU easily when he does need more CPU power.
- One of the major problems with my friend's last build was that the CPU could not be upgraded so it was limiting his GPU performance very badly. The above AM3 setup should delay that problem far better than a AM2+ setup

Hence why I went with the above setup even though I know I can get a faster Phenom II 920 setup with 4GB DDR2 RAM right now for roughly the same price.

But for my own personal system, I tend to build a new system every 2 - 3 years with a GPU, RAM, or HDD upgrade in the interim between PCs. When it comes to GPUs, I do follow enginurd and ClintSchlosser's policy a little bit: Buy the GPU that best fits the games now and upg
 
I generally upgrade every 2 or 3 years. Hell, I'm still using a X1900XT in my main rig.

I do swap out smaller hard drives for larger ones (1TB) as the need arise.

When I upgrade it is generally to a new platform and the components of my former primary rig gets dumped into my HTPC. Therefore, in 2010 or 2011 my Q9450 will become the core of my upgraded HTPC which currently has an E6600.
 
i generally "max out" a platform in CPU&RAM before i upgrade to the next. this is why i prefer dual socket server solutions, it definitely lasts longer.

the 1st setup w/this philosophy was a Tyan s2466-4m dual mp2800. back when dualcores were high end, i made the investment and eventually got the whole thing to dual socket mp2800, 4GB ram, etc. that lasts me until the nextgen opterons came out and i've been with that opteron platform (socket 940) ever since. i think this rig lasted me until 2005ish.

so around the time i abandoned my dual socket A's, i invested in dual socket 940 s2895. and have been upgrading it ever since. now i have: 2xdualcore opteron 285s (2.6ghz) to yield an effective "quadcore". 16GB ram, 4890 GPU, etc. obviously my system is still pretty damned good. not c2d or icore7 good, but good enough to run all the games i have&everything i run.

next time i expect to upgrade? probably a v16 (8core ea. socket). hopefully that new dual socket board will give me the ability to upgrade to 16core per socket when the time comes =P. but hey i expected socket 940 to take 8core CPUs too, so that's probably wishful thinking =P.
 
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