More Power! Hardware for Success
More Power! Hardware for Success
Upgrading your computer system can increase your productivity. Let's look at a few different areas that are worth upgrading.
RAM stands for random access memory, and it is used for temporary storage and running programs. It's the most important component in terms of the speed and efficiency of your computer after the central processing unit (CPU). You'll feel the difference in an upgrade here. First, find out how much you already have by looking at your computer properties (click "Computer" on the start menu, then click "System Properties").
2 GB: The absolute minimum for a modern operating system. You should be able to run Office, play games, watch videos, and have 10 or so browser tabs open at once. If your computer seems slow, upgrade to 4 GB.
4 GB: The actual minimum you'd want on your computer. You'll see a big difference between 2 and 4 GB. Your programs will run faster and will run simultaneously without any problems. You can also expect good performance for e-mail, watching videos, browsing, and working with simple graphics.
8 GB: This is for a heavier user. If you're into gaming, photo and video editing, or just want a fast computer, get 8 GB. RAM is surprisingly inexpensive aftermarket. You can get 8 GB for under $100. Over 8 GB: You probably wouldn't need this unless you're running large applications simultaneously or doing a lot of multimedia editing or graphics design.
Your hard drive is where you store files. Your storage needs here depend on the type and size of files you use. For example, if you store a lot of large graphics files, you'll need a lot of space.
If you're looking to increase your storage capacity, consider getting an additional external or internal hard drive. If you don't need to run Windows on it, the external option may be better, as these are portable, easy to install, and don't create excess heat inside your computer. Remember to use the fastest connections available between your computer and external devices, as transfer speed varies greatly depending on the connection. On the other side, internal drives are faster and may be a good option, especially if you have a desktop you can pop open. If you're looking for an internal drive, make sure it has 2–8 MB of cache memory (which affects the data retrieval speed) and a rotation speed of at least 7200 rpm.
You may also want to consider updating your graphics card. Even if you're not a gamer, upgrading your graphics card can give your computer a boost, especially as later versions of Windows use a lot of graphics in their user interfaces.
So, how do you know how much hard drive space you need and when it's time to upgrade? First, figure out how much space you need. For example, a video game takes up about 5 GB, a two-hour movie takes up about 2 GB, and a song takes up about 3 MB (all these estimates depend on the format of the file). What do you store on your hard drive? Is this where you keep your collection of movies? Second, determine what your future needs will be. Are you going to be taking a video editing class in the future? The general rule is to upgrade your disk when it's 75 percent full. But the cost of buying new versus upgrading should be considered as well. If you just need more space, a new hard drive could be a good option, but if you also need a new processor, graphics card, and RAM, buying new might be a better option.
With monitors, the bigger, the better. You're staring at your screen all day, and squinting at a small monitor causes eyestrain. An upgrade here is probably the best one you can make.
Your monitor should be big enough that you can comfortably view two documents side by side—a 24 inch widescreen monitor is a good choice and can generally be had for less than $200. This allows you to view, for example, a journal's guidelines and the document you're editing side by side, eliminating the need to switch back and forth between your browser and document.
If you're really ambitious, you may consider getting a second monitor or buying a new, widescreen monitor and using your old one as a second monitor. Editors find that using the main screen for editing and having e-mail and their web browser open on the secondary monitor saves a lot of time, and it's not difficult to set up. Another benefit of getting a new monitor is that it probably has at least one USB port on the side, which saves a lot of bending down searching for the USB port (for a portable drive, for example) and keeps you better organized. It's important to do your research when buying a new monitor. Compare them online, read reviews, and more importantly, go check them out in person. Looking at a few different monitors in a store is more valuable than hours of looking at pictures of them online. You'll be able to get a sense of the differences between them right away.
Do you have a programmable mouse? If you don't, you should. These can save valuable time by giving you quick access to functions you use frequently. You may even have one and not know it. Check your mouse. Does it have buttons in addition to the left and right click, say, around the thumb area? Try clicking straight down on the scroll wheel. That's also a button that can be programmed.
Pay attention to the actions you carry out on a daily basis because any of these can be programmed to a button. The most frequently used functions besides right and left click are close, back, refresh, copy, cut, paste, forward, enter, undo, and open (a program). Many editors program back and forward or copy and paste as their left thumb buttons, but any number of useful combinations can be programmed. There are various free or low-cost apps you can use to do this, or you can check the manual for your mouse to determine how to program instructions.
Last Updated: 10/01/2022