There’s no denying the sheer power capacity of the modern digital sphere, and we’re constantly treated to the fruits of computer manufacturer’s inventions with every passing year. Not only does this leave us with more high-tech options than we could ever possibly wrap our minds around, but it leaves us with tech that becomes quickly obsolete or outdated.
Attempting to play the latest gaming titles or trying to load up hard-drive heavy programs like Photoshop may prove to be more than simply frustrating, but near-impossible. The reality of our digital devices is that not all were created to accommodate the power and efficiency requirements of complex software.
So, now comes the golden question: is your PC speedy enough to complete the tasks you expect of it? If not, it’s probably time to upgrade your hardware. But where to begin? Use this guide to understand what 4 PC upgrades you should consider to best prep your computer for complex programming.
1. Upgrade your RAM
If you’ve never taken the time to dive into the inner workings of your PC case before, it’s an excellent place to start. Upgrading your Random-Access Memory (RAM) gives you an instant performance boost that allows you to multitask faster and load up programs with blazing speed. For slow-running PCs, a RAM upgrade is a wonderfully easy hardware switch that gives you the power to run resource-hungry tasks like photo-editing, gaming, and graphic designing. As a general rule of thumb, the more RAM the better.
So how much RAM do you need?
- 4GB: Considered as the standard amount for casual PC users. Great for handling around 10 browser tabs at once, fluid video streaming, and minimalist photo-editing.
- 8GB: Great for serial multi-taskers, handling up to 30 open browser tabs, RAW photo edits, and mid-range gaming.
- 16GB: Tackle resource-heavy tasks without missing a beat. 16GB of RAM gives way to high-level gaming, photo and video editing, or any professional-level tasks that require hefty specs.
2. Upgrade your CPU
Upgrading your PC’s processor is a far more complicated fix than others, so we recommend outsourcing this fix to a certified specialist rather than DIY-ing. Not only is it physically trickier to maneuver and install without expertise, but it’s also one of the pricier upgrades. You won’t want any risk involved when taking to your CPU.
That being said, a processor is only worth upgrading if the upgrade is truly significant. For example, upgrading from an Intel Core i3 processor to an Intel Skylake processor makes a world of difference if you’re looking to speed up performance and enhance overall efficiency. It’s better to make a huge change rather than a mild one that will end up costing you about the same for parts and labor.
3. Gear up with a faster storage drive
We’ve all been there—dealing with too-full storage drives that constantly give you pop-up messages warning you about the limited space left on your computer. There’s nothing more frustrating than freeing up as much space as you possibly can (without deleting anything important), and still being left with too little storage to run the programs you love.
Swapping out your storage drive for a more powerful solid-state drive is a surefire way to increase the performance capability of your PC. Not only does an upgraded hard drive make it impossible to save new data, but it can also enhance the performance of already-existing data and applications on your PC. Ultimately, a faster, larger data drive positively impacts your entire computer system. It gives way to faster boot times, program loading times, and speeds for launching high-level games.
4. Level up your graphics card
If you’re a serious gamer who places heavy importance on the visual quality of your games, your graphics card should be the first upgrade you make. Regular graphics cards living within the average computer are not necessarily designed to deliver outstanding crisp clarity. For gamers, photographers, graphic designers, or 3D animators, average is not nearly enough.
Consider upgrading your PC’s GPU to a superior graphics card. Not sure which will do the job best? Check out these 2019 top sellers:
- AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super
- MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Gaming X Trio
- Zotac GeForce RTX 2060
Upgrading your PC can be done without tossing in the towel— with these hardware swaps and upgrades, you’ll be able to run all of the software programs for all of your work and play needs.