Processor Upgrade Sense

[Omega]

While it's come to be expected that modern CPUs run at "break-neck" speeds, does that mean that we must also be subject to technological whiplash from constant product releases and upgrade wars? When is a CPU "fast enough?" When, to what, and why should we upgrade our CPU? This brief editorial discusses some of these questions. Give it a quick read and then feel free to discuss your own views on the forums.

Link: http://www.techwarelabs.com/articles...upgrade-sense/

[vee_ess]

That's a good, well-written article. It seems to come from an AMD fan viewpoint, but it's a very muted, and only comes in through factual context.

I agree that upgrading the processor is not always an optimal upgrade. Until recently, the computer I mainly use is effectively 7 years old. The motherboard, processor and RAM have never been changed, just the video card, sound card and speakers, an added optical drive, and hard drives. In my almost every function I use it for, it's just as fast as my other system, with a processor 2.8 times as fast with RAM 4 times as fast. I've switched to the newer system only due to it's better location and speakers. For a fraction of the price of a new processor, my newer hard drives have increased load speed far more than a new CPU ever could.

[Jason]

I agree, its becoming increasingly stressed more in the hardware community that you need to upgrade more and more often when I dont feel these upgrade are justified.