Technology and software is continuously evolving, with new, stronger components being launched each year, and new, resource hungry software being built to make use of the increased computing power. This means that personal computers become obsolete quite fast, forcing their owners to replace them or upgrade them quite often. To have an up-to date PC, which allows you to run the latest games, play high definition videos and play with the same ease, you should upgrade or replace it periodically – but this can be a bit pressing on your budget. But with these tips you might be able to reduce the burden a bit.
1. Salvage whatever you can from your old PC
No matter if your previous computer is a brand PC or a home-built one, it has several components that will be compatible with the new one. The chassis is pretty standard, so you will most likely be able to fit your new hardware into it. Hard disks and optical drives are also universally compatible, so – if you can make do with a little less storage space – you won’t have to spend on new ones. Depending on your needs and hardware compatibility, you might even transfer your old video card to the new PC and save a few extra bucks there.
Now, depending on what you plan to do with your computer, you might want to think a bit more about keeping your old video card. You can easily play online casino games at Red Flush with an older computer configuration. In case of these games most of the heavy computer power is required at the server side – the calculations are made by the certified random number generators of the provider – leaving your local PC to display the end result in a way that’s appealing to the eye and hopefully pleasing for your pocket. All the over 700 titles offered by Red Flush work in the same way – it is an industry standard. Speaking of titles – the Red Flush casino offers its players some of the best games available for real money play online. Its games are both colorful and entertaining, not to mention their potential for big wins. And its promotions are also worth taking a look.
When it comes to other games, you should be thinking in advance. Most of the “flagship” games released today take pride in using all the latest technologies offered by video card manufacturer – so there can be titles that won’t even start if your video card is a bit older than they expect.
2. Never buy premium hardware
After over eight years in computer sales I can say that premium hardware is never the best choice, but neither is the cheapest. Mid-range components are usually sold in the biggest numbers, which means that any design flaw is revealed much faster than in the case of cheap or premium hardware. Besides saving you some money, choosing mid-range hardware might also save you a lot of trouble later on. And one more thing: never choose the freshest of the components – it’s wiser to buy a model that’s a few months old, with any possible flaws being revised and repaired by the manufacturer.
3. Software
If you have a retail Windows license, you can easily transfer it from your old PC to the new one. You simply need to remove it from the old one and install it (and activate it) on the new. In case of an OEM license, sold together with a new PC, Microsoft’s licensing doesn’t allow you to transfer a license from one computer to the other. But you might still be able to re-activate it, as the Microsoft licensing department allows the re-activation of OEM Windows licenses once, in case of the computer’s motherboard becoming defective. The procedure is rather complicated, and involves phone calls to Microsoft, but compared to the cost of a new Windows… let’s just say it’s worth it.
As an alternative, you can also consider using an open-source operating system – a Linux distribution, for example – but this choice is not the best one if you are a gamer.
