Plan for the Future Now
Think about future upgrades when you design your build. Many people will buy brand new, expensive, top of the line parts in the name of “futureproofing,” but that isn’t how futureproofing really works. For example, buying a super expensive video card or hard drive now may make increase your computer’s lifespan, but it'll cost you more in the long run than if you had bought something appropriate now and upgraded it later. On the other hand, you don't want to buy something really cheap with the intent to upgrade in the near future, since it’ll cost more than if you had just gotten a nicer part now. It's all about balance.
So, think about when you might need to upgrade this computer next, and make sure you buy compatible parts. For example, if you think you'll upgrade to an SSD the next time around, buy a motherboard with SATA 6GB/s support so you can take full advantage of it. If you plan on adding a second graphics card (which we don't always recommend), make sure you have enough PCI slots, a motherboard that supports SLI and Crossfire, and a power supply with enough wattage.
Lastly, many parts will last you multiple builds into the future. If you buy a nice case the first time, you can keep it around for years and years to come, which will save you money in the long run. The same goes for power supplies, CPU coolers, and other accessories. We've talked about all this before, but it's worth mentioning again. Check out the video above for a more in-depth explanation on how you can plan for the future and save money in the process
Think about future upgrades when you design your build. Many people will buy brand new, expensive, top of the line parts in the name of “futureproofing,” but that isn’t how futureproofing really works. For example, buying a super expensive video card or hard drive now may make increase your computer’s lifespan, but it'll cost you more in the long run than if you had bought something appropriate now and upgraded it later. On the other hand, you don't want to buy something really cheap with the intent to upgrade in the near future, since it’ll cost more than if you had just gotten a nicer part now. It's all about balance.
So, think about when you might need to upgrade this computer next, and make sure you buy compatible parts. For example, if you think you'll upgrade to an SSD the next time around, buy a motherboard with SATA 6GB/s support so you can take full advantage of it. If you plan on adding a second graphics card (which we don't always recommend), make sure you have enough PCI slots, a motherboard that supports SLI and Crossfire, and a power supply with enough wattage.
Lastly, many parts will last you multiple builds into the future. If you buy a nice case the first time, you can keep it around for years and years to come, which will save you money in the long run. The same goes for power supplies, CPU coolers, and other accessories. We've talked about all this before, but it's worth mentioning again. Check out the video above for a more in-depth explanation on how you can plan for the future and save money in the process
Post a Comment