Just wondering how every one else here plans out there long term IT Purchases. Do have a planned life cycle for your computer, or it's more of a spir of the moment thing.
Effectively, I am 4th Generation of computer hardware now. And since about my 2nd Gen Computer (AMD 233) onward, I pretty much planned out my computer upgrades over a long term.
And after about 4 Genations of computers I pretty much worked out that i have 4 major computer expendatures.
1. UPGRADE CPU and MOTHERBOARD
2. UPGRADE VIDEO CARD
3. UPGRADE CPU
4. UPGRADE VIDEO CARD again
The above process is about a 4 year cycle, and i do these purchases just before tax time too.
With my motherboard, I DO try to see if I can get upgrade the CPU on it at least once, how ever i know that does not always work out. Currently I am waiting for the AMD 3200 to come down to AU$100 mark. And from there, I am just going to max out that bit of technology before going up the AMD Athlon 64.
As for Video cards, I try to make sure that they last me about 2 years before I need to upgrade them. I am always purchasing some thing that is about middle of the range.
As for everything else with my computer purchsaes, it more of a spir of the moment. Hard drives are a case of when do I need more space. Ram is when the price is right. And monitors is more of a case of when did the last one blow up. However, monitors i do expect to get a least 5 years out of them.
Anyways, that is how i plan out my hardware puchases, how do you plan yours?
Effectively, I am 4th Generation of computer hardware now. And since about my 2nd Gen Computer (AMD 233) onward, I pretty much planned out my computer upgrades over a long term.
And after about 4 Genations of computers I pretty much worked out that i have 4 major computer expendatures.
1. UPGRADE CPU and MOTHERBOARD
2. UPGRADE VIDEO CARD
3. UPGRADE CPU
4. UPGRADE VIDEO CARD again
The above process is about a 4 year cycle, and i do these purchases just before tax time too.
With my motherboard, I DO try to see if I can get upgrade the CPU on it at least once, how ever i know that does not always work out. Currently I am waiting for the AMD 3200 to come down to AU$100 mark. And from there, I am just going to max out that bit of technology before going up the AMD Athlon 64.
As for Video cards, I try to make sure that they last me about 2 years before I need to upgrade them. I am always purchasing some thing that is about middle of the range.
As for everything else with my computer purchsaes, it more of a spir of the moment. Hard drives are a case of when do I need more space. Ram is when the price is right. And monitors is more of a case of when did the last one blow up. However, monitors i do expect to get a least 5 years out of them.
Anyways, that is how i plan out my hardware puchases, how do you plan yours?