Buying a new computer may seem as easy as clicking through to the offer on your favorite ecommerce platform. But it’s not that simple if you want to get the one that best suits your specific needs, and on the other hand, you’re sure to ask yourself the big question: when is it appropriate to do so? We will show you some signs.

It is enough to click to buy a personal computer, but the demanding user will have to consider many aspects before making an ever important investment. Laptop or desktop computer? Screen size and resolution? Intel or AMD CPU? How much RAM and storage capacity? Integrated or dedicated graphics? Connectivity, sound, keyboard, webcam…?

Set a previous budget and clarify what the main task will be to use or if needs go through “all terrain”, it’s a good starting point to choose from. We’ve offered you countless manuals that cover all the major components of your computer and practical articles in case you’d rather update one, but today we’re going to focus on reviewing the symptoms that tell you it’s better to buy new equipment.

When should you buy a new computer?

Some users (with good purchasing power) change devices for the mere pleasure of the “latest”, when the hardware would certainly be used for much greater use. Another consumer, on the other hand, extends the life of their equipment to what is reasonable or when it stops working completely.

If the former ever throws away money and adds e-waste to the problem, Betting on the other is also not a good strategy from the use of obsolete computers to “don’t give for more” it can cost more than buying a new computer due to higher repair and maintenance costs.

The argument works for the average user and especially for students or consumers who have a PC as their main working tool. And let’s not say in companies where a computer fleet consisting mainly of outdated technology interferes with the daily work of employees and ends up in lower productivity due to the direct link between the acquisition of equipment with high computing power and operational efficiency. in general.

Given the higher maintenance costs of the old equipment, the total cost of ownership of the new equipment is easily depreciated by increased productivity, connectivity or mobility offered by the latest generations of devices. Assessing the purchase of new computer equipment should be a clear goal for consumers, professionals and companies, but when should we do it?

We point out seven symptoms that can warn you against you need to replace your device:

one.- You cannot install the latest operating system. Decades ago, new versions of operating systems were not a high priority for many users and companies, and computers were generally maintained with the original system or simply updated in software. The development trend was changing and new versions of operating systems (especially Windows) began to be used as a result of equipment changes. Windows 11 and its increased hardware requirements are a sample. If your device does not support it, this is the first sign that the device needs to be replaced.

two.- You cannot run the latest applications or games. Like the operating system, applications and games are more powerful and require a higher level of hardware. Applications for video editing, photography, CAD and other professional tools are a sign of the need for new equipment, which in this case would fit on a professional workstation. Without reaching a workstation level, the general use of computer technology also requires a level that is difficult to achieve with older equipment. And what about games? Growing needs in all components.

3.- The computer runs slowly. The slowness of computer equipment can be difficult to define, but you will notice it perfectly when you suffer. For example, if a large amount of time elapses from pressing the start button to the operating system desktop display; the computer freezes when you have a dozen bookmarks open in your web browser or when you can type an entire sentence in a text editor before a single word appears on the screen.

4.- Cannot connect other devices. Another clear sign of aging comes from a lack of connectivity with new peripherals and accessories, without the support of the latest technologies and standards, such as Wi-Fi 6, Thunderbolt or USB type C; cannot connect to an ultra-high definition monitor or cannot stream content wirelessly. As a result, we have to work with a lot of adapters and cables, the file transfer takes five times longer or you do not take advantage of the latest connectors.

5.- You do not have storage or memory or you are missing a CPU / GPU. If the storage capacity is squeezed to the maximum, RAM is generally used in full, or CPU usage exceeds 80% during almost any activity on your PC, these are warning signs that the hardware is reaching your limit and problems will accumulate in the future. The

6.- Too much noise. As with a car engine, new, unexpected or louder than normal noise is often a bad sign. If the noise from the fans is louder and louder, it may mean that the CPU is working more than before, or that there is a problem with overheating. Increased noise or strange cracking on the hard drive, during system startup or operation, is an undoubted sign of impending failure.

7.- You spend more time troubleshooting your computer than using it. In addition to the above, there is one more signal that your computer needs to be replaced: when troubleshooting becomes an almost daily task. Application errors, accidental system crashes, Wi-Fi disconnects, crashes or freezes, or the dreaded blue screen of death in Windows can take away everyone’s patience and take valuable time to resolve.

Buy a new computer or upgrade?

He said above: virtue is in balance. It is not always necessary to buy a new PC. Increasing installed RAM or replacing a hard drive with an SSD are inexpensive tasks that will have an immediate effect on performance and allow you to increase service life.

Replacing the CPU and GPU is a bit more expensive, not always efficient unless you change the motherboard, and it’s not as easy on a desktop as on a laptop. When it comes to software, there are operating systems that work better with older hardware that can be tested. In short, assess the budget, adapt to the main use, and not buy everything new that comes out, nor stretch it until it says enough.