this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2026
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The upgrade argument for desktops doesn't stand up anymore (www.howtogeek.com)
submitted 21 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) by worhui@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
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I haven’t thought about it in a while but the premise of the article rings true. Desktops are overall disposable. Gpu generations are only really significant with new cpu generations. CPUs are the same with real performance needed a new chipset and motherboard. At that point you are replacing the whole system.

Is there a platform that challenges that trend?

Edit Good points were made. There is a lot to disagree with in the article, especially when focused on gaming.

Storage For the love of your data : storage is a WEAR component. Especially with HDD. Up until recently storage was so cheap it was crazy not to get new drives every few years.

Power Supplies Just because the computer still boots doesn't mean the power supply is still good. A PSU will continue to shove power into your system long past the ability to provide clean power. Scope and test an older PSU before you put it on a new build.

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[–] klymilark@herbicide.fallcounty.omg.lol 8 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Yes, desktop PCs challenge that trend. If you're not chasing the newest of the new, you can keep using your old stuff till it dies. I've done one CPU upgrade, and a GPU upgrade, to my desktop in the eight years I've owned it, and it handles all of my games fine.

If you're changing the motherboard, you'll usually need a new CPU, and sometimes RAM. As long as your MOBO has a PCI/PCIE slot you can shove your old graphics card in there. Unless there's a new RAM version, you don't need to replace the RAM, and SATA's been the standard storage connector for how long now?

Unless you're going above your current PSU's rating that thing's good until it's dead.

I just don't see how this argument holds up. If your motherboard is old enough that they no longer make your CPU/RAM socket, and you're looking to upgrade, chances are very good that thing's lived far longer than most laptops would be expected to. But like. When I built my current desktop 8 years ago, it had 8gb of RAM and a... I don't remember the graphics card, I know the processor was a pentium G something, and like 1tb of storage. It has an i7 (don't remember the generation off hand), and an R9 290, and 32gb of RAM, and 7tb of storage now. Same motherboard. If I replace it I will need a new processor, and new RAM (the RAM is actively dying, so I haven't been using it much), but these parts are all nearly a decade old, with the exception of the RAM. Well. One RAM stick is 8 years old, but that's beside the point.

This just doesn't line up with my own personal experience?

[–] worhui@lemmy.world 0 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Unless you’re going above your current PSU’s rating that thing’s good until it’s dead.

Power supplies will work well past the point of providing clean in spec power on each rail. Lots of parts in a power supply can stop working properly before it physically no longer passes power.

Unless the PSU is relatively new it's not a great idea to put it into a new build with testing that it is still in spec on each voltage rail under a load.

[–] klymilark@herbicide.fallcounty.omg.lol 3 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

I wasn't talking about a new build at any point in my comment.

[–] worhui@lemmy.world -1 points 7 hours ago

This post is about new builds, upgrades and using old parts with new ones.