I was wondering when people consider themselves to have a new PC. Technically I’ve had the same PC for close to 20 years now, but every part’s been upgraded several times over.
I figure everyone’s got a different mind about it. For me, I’d have to say when all of the big three—CPU, GPU, mobo—have completed a phase, my brain thinks of the previous setup as “the old PC”.
Replacing the motherboard.
I would’ve thought that too. But recently I had to swap a new mobo in after a failure and no other parts got done. Felt like the same PC just working again.
I’d say mobo and GPU changed is a whole new PC.
Yeah I think upgrading the mobo would be more accurate, when it’s a big enough change that you need to replace RAM and the CPU as well.
MB/CPU/RAM
Without these 3 it’s just an upgrade.
2 out of the 3 of motherboard, CPU, GPU
When you upgrade the motherboard that’s a new PC.
What if it’s sitll using last generations parts aka with am4 going from B350 to B550. New motherboard, but completely capable of using the exact same old parts.
Hmmm… I’ve never upgraded a motherboard just to use the same CPU and RAM. I’ve upgraded CPU and upgraded RAM and considered it the same PC, but when I upgrade the motherboard it’s for more modern CPU sockets and DDR generation and PCIE version.
Are people really upgrading motherboards and using the same CPU and RAM?
Maybe I’ll change my opinion to new motherboard/CPU at the same time?
For me it is the mobo + cpu + power supply since I do it rarely enough that I need all three. I usually do RAM at the same time, but sometimes expand it between upgrades. GPU is on a different cycle to spread out costs.
I used the same case for almost 2 decades, so it is definitely the innards that matter.
When more than 50% of it has been replaced, it’s a new PC.
When the motherboard gets updated. Because you can only upgrade the CPU so much before you have to get a new motherboard to get something better. And if you upgrade the motherboard you have to get a new CPU.
In this context, an upgraded motherboard has a newer socket type on it. Not just going from a budget motherboard to a top tier.
When you swap in a new motherboard.
In my head, for basically no reason, the motherboard is “the” PC. It’s the one large part that really sets the overall generation. I could swap my previous PC’s motherboard into my new case, the thing is DDR4 RAM and an AM4 CPU would have to come with it.
Because I do shit like build a SFF PC with an ITX board in a small case, and then turn around and build a fairly standard mATX board in a mini-tower, a lot of the case, case accessories, and GPU are fitted to the system. It would actually be pretty stupid to put the parts of my last PC in my current case because they’d swim.
The timeless “PC of Theseus” question. For me, it’s when I replace the motherboard. Especially if it involves a new case.
I call it a new PC if its a new case.
Although a new motherboard and CPU is a close second.
NEVER. Only if you throw out your old one and buy a completely new one!!!
Ah yes, the classic Chip of Theseus problem.
PCtheus
When windows insists your key is no longer valid, because to many parts have changed and you better buy a brand new licence or link your old licence with you microsoft account. But of course you never did befor upgrading, so now you are stuck in an endless loop of trying to find the right buttons online to fucking link your licence to your account and get it approved for the upgraded pc, but it won’t work and where did that one link go? And why won’t micorsoft allow me to use my key oh god, oh no. Please microsoft!
Penguins are coming for me.
If I want hardware I can’t plug into my existing MB, I just buy all new parts and build a new PC and give my old one to one of the kids or something.
On the other hand, if I want a big upgrade and I have a bunch of leftover parts, I generally throw them into a new case with a lower-end MB and lower end versions of whatever I kept in my old PC and wind up with a leftover “old” PC anyway.
But I rarely can afford to upgrade my computer. I already gave away my old PC to a kid who needed it and I’m just using my work laptop as my only computer. I owe myself a new PC, but it looks like I’m going to be spending over $5k by the time I have the money saved up for it. That’s a spicy meatball.
I’ve noticed some good secondhand stuff recently. If you think like getting a project car; $50K brand new, but got this one for $10K, needs about $10K of parts and some love then it’s ready to go.
