Like most people after buying a new laptop or desktop computer the like-new feeling goes away very quickly. Why? One reason is technology changes so quickly it is almost impossible to keep up, or is it? Instead of buying a new PC every year or so a better idea is to upgrade the computer components to keep up with advancing times.

The main computer parts that keep your computer running smooth and fast are very simple to replace and very affordable. The average person spends over $900 for a new computer. The truth is that it is outdated in about six months! Technology moves at the speed of light, but here are some hardware parts that can be purchased to keep up with the times.

The first computer part that is a key ingredient in maintaining speed is RAM memory. This usually comes in 256mb, 512mb, 1024mb and 2048mb chips. Most motherboards are upgradeable to 2048MB, or 2GB. The RAM memory is the measured speed that a computer uses to retrieve information. The higher the RAM the faster the operation.

When upgrading RAM memory it is important to know exactly what the mainboard already has in it. If it contains a 256mb then only add another memory chip of the same kind. Another option is to pull out the old RAM chip and upgrade with a single, or two higher megabyte memory slot cards. The important point to remember is not to add a 256mb with a 512mb, the slot cards must be the same.

The world is going digital. Digital photos, music files, movies and more. These types of files can take up a lot of room, not to mention taking its toll on the speed. A very easy and inexpensive PC hardware component is to add an external hard drive, or if you have experience with computer tech, an internal hard drive can be replaced.

Adding an external hard drive is as simple as plugging it into an available USB port and go! Another great reason for these great parts is they can go from PC to PC and transfer data easily. Upgrading to an internal hard drive is not too difficult, but it does require some knowledge of the internal parts of a computer. Both hardware parts are a wise investment for keeping data and files.

Another great computer part to replace is processor. The processor is also involved in speed and performance. A PC that is used in the most demanding of conditions is going to require a fast processor to keep all open applications going smoothly. The central processing unit (CPU) and the RAM memory is important if you require the most out of a personal computer.

Replacing the processor is not too difficult, but does require skill. The motherboard must be taken out at the CPU replaced. If that does not sound too hard, upgrading is easy.

The computer motherboard is a very important computer part, but usually it does not need replacing unless something has broken, or short circuited. Replacing the motherboard usually is not brain science, but it is not easy either. Someone who is trained to do this operation is probably the best bet.