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”.
As long as it’s the same hard drive (or image), it’s the same computer. New computer whenever it’s a completely fresh install. I’ve had the same case since 2013ish. It’s had a few new computers in it.
I don’t think I have upgraded a processor for personal use this millenia
I upgrade my computer either when it’s not working as desired or I come into some extra cash and wanna treat myself to a boost.
Sadly with the new memory and storage costs I’ll probably ride this system out for ~10 years. (I pray she survives that long)
Ah yes, the classic Chip of Theseus problem.
PCtheus
If I had to limit it to physically, I’d say the motherboard. It’s the only thing in the box that everything has to be compatible with. Everything else is the extension.
Personally, I believe in a machine spirit. It’s a nebulous concept and it muddies the water here, but really the object is new when it no longer feels like the old. If I install a new is some day and my fans don’t breathe the same, my lights don’t blink like they did, or the chirp of my drives sounds alien, then I know I’ve lost the ghost and will have to learn a whole personality. Same is true for all my objects.
Personally, I believe in a machine spirit.
The machine spirits need to be kept pleased. Praise be to the Omnissiah.
New mb, cpu, ram and videocard.
IMO, it’s when you replace the motherboard. It’s the real heart of the machine; without it, all your other parts ain’t doing shit. And since you can get by longer on the same motherboard while still leaving everything else to be upgraded, getting a new motherboard very often necessitates getting at least a new CPU and possibly RAM if you’re making a generational leap that requires a new socket type.
I always thought of the CPU as the beating heart and the MoBo as the vessel/body.
At the same time: upgrading CPU often requires a new MoBo too, so I guess they are bound together anyways.For the original question I’d say CPU + MoBo swap is a new machine. GPU and RAM are upgrades.
The PC of Theseus!
Technically my my PC is the same PC I used decades ago. It started as a Pentium 3 with… 64MB of RAM if I remember, and something like a whopping 10GB hard drive. It’s still the same PC of course, I swear!
I remember when I got a Voodoo 3d card with like 128mb of memory for my Pentium 233 WITH MMX. Played Ultimate Online like a boss.
Not very many Voodoo cards came with 128mb and only in the Pentium III/4 era. You may be remembering your total RAM.
I’m impressed the case has handled the changes. Cases back then weren’t much to work with.
I have scars still from working in sharp edged computer cases in the 90s…
I built my current PC in the very first case I had back in the year 2000. Everything fits and all the screw holes still line up with modern hardware. The only downside is that it does get pretty toasty under heavy load.
Pic
Just pop the side onto a drill press, add a few holes. That metal isn’t too thick
I’ve been thinking about that. Or maybe a bottom mounted fan, would be a shame to ruin the look.
Not if you have pets. You’ll need a screen to stop hair getting into the case if you have cats/dogs.
That’s still easy enough to get at most home hardware stores.
No, the case can rotate out as well.
PCeus
Chip of Theseus
I used to keep one cd drive from the 90s in every built. Technically it could be understood as the same pc I just upgraded everything around the cd drive.
Last build I made I finally ditched it. I bought a case with bays just in case but I noticed that I haven’t used it in the last 10 years so I just didn’t install it.
The timeless “PC of Theseus” question. For me, it’s when I replace the motherboard. Especially if it involves a new case.
When you have upgraded enough components that you can build another PC out of the old parts.
Definitely when I upgrade the mainboard + CPU, which usually also means new RAM. It’s pretty expensive, you have to change several parts in one go and it’s much more noticable in general usage than the GPU.
mainboard + CPU
To me thats the line. Unless you are like, a very active enthusiast, most people, once they get their CPU installed cooler installed, etc… you probably aren’t’ swapping that out. Its pretty much a computer at that point.
Yeah, you pretty much need to be some kind of early adopter for your CPU socket to seriously consider upgrading just your CPU. Otherwise, there’s just no point. I actually looked it up for my last mainboard, thinking the socket is so old that maybe you can get a somewhat better CPU (i.e. Intel i7 or i9 instead of i5) for really cheap. But the parts market doesn’t seem to work like that, looks like they’d much rather trash their leftover CPUs than make an attractive price.
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?
Yeah, i just did due to RAM prices going insane and remaining so in the foreseeable future. Went from B450 to B550 due to old MB being slightly unstable and to squeeze out as much life from the CPU and ram to last out the RAM shortages.
Less viable option with intel, but with AMD I’ve done it before as well, basically to squeeze out as much as possible from a limited budget. Getting a lower end MB and later upgrading it when a decent sale comes up.
I would consider new PC as, upgrading to a new MB with a new socket forcing the upgrade of a CPU and RAM as well.
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.
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.
But you probably had to disconnect about everything, so in a way, they all became simple parts, in a way. Then, once your new mobo is connect, it becomes a new whole, a new PC.
I’d say mobo and GPU changed is a whole new PC.
I don’t. I build new every time. previous PC was 1080Ti Ryzen 1700 16GB, current one is 9070XT 9850X3D 64GB. There’s something about being able to build a new PC while knowing you have a fallback ready.
