Pitstop Mechanics Lesson

Upgrading Your PC

To help increase performance of a sluggish PC, a complete system overhaul or new system isn't always necessary--and you don't always need to shell out big bucks. For example, upgrading your RAM (system memory) is one of the simplest yet most cost-effective and gratifying upgrades you can make. (For more on RAM, see "Memory: The Poor Man's Upgrade")

To ensure desktop PC performance and stability commensurate with today's applications and games, PC Pitstop recommends at least a Pentium III 1GHz processor, 256MB of RAM and a 20GB hard disk, plus a CD-RW drive. If your system is below that minimum, it's time to consider an upgrade. You may also want to invest in some component upgrades if you're looking to explore video or image editing, burn your own digital music or transform your PC into a gaming powerhouse.

Step-by-Step Upgrade Guides From PC World

If you decide it's time for an overhaul, PCWorld.com offers several step-by-step instructions on how to perform some common upgrades: