Want to Skip Windows 7? 6 Ways to Boost Your PC

In case you hadn’t noticed, practically the entire computer industry wants you to upgrade right now. Microsoft (MSFT) is pushing its new Windows 7 operating system, while big computer makers like Dell (DELL) and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) would love to sell you a new computer this holiday season to run Windows 7. Meanwhile, Apple (AAPL) is running ads suggesting that Windows users who want a big upgrade should just switch to Mac.
But you don’t need a huge overhaul to get a better computer. For those who aren’t ready to upgrade or switch operating systems yet, we wanted to find some smaller upgrades that will make your machine run more smoothly without costing you a lot of money.

“The working life of a PC, particularly a desktop PC, can be easily eight years,” says Robert Houghton, the president of Columbus, Ohio-based Redemtech, which helps companies extend the life of their information technology with periodic upgrading and refurbishing. Consumers also can add years to their computers with some basic care – some of which is free of charge.

However, consumers should consider the cost benefit of updating their computer versus buying a new one, says Rick Edson, the director of technology at the San Mateo-Foster City School District in California, where he oversees 3,000 computers. Those who use their computer primarily for web surfing, email and light Word processing should stick with upgrades because the wear-and-tear should be minimal. But when essential upgrades reach $200, most consumers are better off buying a new computer, which might not cost much more. (For example, the starting price for a Dell Inspiron 546 is $246, not including the monitor.)

Here are six affordable computer improvements:

Price: Starts at around $25, but averages $50

If it takes a few minutes to retrieve a file, your computer probably needs additional Random Access Memory (RAM). RAM provides space for a computer to read and write data. The more you have, the more tasks your computer can perform at once. Users see this as speed.

Some software upgrades – say, an uploaded program or a switch from Vista to Windows 7 – demand more memory, effectively slowing a computer down. Users who want to add memory can either add additional memory modules or replace those that came with their computer with larger ones.

First, you’ll need to know if your computer has more than one slot for memory. Consult your manual (often available on the computer manufacturers’ web sites), where you’ll find a diagram of the inside of your computer where the memory is located. Computers can have as few as one slot or as many as eight or more. You can also check out Crucial.com where you can input your computer model number and find out how many memory slots it has.

Different computers require different denominations of RAM modules, but most demand the same amount of RAM on all modules in the machine.

When you start shopping, you’ll need to find the memory that’s compatible with your computer. Major retailers like Best Buy (BBY) can help; so can computer suppliers like Kingston Technology Company, whose site lists the memory upgrades compatible with different computers.

For some, the hardest part is physically installing the memory. You’ll have to unsnap the computer (or use a screwdriver) and snap the RAM in place. (The RAM should be sold with installation instructions.)

There are around 3,000 types of memory modules, and prices vary depending on size and speed, says Jason Tierney, a vice president at Poolesville, Md.-based Corporate Network Services, which provides IT services to small and midsize businesses.