By: Mike Nadelman

Are you growing old waiting for your computer to compute? Are all the hot new applications out of reach?

Or maybe you just want to add some features without spending major dollars. Anyway you look at it, a computer upgrade is probably in your future.

But where do you start? Since upgrading requires some physical modification of your system, you’ll want to find a competent service outlet. Look for an A+ Authorized Service Center™. These service centers are committed to providing quality customer service including consultation.

An Authorized Service Center is committed to having at least 50 percent of its technicians A+™ Certified. This designation is awarded by CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association™, and is recommended by the Better Business Bureau as one way consumers may determine a reseller’s level of commitment to computer service quality. Certified technicians have passed rigorous, standardized tests developed by CompTIA in conjunction with major software and hardware manufacturers. The tests are designed to establish benchmarks for repair and diagnostic ability. To date, over 50,000 technicians and more than 3,000 firms have been certified.

Once you find the right service center, explain to them your computer system and the difficulties you’re having. You may just need the "quick" fix of adding more RAM. However, you may need something more complex, such as a new central processing unit (CPU) or motherboard. Whatever you do, don’t forget the first law of upgrading: Never pay as much for an upgrade as you would for a new system with similar performance! A reputable computer reseller with a full-service repair center will not let this happen to you. Always get a new system price, just as a double-check. For example, it may not be economical to fully upgrade (modem, sound card, more memory, CD-ROM drive) some older Pentium  micro-processor based systems.

Replacing the whole motherboard, adding a new hard-drive, graphics card and maybe a 21-inch high-resolution monitor would probably cost as much as a current system.

However, if you have a more current system and it that cartoon hourglass is always staring at you, think about a limited memory upgrade. Here again an A+™ Certified technician will have an answer to your needs. It could be your Pentium-based system needs a RAM boost to 256MB. For Windows 2000 servers the best bang for the buck is usually to upgrade to at least 512MB of RAM.

What if you are perfectly content with the operating speed of your computer and only want to add some additional features? A CD-ROM drive, a faster modem, Multimedia or sound are just a few of the more advanced features available today. You can also trade up to a better monitor, or get the latest ergonomic key-board and mouse. These items are all available at many types of sales outlets. But, it is still a good idea to shop at a value-added Reseller who has knowledgeable sales representatives. There are many different quality levels and configurations for even the most mundane peripherals ask questions and make sure you are getting the right level of performance.

Computer hardware technology is constantly changing and software is becoming increasingly system hungry. Few people can afford to keep replacing their PC system with each new technical advance. The good news is that you may not have to. The time will come however, when an upgrade may be called for. When that happens, discuss your needs with a computer reseller and have all but the simplest of installations done by a professional computer technician.