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Technology / 08

Expand, replace or upgrade — subject to compatibility.

Memory, storage, processors, graphics, power and expansion hardware. A component upgrade is often the right answer — but only once the existing system has been checked properly.

  • MEMORY
  • SSD
  • PROCESSORS
  • GRAPHICS
  • PSU
  • EXPANSION

Coverage

Eight component groups.

Upgrading the component rather than the machine is frequently the cheaper and less disruptive route. It is also the route most likely to fail on a detail, so the detail gets checked first.

  • PROCESSORS Subject to socket, chipset, firmware and cooling compatibility.
  • MEMORY Type, speed, module configuration and the maximum the system supports.
  • SSD Interface and form factor, plus what happens to the existing data.
  • HARD DRIVES Bulk capacity where throughput is not the constraint.
  • GRAPHICS Slot availability, physical length, power draw and output requirement.
  • POWER SUPPLIES Capacity, connectors and headroom for what is being added.
  • NETWORKING COMPONENTS Interface cards and connectivity hardware.
  • EXPANSION HARDWARE Additional interfaces and controller cards.
Business technology context: solid state storage devices.
Business technology context
Business technology context: memory modules.
Component context

Compatibility checklist

Nine checks before a component is proposed.

This is the checklist that decides whether an upgrade is viable. A component that fails any one of these lines is the wrong component, regardless of how capable it is.

Pre-purchase compatibility checks

09 CHECKS
  • EXISTING SYSTEM Make, model and current configuration of the machine being upgraded.
  • MOTHERBOARD Sockets, slots and supported standards.
  • FIRMWARE Whether the system firmware supports the component at all.
  • PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS Internal clearance, mounting points and cable routing.
  • INTERFACES Connector types and how many are actually free.
  • POWER REQUIREMENTS Supply capacity and the right connectors, with headroom.
  • COOLING Airflow and thermal headroom after the change.
  • OPERATING ENVIRONMENT Where the machine lives and what it shares space with.
  • INTENDED WORKLOAD Whether the upgrade addresses the actual bottleneck.
Text version: compatibility checklist

EXISTING SYSTEM: Make, model and current configuration of the machine being upgraded. MOTHERBOARD: Sockets, slots and supported standards. FIRMWARE: Whether the system firmware supports the component at all. PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS: Internal clearance, mounting points and cable routing. INTERFACES: Connector types and how many are actually free. POWER REQUIREMENTS: Supply capacity and the right connectors, with headroom. COOLING: Airflow and thermal headroom after the change. OPERATING ENVIRONMENT: Where the machine lives and what it shares space with. INTENDED WORKLOAD: Whether the upgrade addresses the actual bottleneck.

Components & upgrades

Upgrade the component. Not automatically the whole machine.

A machine that has become slow is not always a machine that needs replacing. It is equally possible that it cannot accept the upgrade at all — which is why the existing system is reviewed before anything is proposed.

Exploded system view

Conceptual equipment configuration
  1. 01 CHASSIS Physical space, mounting points, airflow
  2. 02 POWER Supply capacity, connectors, headroom
  3. 03 MOTHERBOARD Sockets, interfaces, firmware support
  4. 04 PROCESSOR Socket compatibility and cooling
  5. 05 MEMORY Type, configuration, supported capacity
  6. 06 STORAGE Interface, form factor, existing data
  7. 07 GRAPHICS Slot, length, power and output requirement
  8. 08 EXPANSION Networking and interface cards
Text version: exploded system view

Eight component layers are separated in sequence, each annotated with the constraint that governs it: 01 chassis (physical space, mounting points, airflow); 02 power (supply capacity, connectors, headroom); 03 motherboard (sockets, interfaces, firmware support); 04 processor (socket compatibility and cooling); 05 memory (type, configuration, supported capacity); 06 storage (interface, form factor, existing data); 07 graphics (slot, length, power and output requirement); 08 expansion (networking and interface cards).

Components in context

  • Business technology context: computer components laid out for inspection.
    Assorted components
  • Business technology context: a motherboard with expansion interfaces.
    Expansion interfaces
  • Business technology context: a close-up of computer hardware on a board.
    Board-level hardware

Technology enquiry

Tell us what the machine is and what it needs to do.

Make, model and current configuration are enough to establish whether an upgrade is viable.

  • SYSTEM
  • COMPONENT
  • INTERFACES
  • POWER
  • WORKLOAD
  • QTY
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