At what pace do you upgrade your computers?

I don't upgrade too often. Most likely about once every year or two. When I do, it is usually a RAM upgrade or a new system entirely. I usually try to get a good product so that it will last. My current iMac (even though it's baseline and three generations old) will last me another three or so years of great performance, because it is a powerful computer. I do plan on getting a MacBook Pro within the next two-three years, but in the meantime, I love using my iMac.

I upgrade as I see the need.

• About a week ago I got sick of waiting for my C: drive to seek, so I bought some SSDs and stuck them in RAID 0.
• I got sick of running out of USB ports and having hubs all over the desk, so I bought a 24 port monster USB hub.
• I buy hard drives as I fill up the old ones.
• I'm still using old Core 2 Quads in my desktop and server because I haven't seen the need for more power. These do the job just fine. In fact, I'm still on DDR2 RAM and Radeon HD 4670s, despite the fact that I can afford better. Just don't need better.

I’m not a upgrade fanatic & I upgrade only when it’s truly necessary to run the software & games I have. This applies to software as well as hardware.

While I love technology, When possible, I have a reasonable “wait & see” attitude regarding computer upgrades. Sometimes, Upgrades that are “hot off the presses” are too “hot” to handle ;] That’s why I have a “wait & see” attitude.

I tend not to upgrade when new products become available but more when I need the upgrade. I will usually upgrade when the components I have aren't doing what I want them too, usually when they start becoming slow or obsolete.

Let's see, I'm three years into my current desktop. Now, I went from an CRT to a flat screen, but since the CRT was about to have the power supply crap out on it, (which it did four days later when I was using it as a second monitor), but other than being an LCD, it wasn't an upgrade, still 20", still 1600x1200 resolution. I have upgraded the memory from 3 GB to 6 GB. And I upgraded the 500MB hard drive to two 1.5 TB hard drives. I've gone through multiple power supplies (and motherboards, I don't think I'm ever going to own another ASUS as long as I live...), but again, not much else changed. Video card, DVD writer and the rest of it have been unchanged.

I'll be keeping my eye on the new Sandy Bridge, but I don't see my upgrading for at least another year, possibly two. My Q6600 seems to be doing everything I want it to do, and fast enough as well. I might upgrade to a higher memory video card with the current system, but that's just to participate in the @home GPU projects.

If USB 3.0 is needed, I can throw a card in it. If I really need 6.0GB SATA, then I might think about upgrading. PCIexpress 3.0 sounds interesting, but I'm not sure what that gets you in real life right now. But I'm probably looking at all that plus an SSD drive to boot off (I'll probably split the two 1.5TBs, using one for storage on my desktop, and turn the old computer into a server for the rest of the family) and more cores, at least 8, maybe more. And I'm cheap, which is probably why I'll wait another two years.

I upgrade my Apple computer every year, mainly because it only costs me £200 - 300 to upgrade if i sell my old machine. I do this so I keep the re-sale value of my machine and so my computer doesn't get outdated.

I only upgrade to new technologies once they prove themselves to me as a great investment or are necessary. That said, I upgrade my computers once every 3-4 years.

no i don't eat upgrade har har

I basically upgrade on a need-to, not want-to, basis. Depending on the box in question, I may spring for more RAM/better or larger HDD- but that's about it...After that, the box becomes a file server on my network, or is donated to friends or non-profits. I feel it's usually a better idea to build new, every 3-4 years because the tech is better & cheaper than trying to upgrade the old stuff by then.

Not very often. Usually only if I notice that something is really getting slowed down, or if I'm running out of space on my hard drive, etc... but usually only once every 2-4 years. I have an old Compaq Presario and it's still running fine even after 11 years and only about 5 upgrades over its lifetime.