How to Upgrade Hardware on a Computer

Some desktop computers can have certain physical components added or replaced to give them more power. Depending on the age of your machine and the cost to upgrade, it may make the most sense to upgrade these internal components rather than replacing your entire system.

If you are not comfortable with performing upgrades on your machine, or are not sure if upgrading is the best option for you, we recommend having a professional assess your device to determine what upgrades would be best for your machine.

Your computer's performance can suffer if it is facing limitations caused by system memory (or RAM). Checking how much memory your computer has physically installed, and how much of that memory your system is using will help diagnose a potential memory issue that is affecting your system's performance.

• In general, Windows 10 requires 2 GB of memory to work, but performance and stability will be limited. Windows 10 runs better with 4 GB. If you use a lot of programs at the same time, or very large programs (such as games), you may require more memory, such as 6 GB or 8 GB or more.
• You can choose to use fewer programs, or add more memory to your computer if you find yourself regularly using up all available memory.

1. Press the CTRL + ALT + DEL keys on your keyboard at the same time.
   
2. Select Task Manager.
   
3. Select More Details at the bottom.
   
4. Select the Performance tab at the top, then select Memory on the left.
   
5. Look at the amount of memory you have on your computer, and how much is in use.
   
   Total Memory

   In the top-right corner, you'll see how much memory is physically installed in your computer.

   Memory In Use

   In the list at the bottom, you'll see how much is in use by Windows, and the programs you have open.
   In general, you want 1GB to 2GB available while you have most of your regular programs open.

Virtual Memory or Your Paging File

The paging file is a hidden file on your computer's hard drive that Windows 10 uses as memory, and acts as an overflow of the system memory that holds the data needed for applications currently running on your computer. Increasing the size of your paging file can help with speed issues.

1. In the search bar, type "Control Panel" and select it.
   
2. Select System and Security.
   
3. Select System.
   
4. Select Advanced System Settings.
   
5. Under the Advanced panel select Settings within Performance.
   
6. Select the Advanced tab and under Virtual Memory select Change.
   
7. To set your own Paging File size, clear the automatically manage paging file size for all drives selection.
   
8. Select Custom Size to set your own Virtual Memory limits. Click Set to finalize your sizes.
   
9. The minimum size of the Page file can be up to 1.5 times the amount of physical memory (RAM) you have installed. The maximum size can be 4 times the amount of the physical memory. For example, if your computer has 1GB of RAM, the minimum Page file size can be 1.5GB, and the maximum size of the file can be 4GB.

Random access memory, or RAM, is one of the most important components of any PC. It's an extremely fast type of computer memory which is used to temporarily store all the information your PC needs right now and in the near future. While RAM is a form of memory, it is far different from your system's hard drive. Hard drives are used for storage, where data is stored long term.

How Much RAM Can Your System Handle?

Generally speaking, the more RAM you have the better, but systems can only use so much RAM. You may be able to install more RAM than your computer can handle, but it won't use any of that extra memory.

How much RAM you can use is determined by the amount of RAM your operating system and motherboard can handle. Whichever has the lowest value

For Operating Systems:

• 32-bit versions of Windows 10 can only handle up to 4 GB of RAM.
• 64-bit versions of Windows 10 can handle up to 128 GB of RAM for the Home edition.

For Motherboards:

1. Find out what motherboard is in your system.
2. Either research it online or look for your documentation.
3. Using the Odense2-k motherboard as an example you can see the board supports two DDR4 sticks with the maximum RAM at 16 GB.
   

What Types of RAM Can Your System Use?

Adding additional RAM to any machine generally increases performance, but depending on the age of your machine, replacing the existing RAM may be difficult.

Older systems are generally stuck with DDR2, an older version of RAM stick. DDR3 and DD4 are the newest versions, but all three have different notches in their sticks. You cannot fit a DDR4 stick into a DDR2 module.

Your motherboard's documentation should provide information as to which type of RAM you can use.

How to Upgrade Your RAM

1. Open your desktop's case.
   
2. Locate the RAM modules on your motherboard.
3. To remove the existing RAM sticks, locate the tabs at the end of each module and push them down and away from the RAM.
   
4. The stick will slide up slightly so you can remove it.
5. You should pair your RAM sticks, paying special attention to the color of the modules.
   
6. The matching colors are paired and you should install your RAM accordingly.

If you're looking to speed up your gaming or adding more advanced graphics to your system, the graphics card is a crucial upgrade. Replacing your existing video card (commonly referred to as a GPU or graphical processing unit), or adding one to a desktop machine that does not currently have one is a great way to boost your machine's graphical capabilities. However, these cards can be a large financial investment, and may require that your machine's power supply also be upgraded to be able to handle the increased power demand this will place on your machine.

What Graphics Card Can I Use?

Most modern graphics cards utilize the PCI-E (or PCI-Express) standard form factor. Your system's motherboard must have an available PCI-E slot in order to install a graphics card.

Your computer's case is also something to consider, and can limit your graphics card installation options. It is not uncommon for powerful graphics cards to require the space of two expansion slots. Card clearance and available space inside your computer case is also something to consider.

Many aftermarket graphics cards will recommend a minimum of a 600 watt power supply in order to be able to provide adequate power to the card itself and all the other hardware components in your machine. Be sure to verify your computer's existing power supply unit can meet the power requirements of any graphics card you are considering installing. If your power supply does not meet the minimum recommended requirements of the graphics card you wish to install, it will need to be upgraded as well.

Ensure that the monitor or display at your desk is able to support the graphics card you are considering. Some displays have a limited number of ports. If your display does not have the same type of ports that your graphics card does, you may need to purchase a special cable or adapter, or your monitor may need to be upgraded as well. This example graphics card has Display Port, HDMI, and DVI output options.

How to Upgrade Your Graphics Card

1. Open your computer case.
2. Remove any screws necessary from your computer case's expansion slot(s) to allow the graphics card to be seated properly.
   
3. Line up your graphics card with the PCI-E slot correctly, and firmly seat your graphics card into the slot. Connect any power leads your graphics card may require.
   
4. Replace any case screws that were removed to secure the card within the expansion slot(s).
   

   These instructions are generalized. Always pay close attention to any special installation instructions that your graphics card may require.

    

Your computer's central processing unit, or CPU, is arguably the most important component of any computing device. It handles basic instructions and allocates the more complicated tasks to other specific chips to get them to do what they do best. It's the core of your PC and also one of the most expensive components.

Your CPU is connected to a main circuit board that the rest of your machine's hardware components all connect to. This circuit board is known as your computer's motherboard.

While the CPU and motherboard in your computer can sometimes be upgraded under certain limited circumstances, they can be replaced with the same or a very similar model of hardware. Unfortunately, replacing these components can be extremely cost prohibitive, and it may be best to simply replace your entire system if major components like these require upgrading and/or replacement.

Why Replace Your CPU or Motherboard?

One of the most common reasons to replace your machine's CPU or motherboard is due to failure or malfunction. If this is the case, the damaged or malfunctioning hardware must be swapped out with a replacement of a very similar or exact same model.

This is primarily because motherboards come equipped with a specific type of CPU "socket" that is only compatible with certain processors. A brand new, top of the line motherboard will likely not support your computer's existing processor, and will cause you to have to purchase a new one as well. This type of cost will very closely rival or likely even exceed the cost of an entire new computer.

What to Look for in a New CPU and Motherboard

If manually replacing your motherboard and CPU is something you decide is in your best interest, seeking out the latest generation of CPUs and a motherboard that supports it is what you will want to look for. There are two major players in the world of computer CPU units: Intel and AMD.

Terminology:

• GHz: Your clock speed. This is the speed at which the chip operates, so higher is faster. Higher clock speed means quicker responsiveness and program load times.
• Socket Type: The matching socket for your CPU to fit into. Determines which CPU and motherboard you can use.
• Threads: This is the number of independent processes a chip can handle at once, which in theory would be the same as the number of cores. However, many processors have multi-threading capability, which allows a single core to create two threads.
• Cores: These are the processors within the processor.

Your computer's power supply or "PSU" is the electrical heart of your PC. But can you upgrade it? The short answer is yes, you can upgrade your power supply, but you don't necessarily need to unless you're upgrading another piece of hardware that demands more power than your machine currently does. Combined, your CPU, motherboard, and graphics card draw the most power from your power supply. If you're planning on upgrading one of those components, it may necessary to upgrade your power supply as well.

Determine Your Needed Wattage

1. There are multiple online calculators that will help you determine the minimum amount of watts you need.
   
2. Research the components inside your desktop. You can often find this information in the device's documentation.
   
3. You'll need to find out primarily the amount of power your CPU, motherboard, and graphics card draw. You do this by researching the parts specifically.
4. If you're replacing your graphics card, the box or packaging, as well as the included documentation will indicate what the card's minimum  power requirements are.
   
5. When you are calculating your machine's minimum power requirements, always round up to be safe.
   

   Component	Estimated Wattage
   Processor	91
   Graphics Card	150
   Motherboard	80
   RAM	20
   SSD	10
   CPU Fan	10
   Total	361
   Rounded	400W

Form Factor

1. Form factor refers to the physical size and shape of a piece of computer hardware.
2. ATX is the most common form factor for desktop computers and has a matching power supply size as well.
3. Mini-ATX is much smaller and tend to only come in wattages of 400 and below. These types of power supply units are far more difficult to acquire in common computer hardware shops.

Connectors

How to Install

1. In order to install a new power supply into your computer, you'll need to fully power down your computer and disconnect all the cables attached to it.
2. Remove your computer case's side panel.
3. Remove the four screws holding your power supply in place.
   
4. Carefully disconnect all of your power supply's cabling from the hardware inside your machine. You may find it helpful to make a note or list of the connections that will need to be made when the new power supply is inserted.
   
5. Insert your new power supply into your case. Securely mount it using the supplied screws.
   
6. Connect all of your computer's internal hardware that you notated earlier to the new power supply.
   
7. Replace your computer's side panel. Your computer can now be connected normally and tested.

Your Hard Drive is where all of your software lives. This includes Windows, all of the programs you've installed, and all of your personal data. Because of this, "upgrading" your hard drive may not be an ideal option for your machine, as Windows and all of your software would have to be reinstalled. There are services that can "clone" the contents of your existing hard drive onto a new one, but this can potentially add additional cost to the equation. If you are simply running out of storage space, adding a hard drive to your machine may be in your best interest.

How Much Storage Space Do You Need?

Depending on what you're using your computer for, you might not need that much storage. The easiest way to determine how much storage, is to determine how much you can afford. Solid State Drives are more expensive, leading to much smaller amounts of data.

Types Of Hard Drives

How to Upgrade

1. Determine the model of your motherboard. This will help you determine what ports and technology your motherboard has available so you can choose a drive that fits your needs and your budget.
   
2. You'll need to open your computer's case to install your drive.
   
3. Remove the existing drive if necessary, then mount your new drive.
4. Connect the necessary interface and power cables to your new drive. If you're installing an M.2 hard drive, connecting cables won't be necessary.
   

There are various ways to increase your computer's data storage capacity.

Your computer's monitor is the window into your system. Monitors are available in many different sizes and there are numerous specifications to consider based on your needs across dozens of different brands. Depending on the specifications you desire in a monitor, prices will vary wildly, but computer monitors are easily replaceable.

If you are considering replacing your monitor, it's important to make sure that you're considering replacement for the right reasons. There are certain settings within Windows that can potentially resolve an issue such as text being too small, or simply needing more real estate on your screen.

However, depending on the limitations of your current monitor, if these settings don't seem to be providing the type of changes you're looking for, it may be time to replace it altogether.

Your Operating System or OS is the software interface you interact with on your computer every day. It houses and runs all of the applications you install and performs all the basic functions you request of it.

Upgrading your OS is different than updating. While updating can add additional features, fix bugs, and patch security problems, upgrading will replace your Operating System entirely.

Windows 10 is the current Operating System from Microsoft. In order to upgrade to it you'll want a recent version of Windows (7, 8, and 8.1) and a system that can handle its minimum requirements.

Windows 10 System Requirements

CPU: You need at least 1Ghz at minimum.

RAM: 2GB at minimum for 64-bit Windows.

Graphics: A graphics card or on-board graphics that support Direct-X 9 or later.

Hard Drive: 32GB is needed for 64-bit Windows.

How to Upgrade

Once you've determined if your system can handle the upgrade, you can purchase Windows 10 from Microsoft.

Windows 10 comes with a guided installer that will check important prerequisites before updating, such as programs with known compatibility issues, or whether or not you would like to keep your programs and personal data, or erase your machine and perform a clean installation.

Most computers come equipped with a means to playback sound. Unfortunately, many of these provided or built-in solutions may not actually sound very good, and you may find them lacking. If you want to upgrade your computer's audio capabilities, there are many ways to do so.

Add an Audio Device

Perhaps the easiest way to upgrade your computer's sound is to add a better audio device. Depending on your needs and what sounds best to you, this may come in the form of external speakers, or some form of headphones or headset. Audio devices like these come in a variety of different brands, shapes, sizes, and output levels. There are hundreds if not thousands of options to choose from.

When adding any sort of audio device, make sure your computer has the necessary port(s) to attach them to.

Adding a Sound Card or DAC

If you have good speakers or headphones, but the sound quality coming from your machine still sounds poor or isn't loud enough, your machine may not have good enough hardware to push decent sound to your audio accessories / devices. Adding a Sound Card or DAC (digital to analog converter) amplifier can greatly improve upon sound quality and provide more control over your audio experience.

Optical drives (CD, DVD, and Blu-ray) allow you to take physical media such as a DVD and access it on your computer.

The most common reason to install a new optical drive is due to a failure of an existing drive, but the constant growth of digital marketplaces has allowed many new computers to not come equipped with optical drives any longer, and you may simply be looking to add an optical drive.

Depending on the expansion slots your computer has available, or the type of connections the existing drive in your machine may have, options for upgrading or adding a drive may be limited.

To Write or Not to Write

If you want to produce your own CD / DVD / Blu-ray media, you'll need blank writable media and a drive that can write to them.

While most modern drives now come with the ability to write, Blu-ray writers are significantly more expensive.

How to Install an Internal Optical Drive

1. You'll need to open your computer case.
2. Remove the existing optical drive if you are replacing one.
3. Mount the new optical drive within an available expansion slot.
4. If replacing an existing drive, simply connect the same interface and power cables into your new drive.
5. If this is a new drive, it should have come with a SATA interface cable. Connect one end to your optical drive and the other end into the computer's motherboard.
   
6. Connect the power cable.

Your keyboard and mouse allow you to interact with your computer. They're known as your computer's human interface or input devices.

While computer keyboards and mice are relatively simple devices that are easily replaceable, there are many different options on the market that take advantage of advances in technology that can help you fill a certain need or desire. We'll go over some things to consider when it comes to the input devices you choose to use with your machine.

Types of Connections

The type of connection your keyboard and mouse make to your computer is personal preference, but depending on where you use your computer, one connection method might be preferred over another. The three most common connection methods are:

• Wired directly to the computer via USB
• Wirelessly connected via USB dongle
• Wirelessly connected via Bluetooth built-in to your computer or via Bluetooth dongle

Types of Keyboards

While most keyboards look the same on the surface, there are actually a great deal of differences between them. You can choose the kinds of key switches you want, whether or not you prefer your keys to be backlit or multicolored if you're in a dimly lit room, or if you prefer a keyboard with additional programmable keys or ergonomic layout.

Types of Computer Mice

The computer mouse. Much like keyboards, often thought of as very simple and cheap devices that are all the same and easy to replace. However, this is not the case. Hordes of mice are now available in different sizes and shapes. From ergonomic mice meant for heavy use in both a home and office environment, to gaming mice with programmable buttons and advanced sensors designed for precision and quick reflexes.

When choosing a mouse, keep in mind what it will be primarily used for, and look for a shape that feels comfortable in your hand.

Many mice now advertise how much DPI they are able to be set to. So, what is DPI? DPI stands for "dots per inch," and is used to measure how far a mouse pointer will travel on your screen for every inch that the mouse itself is physically moved.

There are several ways to improve your system's cooling abilities.

Add Additional Cooling Fans

Installing additional fans in your system is relatively simple given your computer case has available mounting points & power supply cables.

You can purchase and install additional cooling fans for your system, but always keep airflow in mind. Most computer cases were designed to intake air at one point, and expel air at another point. Adding additional fans won't provide any cooling benefits to your system if they're simply blowing hot air around. Making sure additional fans are in line with your case's current airflow is important.

Upgrade to Liquid Cooling

For years, liquid cooling was always a very expensive and maintenance heavy option for computers. These days, purchasing and installing premade "closed loop" liquid cooling systems are not much different than installing standard air cooling counterparts. These liquid cooling systems are typically available for your CPU and aftermarket graphics card(s). They function like a miniature car radiator to cycle liquid through the system via a small pump to dissipate heat very quietly and efficiently.

Cleaning

One of the easiest ways to ensure your machine is keeping itself cooled properly is to keep it clean. Over time, dust, hair, and other particles can accumulate and clog fans, airways, and filters if your system has them.

Because of their physical architecture, laptop computers are difficult to upgrade, and often times not upgradeable at all. Some laptop computers do provide access to upgrade RAM and sometimes the hard drive. Similarly, many all-in-one desktop units suffer from the same types of shortcomings when it comes to upgrading internal hardware.

We recommend having a professional assess your device to determine what upgrade options are available to you.

Your computer's performance can suffer if it is facing limitations caused by system memory (or RAM). Checking how much memory your computer has physically installed, and how much of that memory your system is using will help diagnose a potential memory issue that is affecting your system's performance.

• In general, Windows 10 requires 2 GB of memory to work, but performance and stability will be limited. Windows 10 runs better with 4 GB. If you use a lot of programs at the same time, or very large programs (such as games), you may require more memory, such as 6 GB or 8 GB or more.
• You can choose to use fewer programs, or add more memory to your computer if you find yourself regularly using up all available memory.

1. Press the CTRL + ALT + DEL keys on your keyboard at the same time.
   
2. Select Task Manager.
   
3. Select More Details at the bottom.
   
4. Select the Performance tab at the top, then select Memory on the left.
   
5. Look at the amount of memory you have on your computer, and how much is in use.
   
   Total Memory

   In the top-right corner, you'll see how much memory is physically installed in your computer.

   Memory In Use

   In the list at the bottom, you'll see how much is in use by Windows, and the programs you have open.
   In general, you want 1GB to 2GB available while you have most of your regular programs open.

Virtual Memory or Your Paging File

The paging file is a hidden file on your computer's hard drive that Windows 10 uses as memory, and acts as an overflow of the system memory that holds the data needed for applications currently running on your computer. Increasing the size of your paging file can help with speed issues.

1. In the search bar, type "Control Panel" and select it.
   
2. Select System and Security.
   
3. Select System.
   
4. Select Advanced System Settings.
   
5. Under the Advanced panel select Settings within Performance.
   
6. Select the Advanced tab and under Virtual Memory select Change.
   
7. To set your own Paging File size, clear the automatically manage paging file size for all drives selection.
   
8. Select Custom Size to set your own Virtual Memory limits. Click Set to finalize your sizes.
   
9. The minimum size of the Page file can be up to 1.5 times the amount of physical memory (RAM) you have installed. The maximum size can be 4 times the amount of the physical memory. For example, if your computer has 1GB of RAM, the minimum Page file size can be 1.5GB, and the maximum size of the file can be 4GB.

Random access memory, or RAM, is one of the most important components of desktop PCs. It's an extremely fast type of computer memory which temporarily stores all the information your PC needs right now and in the near future. RAM is different from your systems storage, its hard drive, where data is stored long term.

Laptop RAM comes in smaller sticks than desktop ram, called SODIMM. You can usually remove a panel on the bottom of your laptop to add or replace a RAM stick, unless the laptop has RAM soldered directly onto it. If that is the case, you won't be able to upgrade it.

How Much RAM Can Your System Handle?

Generally speaking, the more RAM you have the better, but systems can only use so much RAM. You may be able to install more RAM than your computer can handle, but it won't use any of that extra memory.

How much RAM you can use is determined by the amount of RAM your operating system and motherboard can handle. Whichever has the lowest value

For Operating Systems:

• 32-bit versions of Windows 10 can only handle up to 4 GB of RAM.
• 64-bit versions of Windows 10 can handle up to 128 GB of RAM for the Home edition.

For Motherboards:

1. Find out what motherboard is in your system.
2. Either research it online or look for your documentation.
3. Using the Odense2-k motherboard as an example you can see the board supports two DDR4 sticks with the maximum RAM at 16 GB.
   

What Types of RAM Can You Use?

Adding additional RAM to any machine generally increases performance, but depending on the age of your machine, replacing the existing RAM may be difficult.

Older systems are generally stuck with DDR2, an older version of RAM stick. DDR3 and DD4 are the newest versions, but all three have different notches in their sticks. You cannot fit a DDR4 stick into a DDR2 module.

Your motherboard's documentation should provide information as to which type of RAM you can use. A laptop will be using SODIMM sticks.

How to Upgrade Your RAM

1. Open your laptop's case. Sometimes you may be able to simply remove a panel for the RAM. Others require you to completely remove the back of your case.
   
   
2. Locate the RAM module(s).
3. To remove the existing RAM sticks, locate the tabs at the end of the module and push them down and away from the RAM.
   
   
4. The stick will slide up slightly so you can remove it.
5. Slide your new RAM into the slot.

Similar to desktops, some laptops come equipped with graphics adapters. Unfortunately, the graphics adapters that laptops come equipped with are directly soldered onto your laptop's motherboard, and cannot be removed or upgraded. Because of this, the majority of modern laptops do not have a way to upgrade their internal graphics adapters.

There are laptops now that can accommodate external graphics card enclosures (eGPU). These allow for the installation of an aftermarket graphics card that can be attached to your computer via a Thunderbolt 3 port. Unfortunately, not every Thunderbolt 3 enabled laptop will work with every eGPU on the market. You will want to refer to your machine's documentation or reach out to the manufacturer to verify what is and is not compatible with your machine.

Your Hard Drive is where all of your software lives. This includes Windows, all of the programs you've installed, and all of your personal data. Because of this, "upgrading" your hard drive may not be an ideal option for your machine, as Windows and all of your software would have to be reinstalled. There are services that can "clone" the contents of your existing hard drive onto a new one, but this can potentially add additional cost to the equation. If you are simply running out of storage space, adding a hard drive to your machine may be in your best interest.

How Much Storage Space Do You Need?

Depending on what you're using your computer for, you might not need that much storage. The easiest way to determine how much storage, is to determine how much you can afford. Solid State Drives are more expensive, leading to much smaller amounts of data.

Types Of Hard Drives

How to Upgrade

1. Determine the model of your motherboard in order to find out what hard drives are available. You'll need to know what ports you have available or what port the hard drive you're replacing connects to.
2. Determine whether you want to copy your old drive's contents or do a clean install of the operating system.
3. Most modern hard drives connect using SATA. A laptop will have an integrated SATA connection.
   
4. You'll need to open your laptop's case to install your drive.
5. Remove the older drive if needed, and secure your new drive.
   

There are various ways to increase your computer's data storage capacity.

Your keyboard and mouse allow you to interact with your computer. They're known as your computer's human interface or input devices.

While computer keyboards and mice are relatively simple devices that are easily replaceable, there are many different options on the market that take advantage of advances in technology that can help you fill a certain need or desire. We'll go over some things to consider when it comes to the input devices you choose to use with your machine.

Types of Connections

The type of connection your keyboard and mouse make to your computer is personal preference, but depending on where you use your computer, one connection method might be preferred over another. The three most common connection methods are:

• Wired directly to the computer via USB
• Wirelessly connected via USB dongle
• Wirelessly connected via Bluetooth built-in to your computer or via Bluetooth dongle

Types of Keyboards

While most keyboards look the same on the surface, there are actually a great deal of differences between them. You can choose the kinds of key switches you want, whether or not you prefer your keys to be backlit or multicolored if you're in a dimly lit room, or if you prefer a keyboard with additional programmable keys or ergonomic layout.

Types of Computer Mice

The computer mouse. Much like keyboards, often thought of as very simple and cheap devices that are all the same and easy to replace. However, this is not the case. Hordes of mice are now available in different sizes and shapes. From ergonomic mice meant for heavy use in both a home and office environment, to gaming mice with programmable buttons and advanced sensors designed for precision and quick reflexes.

When choosing a mouse, keep in mind what it will be primarily used for, and look for a shape that feels comfortable in your hand.

Many mice now advertise how much DPI they are able to be set to. So, what is DPI? DPI stands for "dots per inch," and is used to measure how far a mouse pointer will travel on your screen for every inch that the mouse itself is physically moved.

Physical upgrade options for Macs can be very limited. Depending on the model and manufacture date of your Mac, upgradeable hardware such as RAM and internal hard drive can actually be soldered to the logic board, making them impossible to remove or add to at all. Other internal Mac hardware is not made to be upgradeable whatsoever.

We recommend having a professional assess your Apple device to determine if you can upgrade it at all.

Your keyboard and mouse allow you to interact with your computer. They're known as your computer's human interface or input devices.

While computer keyboards and mice are relatively simple devices that are easily replaceable, there are many different options on the market that take advantage of advances in technology that can help you fill a certain need or desire. We'll go over some things to consider when it comes to the input devices you choose to use with your machine.

Types of Connections

The type of connection your keyboard and mouse make to your computer is personal preference, but depending on where you use your computer, one connection method might be preferred over another. The three most common connection methods are:

• Wired directly to the computer via USB
• Wirelessly connected via USB dongle
• Wirelessly connected via Bluetooth built-in to your computer or via Bluetooth dongle

Types of Keyboards

While most keyboards look the same on the surface, there are actually a great deal of differences between them. You can choose the kinds of key switches you want, whether or not you prefer your keys to be backlit or multicolored if you're in a dimly lit room, or if you prefer a keyboard with additional programmable keys or ergonomic layout.

Types of Computer Mice

The computer mouse. Much like keyboards, often thought of as very simple and cheap devices that are all the same and easy to replace. However, this is not the case. Hordes of mice are now available in different sizes and shapes. From ergonomic mice meant for heavy use in both a home and office environment, to gaming mice with programmable buttons and advanced sensors designed for precision and quick reflexes.

When choosing a mouse, keep in mind what it will be primarily used for, and look for a shape that feels comfortable in your hand.

Many mice now advertise how much DPI they are able to be set to. So, what is DPI? DPI stands for "dots per inch," and is used to measure how far a mouse pointer will travel on your screen for every inch that the mouse itself is physically moved.

Your computer's monitor is the window into your system. They come in many different sizes and specifications and are provided by several different brands. The prices have dropped a great deal over the years, making monitors easily replaceable.

If your text is too small or you just need more real estate on your screen it may be time to replace your monitor.

Using an external monitor on a Mac can be done by either extending the monitor, Airplay, or Video Mirroring.

Most computers come equipped with a means to playback sound. Unfortunately, many of these provided or built-in solutions may not actually sound very good, and you may find them lacking. If you want to upgrade your computer's audio capabilities, there are many ways to do so.

Add an Audio Device

Perhaps the easiest way to upgrade your computer's sound is to add a better audio device. Depending on your needs and what sounds best to you, this may come in the form of external speakers, or some form of headphones or headset. Audio devices like these come in a variety of different brands, shapes, sizes, and output levels. There are hundreds if not thousands of options to choose from.

When adding any sort of audio device, make sure your computer has the necessary port(s) to attach them to.