"All I would like now is an SSD, a newer video card, Windows 7 64-bit, some more RAM..."

Guest Writer James "Ajay" Russell reminisces about his PC upgrades, both minor and major.

http://www.simhq.com/_technology3/technology_183a.html

Nice work, Ajay! Lots of episodes and many of us can relate to. Er, except for the hammer. I hope! :-)

...and a triple monitor setup, and a quality flight yoke, and a better chair, and... The list never ends!

Well done, Ajay!

Not sure how to get in touch with Ajay but, the 64-bit Win7 part is free! If he just installs a 64-bit version of Win7 from a friend or whoever, he can use his "32-bit" CD key and use it perfectly fine. The CD key is for Home-Premium or Ultimate or Professional, NOT specifically a 32 or 64 bit version. Hope that solves at least one problem! =)

Great job Ajay...loved every bit of that article!

Nicely done Ajay!

My upgrade path through the years has always just been my mouse-mat, and I hate throwing stuff away. When 5 1/4 floppies make a comeback then I'll be laughing all the way to the bank!

I'm one of those who threw in the towel on the pixel chase, but I can so readily identify with the author.

I built all my own machines from about 2000-2009. After that I went store-bought because it just wasn't worth all the extra effort to me, but I'm happy for those that do. Without them, the progress of technology wouldn't happen and we'd all be using Pentium 3's.

http://www.simhq.com/_technology2/technology_083a.html (My version of how it all went down...)

Great work!

Video game addiction. All I can say.

Love the article.. I feel your pain.. I'm listening to my 2008 build machine grinding away right now (just how much cat hair CAN a motherboard take..??) and know I'm not far from having to do the upgrade dance.

Hard to believe it is already four years old!

The Build

Enjoyed reading your take.. Blunt objects.. LOL..

BeachAV8R

Nicely written article.

To this day I sit with a knot in my stomach after replacing RAM and cards etc. That tense minute where you power on and pray it will all work as it should!

I remember my Mum bringing EAW back from England for me. It was a repeat of the above scenario. Installing it and then praying it would work. I haven't played it in a very long time but I can still feel the elation of seeing those Mustangs lining up and taking off for the very first time.