The Comparator

Academy · Common tasks

Plan an upgrade

An upgrade starts from what you own. Ask three things: how much do I gain for my job, what does it cost after I sell the old part, and will it fit?

Lessons · Plan an upgrade
  1. Say what you own. Open the planner on the home page, or the Upgrade planner on your product’s page, and choose I already own this product. (I want this product does the reverse: it compares a candidate with what you have.)
  2. Choose the job. The scenario at the top of the page, What are you planning to use it for?, sets which capability the planner measures.
  3. Enter the numbers it asks for, including what your current part is worth. Upgrades are ranked by out-of-pocket cost: the new price minus what yours is worth.
  4. Read the options. Each shows the capability gained, the cost and a fit label.
The upgrade planner with the two tabs I want this product and I already own this product
Where to look: the two tabs, and the line saying upgrades are ranked by out-of-pocket cost, not sticker price. Each option also states its fit. Read it before the price.

A small gain is not offered as an upgrade. The planner counts a step up only when you would notice it.

On the home page the quick planner shows three facts: the largest gain within your budget, the option with the highest Value, and the cheapest step up that clears the threshold.

Terms used here

Capability
What a product can do for one job. Price is not part of it. Read the lesson
Socket
How a processor connects to a motherboard (AM5, LGA 1851…). It must match. Read the lesson
DDR generation
DDR4 or DDR5. Your motherboard decides; they are not interchangeable. Read the lesson · Deeper: Price2Click guide
Value
How good the current price is under your priorities, from 0 to 100 within the view. Read the lesson