We call that the Trinity in my family: mobo, ram and cpu.
this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2026
81 points (96.6% liked)
Ask Lemmy
40445 readers
1586 users here now
A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions
Rules: (interactive)
1) Be nice and; have fun
Doxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, toxicity and dog-whistling are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them
2) All posts must end with a '?'
This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?
3) No spam
Please do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.
4) NSFW is okay, within reason
Just remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either !asklemmyafterdark@lemmy.world or !asklemmynsfw@lemmynsfw.com.
NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].
5) This is not a support community.
It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions.
If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email info@lemmy.world. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.
6) No US Politics.
Please don't post about current US Politics. If you need to do this, try !politicaldiscussion@lemmy.world or !uspolitics@lemmy.world
7) No Hit-and-Run questions.
Please don't delete your post for no apparent reason. If you plan on deleting a question later, say so in the post, or if you feel that you have a good reason to remove it, message a mod beforehand. It's not fair to the ones who took their time to answer, and it's not in the spirit of the community.
Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.
Partnered Communities:
Logo design credit goes to: tubbadu
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
When you swap in a new motherboard.
When the motherboard gets updated. Because you can only upgrade the CPU so much before you have to get a new motherboard to get something better. And if you upgrade the motherboard you have to get a new CPU.
In this context, an upgraded motherboard has a newer socket type on it. Not just going from a budget motherboard to a top tier.
Usually I consider my PC a new PC once I change the motherboard. Everything being connected to it, if I change it, it means all my parts go back to being parts, then part of a new whole.
MB/CPU/RAM
Without these 3 it's just an upgrade.
If I can build a new PC with the old parts. Wait...
There is no "new" or "old" PC. It's just my PC, keeping up the best it (and my wallet) can.
I call it a new PC if its a new case.
Although a new motherboard and CPU is a close second.
Whenever you have to do a clean fresh OS install…
By this metric, back when I used Windows, I got a lot of "new PCs" while still on the exact hardware as the old one - not even because I changed anything substantial, but because it's hard to impossible to keep a Windows install from slowing down due to clutter and bullshit. Hasn't been an issue at on Ubuntu, even though I'm still accumulating a lot of installed applications, packages etc.
When more than 50% of it has been replaced, it's a new PC.
2 out of the 3 of motherboard, CPU, GPU
I think platform upgrades are the most sensible time to consider it a "new PC". You have to upgrade your motherboard and CPU at the very least, and most likely your RAM, too.
usually upgrading to an OLD model is a considered new. i dont play high end games, or edit videos at all, also not a tech person.
NEVER. Only if you throw out your old one and buy a completely new one!!!!!
Not a new motherboard as like with AMD, i can use 3 generations of motherboards with the same socket.
So going over to next generation motherboard with a new socket, which forces the upgrade of CPU and RAM as well. Meaning 3 core pieces are already upgraded, usually GPU and storage gets upgraded during tha time as well or at least next up in upgrade path.
I have never changed everything at once so therefore: same PC, only evolved.
Mobo (including CPU).
Since my first ever PC build ages ago, I have always reused at least a couple parts between builds. I have never replaced the cpu, mobo and GPU at the same time.
I don't. I build new every time. previous PC was 1080Ti Ryzen 1700 16GB, current one is 9070XT 9850X3D 64GB. There's something about being able to build a new PC while knowing you have a fallback ready.
I'd consider it if 90% or more of the component is brand new and have to be upgraded in one go, else it's just upgraded.
Triggers broom enters the chat