939 or 754 pin CPU. 9

Who said anything about the target being 1 or 2 years away?

After 3, 4, or 5 years it WILL BE cheaper to buy a new one than upgrade the one you have to the current specs. RAM architectures are changing every few years so you'll need a new motherboard. You'll need a new video card to work with your new motherboard too. Right there you've replaced 90% of of your machine. If gaming is a factor for you then this is especially true as gaming requirements are the thing that is pushing the computer hardware industry.

They days when an EFFECTIVE upgrade meant throwing another stick of RAM into your machine are over.

And no one said anything about putting the old machine in the landfil. It will still be useful, just not as useful as it once was. At work we're still recycling P3, 733mhz machines. They run all the business type apps we want them to. Hell, I even put a 450mhz machine back into production not too long ago.

But if you're talking upgrading vs. purchasing in the consumer PC market, purchasing wins hands down.

kony